Page 32 of Tutored By the Smart Girl

“That must’ve been hard. Difficult having your parents living apart.”

I shrug. “You get used to it. I had a few friends who had divorced parents, so we related to each other.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thanks.” I kiss him on his scruffy cheek. “What about your family? Your parents are happily married?”

He chuckles. “They are. Celebrated twenty-five years this past summer.”

“Wow. Congratulations to them. That’s a true milestone.”

“They raised us with a lot of expectations.”

“You have siblings?”

“One brother. His name is Thomas.”

I laugh. “What? No crazy name like yours?”

“Actually, it’s Thomas Tackle Radcliffe.”

I gasp. “You’re making it up.”

“I am.” Rush tickles me and I giggle. “No, his real name is Thomas Shula Radcliffe.”

“Shula? What’s a Shula?”

“The last name of one of the most famous football coaches of all time.”

“Do theycallhim Shula?”

“No, just Tom.”

I yawn. “I’m sleepy.”

“I see that.”

“What did you mean when you said you were raised with a lot of expectations from your parents?”

“It’s mostly Dad. He played college football. Here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He was a big deal here and then he went onto the pros as a player and later coached.”

“Very impressive.” It’s hard to believe Rush has such a different background than mine.

“When you’re a coach like that, you have high expectations from your kids. Especially your sons. He always dreamed of us playing ball. Said it was in the Radcliffe blood.”

“Where does Tom play?”

“He doesn’t. He was never interested in sports. You’d think with a middle name of Shula, he’d be a jock, right?”

“Maybe.”

“Nope. He graduated college Suma Cum Laude, and he owns his own business. Really successful.”

“I bet your parents are so proud of him.”

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