Page 35 of Holiday Hire

She suggests, "Why don't I get them started, and you can come over when you're free?"

"I'm free now," I insist.

"Great. Let's go do homework," she challenges.

I instantly regret my words as I follow her to the picnic table.

The boys join us, and she takes the lid off a bowl in the shape of a turkey, revealing cut-up apples and a side of dip.

Ace asks, "Is that Georgia's caramel cream cheese dip?"

"Yep. Your grandma said you love it," Phoebe replies.

"Yes!" Wilder exclaims, then picks up an apple and dips it.

Ace grabs one too.

Phoebe opens a binder and pulls out two worksheets. "Math first."

Wilder groans. "I hate math."

"I like it better than reading stupid books," Ace claims.

"Books aren't stupid," Phoebe states.

Wilder whines, "My teacher makes it too complicated. Two plus two equals four. I don't need to break it down into multiple steps. It's stupid."

"Agreed," I state, unable to keep quiet.

"Then I don't have to do it?" Wilder asks with hope in his eyes.

Once again, I regret my words. "No, of course you have to do it."

Wilder pushes, "But you just said?—"

"Your father meant he agrees two plus two equals four, correct?" Phoebe firmly declares, locking her gaze with mine.

"Ummm...yeah," I agree, feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar but also happy she covered for my mistake.

Phoebe taps the pages, saying, "The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can have fun. Plus, if you work hard, I'll give you a star for our beach party."

The boys take a few moments to settle, but they eventually do. Phoebe begins instructing them, and I know I should step in, but I don't.

I can't.

I don't understand Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills or TEKS, which is their new math standards. I’ve been told it’s similar to Common Core math. Not that I would understand that either. So I think the same as Wilder. Two plus two equals four. It's straightforward. I don't need to have it broken down.

Phoebe breezes through it, explaining things so the boys understand, yet I'm still lost.

I hate it. I run numbers for my business all the time, yet I can't wrap my brain around my kids' homework. It makes me feel stupid and useless.

The more I watch Phoebe in action, the more panic hits me.

I have a week to learn everything I can about how to help my boys do their homework.

And I have zero clue how I'm going to figure it out.

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