Page 11 of Shiver
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The next eveningis much the same. When my uncle calls me on Saturday as I’m piecing together a schedule and study routine for Egon, I can’t contain the begrudging grin in my tone.
“He’s not a bad kid, is he?” my uncle asks.
Sighing, I shake my head. “No. And you’re right. He’s not a dumb jock.”
Uncle Adak laughs. “Those words did not leave my mouth, Rakesh.”
I grin and sit back. “They didn’t, no. But that you felt the need to tell me he’s smart means that you know the old adage.”
He chuckles again before his tone is more serious. “So, what do you think? Can you help him?”
“I spent four hours over two nights just determining what he’s not grasping, Uncle. I haven’t even tried teaching him anything yet.”
“If you’re going to try to convince me that you don’t have a preliminary assessment on him yet, you’re going to have to try harder than that, son.”
I can’t stop the chuckle that escapes. “I think he’ll be fine. His immediate reaction when somethingsoundsforeign is panic. And right now, he has three classes that are using words he’s not comfortable with. Give me a week and I’ll tell you if you’ll be able to count on having your star hockey player for the semester.”
“You’ve already done wonderful things for his confidence, Rake,” my uncle says softly. “His smile is back, and he doesn’t look like he’s carrying a boulder on his shoulders.”
“No pressure,” I hum.
My uncle laughs.
In the following week, I’m surprised to not only find that Egonisn’tthe stereotypical dumb jock but that he’s actually fairly smart. Not smart in that he’ll get by in his classes without extra effort; but smart as in he wants to know. He wants to understand and he’s willing to put in the effort to do so.
After I gave him a technique to practice chemical systems, he couldn’t contain himself on Wednesday when something clicked in his head while he was in class. He texted me and I could practically hear his enthusiasm as he filled my screen with an explanation of chemical bonds as a direct link between atoms. I could tell he wasn’t just repeating what he’d been reading because his grammar is shit.
He bounds into my room that night with such excitement, I can’t help smiling at him.
“Rake, I understand it! At least, I’m starting to. Iunderstand!”His eyes are glossy for a minute as he stares at me with a wide smile before he blinks a few times and looks away.
I nod. “Good. You’re doing very well. Ready for the next module?”
Egon is still grinning hugely when he looks at me again and nods. I don’t miss the way his smile widens when I praise him. “Yep. Lay it on me, Rakesh. I’m going to pass this fucking shit.”
I text my uncle the following Saturday.
Me
Your boy will be fine. You can count on him for this semester.
Uncle Adak
Good to hear, son. I appreciate your help.
Drumming my fingers on the desk, I glance out the window. I thought that I’d hate Egon’s company. That the time I had to dedicate to him would feel like a chore. So, I’m pleasantly surprised when I find myself looking forward to his visit on Monday evening.
Pushing from my desk, I strip off my clothes and pull on some gym pants and a tee. One of the positive features of my apartment building is that we have our own gym. No smelly jocks and I don’t have to worry about the communal shower after. Grabbing my keys, I leave my apartment and head to the first floor and the empty gym, preparing myself for Egon’s visit in a couple days.
FIVE
RAKESH
Pre-season gamesfor the NHL are halfway through when Eastern State has its first game. I already knew games were going to skew the schedule I’d set with Egon, so I’d created a shared calendar in which I had his commitments and games logged, highlighting when I expected him to be here for study.
Sports Spot is flitting through the games between the Florida Manatees vs. Tampa Pirates, the New York Gulls vs. New York Lights, and the Toronto Red Foxes vs. the Montreal Whiteouts when there’s a knock on my door. I get up, glancing at the clock to see that I still have nearly twenty minutes before Egon is due to arrive and make my way to the door without taking my gaze from the television.
