Atlas jumped the last several steps on his way down to the kitchen for breakfast. His smile faded when he caught the serious, almost grim expressions on his parents’ faces. His eyes fell on some open letters on the counter with the recognizable logos of his university. “Uh,” he stammered unsure what he should say.
Lifting the letter “what’s the meaning of this?”
Atlas shrugged “isn’t it self explanatory?” He took a step back as he was buffeted by his parents disapproval.
“You’re barely passing your classes,” Temperance crossed her arms giving her son a stern glare “how do you think you’re going to tutor someone when you can barely do your own work?”
“I’ll get extra credit,” Atlas mumbled, finding his feet more comfortable to look at than the disappointment in his parents eyes.
“You need to focus on your studies,” Will said “or you’ll never become a good doctor.”
Atlas looked up, pressing his lips together to keep from saying he didn’t want to be a doctor. He didn’t want to be knee deep in blood or make life and death decisions. He pried his lips apart “I …”
“We know how much you want to join the family practice,” Temperance said, “but you have to do your part.”
“I know,” he said, his words almost a plea.
Waving the letter “then you’ll call the university and decline this tutorship,” Will said.
Shaking his head “I can’t do that.”
“And why not,” Temperance demanded.
“Because I gave them my word,” Atlas said, digging his toes in. He could get out of his commitment but he had reasons why he wanted to do it. Reasons he wasn’t ready to share with his parents yet.
Will put a gentle hand on his wife’s shoulder before she could say anything. “If it means that much to you then do it. However if your grades start falling you will stop tutoring.” He stared at his son a moment before adding “understood?”
“I’m not a child,” Atlas mumbled but under his parents stern gaze he nodded “understood.”
“Good,” Will nodded, giving his head a little shake when Temperance appeared to want to add something.
Ivy chose that moment to join them in the kitchen. “Hey look, I made it on the Dean’s list,” she grinned at the notice she received. Looking around the room at the serious faces of her parents and the rather anxious face of her brother. “Oh I get it, Atlas didn’t make it.”
“No he didn’t,” Temperance said with a little sigh.
“What’s the big deal?” Ivy asked, “he didn’t make it last time either.”
“We know,” Will said as he filled his coffee cup.
“What did you do?” she demanded of her brother.
“Nothing,” he mumbled.
“You must have done something,” she prompted.
“Fine,” he waved towards the open letter “I signed up as a tutor.”
“You,” she choked.
Frowning, “yeah me.”
“But you barely pass your own classes,” she tried not to smirk but she couldn’t help it.
“Go ahead and laugh,” he grumbled “everyone else is.”
“We’re definitely not laughing,” his mother said over her shoulder.
“Whatever,” he mumbled, deciding he’d rather starve than endure his sister’s gloating or his parent’s disappointment a moment longer.
Ivy watched her brother leave with a smug expression. “I don’t see why Atlas has such a hard time. It’s not like he dates or has any friends. It should be easy for him to get good grades.”
“Ivy” Temperance admonished “that’s enough. Not everyone can be on the Dean’s List.”
“Well don’t blame me if we get sued for malpractice,” Ivy said, shoving a freshly baked muffin in her mouth.
“We have every confidence in your brother,” Will said from behind his newspaper.
“I’m just say’in,” Ivy shrugged, grabbing her keys.
“Before you go,” Temperance called after her daughter “will you do me a favor?”
Rolling her eyes “I guess.”
“Will you take these fliers over to the mayor’s house?” she asked, pointing towards the stack of fliers on the counter. “I would but I’m due for surgery in an hour…”
“Mom,” Ivy protested, “I’ll be for the hours.”
“Thank you sweetie,” Temperance said, over her coffee cup.
“Fine,” Ivy stomped back to the kitchen and swooped up the fliers “but you owe me.”
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