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  Collin stopped the twisting movement and met his gaze.

  “Can you at least tell me how school is going?”

  “School is school.”

  “Come on, I’m sure it was more than that.”

  “No, nothing more. Found all my classes. Figured out how to go from one place to another. It’s not a big deal,” Collin said in a low voice. He picked up a pencil and stabbed it into the scarred tabletop.

  Okay, we’re slipping back to the bratty mode. Great.

  Wyatt rolled his eyes but kept the gesture from his nephew’s sight. “I know it’s yet another new school for you and things are crazy. Give it a chance. It isn’t a bad place, right?”

  Collin looked up with a glower. “It’s high school. Whatcha think?”

  Wyatt tugged off the gloves then shoved a hand through his hair. “What I think is I’m trying to have a simple conversation with my nephew? Something a normal person can do. You were rather enthusiastic about living with me. What the hell happened?”

  “Reality.” Collin shrugged. “I don’t know anyone. I lost my soccer position. All my friends are in Maryland. How else am I supposed to feel? I’m sorry, Uncle Wyatt, it sucks.”

  “Look, bud, I know this is a big change and a shit load of pressure on you. Your parents are in the Middle East and you’re here in a quiet, sleepy town. Would you rather be in the desert with your folks?”

  “Tell me about it, and hell no, I don’t want to be in that desert box.”

  “Then something has to give.” Unable to let this go further, Wyatt removed the rest of his protective gear. After he tugged and turned another chair to face Collin, he straddled it and braced his arms across the top. “You need to change your attitude, bud. We’re not doing this for the next few years.”

  Collin lifted his gaze.

  “Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I want you to mean it this time. Not give me the same answer you would to your dad. I’m not him, I know. Are you going to work with me?”

  “I’ll try to figure it out.”

  “I’ll accept that answer. Look, I know I didn’t help with anything, being lost in my grief. I’m sorry about being so distant.”

  “It’s okay, Uncle Wyatt. You were hurting.”

  “It doesn’t excuse my behavior or cutting you off. I promised to be here for you and now I need to follow up on it. So, here I am. I really don’t want to have another argument with you like last night. Neither one of us needs that shit. Can we call it a freaking truce and start again?” Wyatt held out his hands.

  “Are you going to hover all over me? ’Cause, man, that’ll be just too damn weird,” Collin said.

  “Not all the way hovering, I promise, but do want to know what’s happening. I wouldn’t mind hearing about school from your point of view. It’s a new place. New routine…”

  “It sucks, Uncle Wyatt.”

  “What sucks about it?”

  “I told you earlier. Everything about it, okay? It’s a new school and I didn’t start with everyone else so I’m playing catch-up. My friends are miles away in Maryland. I’m a freaking freshman and have no status whatsoever.”

  Why is he being so stubborn?

  “It’s been a couple of months since you started. Did you try to make new friends?”

  “Please, no one knows I even exist.”

  “Did you talk to the coach about trying out for the soccer team?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “I watched both teams practice. They have goalies and back-ups. No place for me. It’s too late for me to even try for the team. They’re already in the season. First chance I could get is next summer.”

  “Doesn’t mean a coach wouldn’t give you a chance. From what I heard, you’re a damn fine goalie. What would it hurt to give it a shot? Ask. Perhaps not play for the team, but there are intramural events, right?”

  Collin harrumphed.

  “Okay. Fine. No soccer.” Wyatt held up his hands. “What have you done this semester? Anything interesting?”

  Collin rolled his eyes. “The science teacher says I’m behind in work. Told him I’ve been to multiple schools due to my dad being in the Army and I took different science classes at each one. It’s the same with all of the classes—I learned different things at each school and not all of them followed the same coursework. The teacher thinks he can help me out. Just what I need, right?”

  “If it helps your academics and prepares you for college…”

  Picking up a different pencil and finding paper, Collin doodled as he talked. “College? Why would I want to think about college?”

  Wyatt kept a grin to himself when he watched his nephew mimic his doodling habit. He knew Collin was a great artist, since he was a little kid. It seemed Collin had built his talent over the years. “Since you’re starting high school, now is the time to think about what you’re going to do after graduation. You’ll need to prepare for your SATs, figure out what schools you want to apply to, and pull your applications together.”

  “Shit…” Continuing to doodle, Collin shook his head.

  “Didn’t you get the talk from your parents and other schools about all this?”

  Collin shrugged. “I was still in middle school. It wasn’t on the radar.” He chose another pencil to add shading to the drawing.

  “If they did, I’m sure it went in one ear and out of the other.” Wyatt got out of the chair. “You’re gonna have to catch up, buddy.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.”

  “Do you want to go to college? Would you rather follow your dad and join the Army?”

  “No, I don’t want to be a soldier,” Collin said right away.

  “What about college? Or a job. It seems you’re interested in drawing. Are you taking an art class?”

  “I have one as an elective. The teacher wants me to pull together a portfolio of earlier work.”

  “That’s fantastic. You showed promise to him,” Wyatt said, pushing enthusiasm into his tone to motivate Collin. “Do you have one? Should we get you a new portfolio cover?”

  Collin stopped his drawing and lifted his gaze. “Would you get one for me?”

  “Look around you, Collin, this is what I do for a living.” Wyatt turned to lean back against the table. He swept his hand over his studio. “I’ll encourage whatever your interest is. You’re welcome to borrow any supplies you see around here and back home. Not like I don’t have a crap load of empty pads lying around.”

  “I don’t think ‘a crap load’ covers the amount of pads.”

  “Smart ass.”

  “How many stores did you buy out?”

  “None. I ordered online. Amazon is my friend,” Wyatt said.

  Collin laughed.

  “Anyway, other than the pads, if you want to learn how to use some of the machines, go ahead and ask. I’ll show you how to work them. Hell, we can even talk to your teacher about having a field day here to show the rest of the class.” He held up one finger. “The only thing is that I don’t want you to touch any of them without my permission. Some can cause major harm if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  “Thank you, Uncle Wyatt.”

  “Any time. Why don’t you show me what you have when we get home? We’ll work on pulling together your portfolio.”

  “Really? Thanks.”

  “I’m trying here, Collin, give me a little something to work with. It’s all I’m asking for.”

  “Okay. Better go do some homework,” Collin said as he slid off the stool, grabbed his bag then left the workroom.

  “Yeah. Go do that,” Wyatt said and returned to what he was doing. “Great talk. Let’s do it again.” He shoved his hands through his hair at the sarcasm and wondered if this was what his life was going to be now.

  Chapter Five

  Things were going well both inside and outside the classroom. Keegan loved his students. The school board trusted him with several ninth and tenth grade science
classes and some laboratory hours. In accordance with the standard science curriculum, he followed the guided lesson plans and adjusted things to keep the students interested. He spent whatever free time he had honing and soaking in everything he could from the texts and online offerings. This new curriculum had been a challenge to figure out at first, but he realized it kept all of the students on the same pace and track within each grade. The students followed the same plans, resources and lab work.

  Keegan didn’t have to waste hours planning classes and exams. Everything was included, but he continued to create extra worksheets, lab reports and quizzes to enhance the work.

  With a ninth grade class coming up, Keegan opened the expanding file, which held both the teacher and student versions of the texts and extra paperwork he graded. Checking his laptop, he noted those students who didn’t turn in their work. He highlighted five rows and one of them held the name of the new transfer student, Collin McBride. There was a comment about how he still hadn’t received his copy of the signed contract. He tapped his pen against the desk.

  If Collin chose to not turn in his homework or the signed contract, Keegan would have to give the kid a second strike and put a call in to his— Wait a minute, there wasn’t a parent with this one. What was it? Keegan clicked another comment.

  “Guardian?” He brought his eyebrows together and read further. “Oh, shit, could this be the same McBride?” He flipped another page to find Collin’s information. “Oh, I’ll be, it’s him. Wyatt McBride. Oh, crap. This is his nephew. Holy crap. What are the freaking odds? What else is going on with this family? Parents are military and stationed overseas and Wyatt, the uncle, is the guardian until Collin graduates. Okay, calm down, I can admire the artist, but I can’t show any favor to one student. It wouldn’t be fair.” When he realized he’d had a complete conversation with himself, Keegan groaned. He hadn’t been back to the gallery since that meeting and wasn’t sure how to handle a possible up-close talk with the artist. The first man who’d managed to tug a response out of him since he’d been through rehabilitation and recovery.

  The bell rang and students filed into the room and sat at their two-student, marble-topped tables which made up one of the many science rooms. Keegan closed some screens on his laptop then looked up as the classroom filled.

  “Good afternoon. Good afternoon. We’re going to continue with the Penny Lab.” He pulled out the stack of worksheets, which included the pre-lab questions chart each team had filled out the day before. “Take your seats, please, so we can begin. We have lots to get through,” he said and repeated himself as needed until the second bell—the late notice—rang.

  Right as the bell finished, Collin McBride slunk inside the door. Bright earbuds stuck in his ears. He made his way to his assigned spot.

  “Mr. McBride, please remove the earbuds and stop using whatever music or electronic device you have there before I take them away for the remainder of the day,” Collin warned the teen.

  Without a reply, Collin tugged out the buds then shoved them in his messenger bag. He dropped in his chair and the bag fell on the floor next to him.

  “Quiet down.” Keegan tapped his knuckles on the desk to get attention from the other students. “Okay, we’re going to continue our study with the Penny Lab. I have your pre-lab questions.” He passed out the finished and new worksheets for each team. “There’s also a worksheet of the suggested vocabulary and terminology to be expected as we move through the lesson. I’ve added the weekly crossword. As usual, I’ll need these handed back to me along with your post-lab questionnaire. One from each team may collect your box of equipment from the supply cabinet. Also, I need everyone to pass forward last night’s vocabulary practice.”

  While one student from each table went to the supply cabinets, others turned within their seats as they passed their papers forward to their classmates. The students at the front tables handed each stack to Keegan when he passed the aisle. He flipped through the stack, briefly checking in on the names from each aisle, counting the papers versus the desks to see that everyone had done the work. He found McBride’s sheet in the mix so it was a good start for him.

  “Awesome, I have a sheet from everyone. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Good work. Next, I want your folders with your completed checklist of requirements and the lab report from the My Two Cents lesson.”

  The students groaned and there were more shuffling sounds.

  “Yeah, yeah, mean Mr. D. I get that every class, but you’re going to have to get used to these lab reports and checklists. As we go further in the plans, they’ll get longer and more difficult. By practicing with these smaller ones, you’ll have no trouble with the increasing difficulty. They’ll be a breeze.” Keegan rolled his eyes as he called upon the self-teasing he’d started earlier. He could make fun of himself for the sake of the students. After everything he’d been through, nothing made him feel better than the sound of young laughter, even if it was it at his own expense.

  The class rumbled into chuckles.

  “I hope everyone remembered the requirements for this lab report on their checklist, which must be verified and signed by a parent or guardian. The report must conclude everything you did throughout the lessons, the data collection, a clear focus and supporting analysis.” Keegan looked around at each student. “Okay, hand the folders up to me.”

  Once again, students twisted and collected folders. Keegan stopped at one aisle and counted the folders. He was one short.

  Okay, the earlier good work compliment now falls short. What do I have to do to motivate these students to complete their homework?

  “Who didn’t finish their assignment in this aisle?” he asked, studying the students at each table.

  “Me.”

  Keegan met the solemn gaze of Collin McBride. “You know the late policy, Collin.”

  “Yes, sir, I know,” Collin said. “There’s no excuse for not finishing the work.”

  “I agree, there isn’t an excuse. Who else didn’t finish the assignment?” Keegan looked over the class.

  Four other boys and a girl raised their hands in a slightly timid fashion.

  “Six of you? I’m disappointed.”

  Keegan returned to the desk and adjusted his glasses. He turned to his laptop and selected the screen with the program he needed. Once again, he studied the line of records for the students in question, including Collin McBride, and shook his head. Pulling off his glasses, he looked over the class.

  “This is unacceptable. Again, I’m disappointed this happened. All of you signed the contract, including the policy and course synopsis. Mr. McBride, I’m still missing your signed contract. This makes your second infraction and you’ll stay after class to speak with me. Understood?”

  Collin slunk deeper in his chair and mumbled, “Yes, sir.”

  “As for the other five, this is your first infraction. Please don’t have me do more than give you a reprimand,” he said, staring at each one in turn. “I don’t like it any more than you do. Okay?”

  The five students nodded.

  “The six of you will have your assignment increased. I want a thorough paper of at least three typed pages about the difference between the two main categories of increase and decrease. Same rules and checklist applies. For every day you are late, I will add another fifty words and an additional vocabulary word. Am I clear?”

  All six students nodded.

  “Don’t just nod your heads.” Keegan tapped his finger on the desk. “Write it down in your scheduling books. Highlight and circle it if you must so you don’t forget. I want these papers turned in before the test. I also want this extra assignment added to your checklists so I will remember when grading your papers.”

  The students did as they’d been told.

  “I’ll have it to you tomorrow,” Collin said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat after writing the extra assignment.

  “I expected to have it today with the others, Mr. McBride. The policy is a promise
between you, your parents and me that you’ll do the work in class and at home correctly, honestly and on time. Every time. Am I understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Collin said, shifting in his chair again.

  “Does everyone understand the policy?” Keegan looked at the rest of the class.

  They all answered in the affirmative.

  “Good. No more excuses or tardiness, and we wasted enough time dealing with this mess. There’s a lot to do this class period.”

  In less than a minute, Keegan collected the rest of the folders then placed them in the expanding file to grade along with the spelling papers. He took an extra moment to make a notation in a notebook of which students had been late and the extra assignment he’d given them.

  “Thank you, I look forward to reading about your conclusions. Okay, yesterday, everyone gathered information on their pile of pennies. Today, I want each team to create at least two histograms. At the same time, make sure to answer the questions on the assessment and explain your calculations.”

  Typical groans rose from the students, but everyone knew the drill.

  As the class continued, he walked around to each table to confirm and question their work. He made sure they zeroed out the precision triple-beam and digital scales. Before they knew it, it came close to the end of class and Keegan gave last minute instructions. The bell rang and everyone put away their equipment and gathered their things.

  “Mr. McBride, stay for a moment.”

  The teen gathered his things, but instead of following the others out of the door, he shuffled up the aisle.

  Keegan leaned back against the desk, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied the teenager. “What are we going to do with you, Mr. McBride? Like you, I’m new to this school. I can’t show favor or let one student slide in my class. It isn’t good for you, any other student, or myself. Understand?”

  Collin nodded, seemingly unable to make any reply.

  “Do you need another copy of the contract?”

  “No. I have it.”

  “Why isn’t it signed?”

  Collin shrugged.

  “A shrug isn’t a good answer. I’m going to place a call to your guardian and request a meeting.”