Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 "Let's start with long division!" Pearl said cheerfully. "You sound way too happy when you say that," Michael grumbled. "What can I say?" Pearl grinned. "Math makes me happy!" "Ugh!" Michael groaned as he plopped down next to Pearl at the desk. The two began studying. Pearl turned out to be a good teacher, and Michael made some progress, but then he noticed his soccer ball sitting in the corner of the room. "Where are you going?" Pearl asked as Michael stood up from his chair and walked toward the ball. "You can ask me questions while I practice my footwork." Michael began juggling his soccer ball. Pearl frowned. "I don't think you'll be able to concentrate on your math while you're doing that."

"What?" Michael asked, distracted. Merle, helping out, grabbed the ball as it left Michael's foot and pointed him back toward the desk. "Ugh!" Michael repeated and plopped back down next to Pearl. "All right. Maybe we should work a little on fractions?" she asked. "Or maybe I can just eat a pound of raw brussels sprouts?" Michael said sarcastically. "Ooh! That sounds delicious, but let's do fractions first," Pearl said. Again, the two were making good progress, but before long, Michael was flat on his back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Can you ask me questions while I lie here?" he asked.

"You can do this!" Pearl said, frustrated. "You just need to put more effort into it." KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Merle and Pearl scrambled to hide, but then they heard a familiar voice call through the door, "Can we come in?" "Come on in!" Michael replied, and Justin and Sadie entered the room. "I see you're studying hard!" Sadie said, noting the math book open on the desk. "He could be studying harder," Pearl muttered. "Well, we're done studying, and we wanted to celebrate by going roller-skating!" Justin said. "Roller-skating?" Merle asked. "It's where you put wheels on your feet and roll around," Michael explained. "Why would you want to do that?" asked Merle.

"Because it's fun!" Sadie said. "Well then, count me in!" Merle said. "It'll be nice to get out of the house." "Great! Wanna come, Michael?" Justin asked. "Michael, you still have to—" Pearl began to say, but Michael cut her off. "I don't have any money to get in," he said. "I can loan you the five bucks," Justin offered graciously.

Michael thought of the $10 bill waiting for him on the refrigerator. "Cool. Thanks, Justin. I can pay you back once I get a B on the test." "I don't know if you are quite ready for the test," Pearl said. But Michael was already on his feet and heading for the door. "Hold on!" Pearl said. "Merle, do you remember the Thessalonians?"