Homework struggles

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Sheryl was helping me get my stuff ready for school.

Sheryl: you got any homework?
James: er no?
Sheryl: so if I look in your bag I won't find anything
James: probably not
She went through my bag and there was my work for Mr Bell.
James: that's from ages ago
Sheryl: then why has it got tomorrows date on it?
James: erm
Sheryl: oh look Mr Bell even put a note on it. Didn't complete work in class. Given as homework. Needs to be done by tomorrow. Answers need to be written in maths book
James: ugh but
Sheryl: don't try it. Get your homework done.
James: but I don't understand it
Sheryl: ask David to help you
James: fine
Sheryl: watch the attitude

I went downstairs and David was marking some books at the kitchen table.
David: you alright James?
James: can you help me please?
David: what do you have to do?
James: equations
David: I can try. Let me have a look
I gave him the worksheet and he just looked at it confused.
David: oh erm ask Liam

I went up to Liams room and he was studying so I didn't want to interrupt him. I went back to the kitchen table and looked at my sheet

 I went back to the kitchen table and looked at my sheet

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It was making no sense what so ever.
David went upstairs and I was at the table by myself.

David pov
I was upstairs sorting out my stuff for tomorrow. I was walking down the stairs when I could hear huffing and puffing and mumbling. I knew it was James cause he was in the kitchen doing homework
David: What's up bud?
James was sat at the kitchen table doing looking like he was about to cry
James: this homework is bullshit
David: when is it due in?
James: tomorrow
David: when was it set?
James: today
David: so they expect you to do it by tomorrow?
James: mhm and if I don't then I have a two hour detention.
David: I thought you get extra time
James: i do but it's because I didn't finish the work in the lesson so it doesn't count. It's bullshit I haven't even started. I don't understand it.

He threw the pencil across the room
David: It's okay, I understand how hard it is, what do you not understand?
I pick up the pencil and sit on the chair beside him
Donte: the words and numbers are moving. Everything's jumbled up it's a huge mess. The fucking overlay ain't doing shit. I can't concentrate.
He was getting more frustrated and overwhelmed.

David: How about we calm down and I'll try and help you
James: can i take a break?
David: sure
He came back 10 mins later. He sat back down and took the pencil from me
David: so what do you need to do?
James: finish the worksheet
David: okay so read it again
He began reading it and I can tell by his facial expressions that he doesn't understand the text.
David: do you know how to answer it?
He looked back at the sheet scanning with his eyes. He reads the same part over and over.
David: can you do it?
James: no it's too hard it doesn't make any fucking sense. Such bullshit. There's too much to do.

He pushed the paper off the island and dashed the pencil across the room. Tears of frustration threatening to spill.
David: hey bud it's okay. We're not throwing things tho
I pick up the paper and pencil and set it back down infront of him. I can't be mad at him it's not his fault.
James: no it's not okay I'm so stupid. Why can't I do it? Why is everything so much harder for me? I've read the same fucking thing over and over and it's not going in. There's too much fucking work to do and I haven't even started. I hate my stupid brain.

He just broke down in tears. The frustration and anger finally spilling over. It broke my heart watching him break down like this. That he is struggling so much. I pulled him into a hug.
David: hey bud your not stupid. I don't want to hear that. You're not stupid okay. Your brains not stupid you just learn differently. You may struggle with school but you are sure as hell talented at sports. I'll email your teacher and ask if they can break it down next time so it's less overwhelming or give you an easier sheet so that way it'll be easier for you but you would still be using what you've learnt in lesson.
James: you'll actually do that?
David: of course bud. How about we see if Liam can help with this seeing as we both know this ain't my best subject
James: he's studying
David: it's fine we'll give him a few minutes then ask. you wanna go make something to eat?
James: sure

James made himself some noodles and Liam came down stairs
David: would you be able to help James with his homework?
Liam: sure
David: James come and sit down
He sat down and Liam started explaining it to him

Liam pov
I wrote out the steps in different colours to help him.
Liam: I'll do the first one for you
Example
7x+9=23
1) take +9 over to the other side and it becomes -9
2) now it's 7x=23-9
3) then you do 23-9 which is 14
4) wrote it out and you have 7x=14
5) to get x by itself you need to take the 7 to the other side
6) because you times when you take it over you'll decide so it will become x=14/7
7) now just divide 14 by 7 and you'll get 2. So x=2
You get it?
James: I think so
Liam: right try the next one. 9x+5=41
James started writing it down. He was quite fidgety but he was still doing the work. Lila came running in which distracted him.
Liam: James
He got back to his work until Lila started talking to him.
Liam: Lila he can't concentrate with you talking to him
Lila: sorry
Lila went into the living room
Liam: come on James
James: okay
He started writing. After about 20 minutes
James: finished
I looked at his book.
6x+5=41
6x=41-5
6x=36
x=36/6
x=6
Liam: it's right but it was 9x not 6
James: for fuck sake
Liam: hey it's okay. Try again. Just remember it's 9
James started writing and after 10 minutes he had finished.
9x+5=41
9x=41-5
9x= 36
x=36/9
x=4
Liam: That's right
We finished the first section and it was 9pm
Liam: right I think that's it for today.
We went to bed

James WilsonWhere stories live. Discover now