Girl Meets The Unbroken

Girl Meets Father Part 2

2100+ words

(Third POV)

Downstairs in the kitchen Maya was sitting at the table with Mr. Mathews sitting across from her as he pulled out her test.

"Read it."

"I don't want to do that Mr. Mathews."

"Sit down." Riley said as Maya went to get up.

"Does he have to be here?" Maya asked as she pointed to Gavin who told her to sit before sitting beside her.

Sitting back down Maya opened the test to one the written response questions. "Darwin's animal studies were thought to be when he took on the boat with the beetles."

"Are you kidding me?" Riley said, shocked at what Maya had written.

"Or her for that matter?"

"What were you trying to do?" Cory asked.

"I was trying to write it like I was smart."

"You are smart." Gavin said, reassuring Maya just a bit.

"What did you mean to say?"

"Darwin studied animals."

"What kind?"

"I don't know."

"She does know." Riley said.

"I don't know. you think I don't know what I don't know?"

"I think you know more than you think you know." Gavin said, jumping in.

"What did Darwin study?" Riley asked.

"Birds."

"There you go."

"Really? I got that one wrong." Riley said, confused.

"You want to be smart Maya? Say what you mean. I understand you perfectly and you're correct."

"What's all I had to say?"

"What was the name of the boat?"

"The beetles."

"It's the beagle, it's a tiny difference. But an important one."

"Because when you know it, Maya you don't fail." Gavin said. "And I'll tell you something that someone once told me and I've taken it to heart and I suggest you do too. You are allowed to fail without being a failure."

"Thanks." Maya said as she smiled at the boy.

"What kind of birds did he study?"

"I don't know."

"You do." Riley.

"Finches."

"And what else." Gavin.

"Finches and Mockingbirds."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"How did you both know she knew?"

"I know she listens to you." Riley said.

"Ya."

"I listen to you."

"Then you won't fail. And neither will I."

After that the 5 of them, as Topanga came in to offer turkey sandwiches, continued to talk and Mr. Mathews let Maya have a B- as her new grade as he knew she knew the stuff.

Following that Maya explained that her father was no longer in the picture as he has this new family, and she felt that if she failed in the eyes of Mr. Mathews she lost another father figure.