Mona:
“Your assignments are written on the board behind me.” Uncle Alex, or Mr. Lawson as I am forced to call him at school, was trying to speak over the sounds of the bell and the rustling of everyone trying to pack up their bags. “Have them done by Monday! You have the whole weekend to think of nothing but history!” He smiled at the chuckling students who whizzed by him out the door, ready to start their weekend plans that we all know will have nothing to do with homework. “Mona, can you stay behind a moment?”
I sighed as I slumped back into my chair. “Yes, Mr. Lawson.” I had a feeling this would be about my slipping grades, but I was hoping maybe it would be a family matter instead. You never know what might come up when your senior history class is being taught by your Uncle that all your friends think is super hot. I thought he was hot, maybe even sexy, at times too, but then the creepy alarms go off in my head. The alarms that always scream, “Uh, hello?! Earth to Mona! You’re related. That’s disgusting,” thus ruining any daydreaming fun I could be having.
Once the last student cleared out, Uncle Alex walked around to the front of his desk, leaning back on it, hands gripping the edges. This could easily be the start of a porno or any of my friends’ wet dreams. Ugh, why am I thinking that again?
“Mona, you are on the verge of failing my class.” I could feel my stomach plummet and my throat swell. I knew I was slipping up, but I had no idea it was that bad. “I don’t know what is going on with you, but I don’t want to be shunned from Thanksgiving because I had to fail my favorite niece.” I bit my lip, hard. I didn’t want that either, especially since it would be my fault, not his.
“Uncle Alex, I’m so, so sorry. Please, don’t tell my mom yet! Is it too late to bounce back?” My gaze kept shifting from him to my empty desk and back again. Guilt began swelling inside me, and I could just picture the look of frustration and disappointment on my mom’s face.
With a sigh and rubbing the back of his neck, Uncle Alex moved back around his desk to his seat. “Listen, this assignment due on Monday needs to be perfect. On top of that, I can try to figure out some extra credit to give you.” He began to organize the papers on his desk and load up his briefcase. “Cancel any weekend plans you had because you’re spending the weekend with me.” I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could he continued, “Go home, pack a bag, including your uniform just in case you’re with me ’til Monday morning and be ready by six. I’ll pick you up.” With that, he snapped his briefcase shut and left the classroom.
I sat there, staring at the door for a few moments. He wants me to stay at his house? I haven’t been to his house since the house-warming barbeque he had a year ago. I have certainly never been there on my own. I sent a text to the group chat letting them know I won’t be able to do anything due to this assignment and my poor grades. A few of them offered their assistance, but I told them my mom wasn’t going to allow it knowing how poorly I was doing. They continued blowing up the group chat with various ideas of what the rest of them should do this weekend, and I bitterly muted the notifications.