The Gryphon's Goal: Chapter 3, Part 4
#12 of The Gryphon's Goal
Here's the end of Chapter 3! Chapter 4 begins Monday!
"Sorry I'm late, Mister Kimbrell," Larry said as he entered the classroom. He felt the weight of everyone's eyes as he approached his desk. "I had to really go to the bathroom." It was the truth, even if it wasn't all of the truth.
Mister Kimbrell, a tall, whip-lean man with shocking red hair and equally shocking freckles, smiled under his walrus mustache. "Next time hold it until study hall," he said after the classroom's snickers died down.
"Yes sir."
Larry tried to keep his focus on the lesson--something about formulas with imaginary numbers--but his thoughts were going through the possibilities of Plato's payment. What could he possibly want from Larry, and what if Larry couldn't pay him?
The answer was easy: Courtland would renew his license to bully Larry. Maybe for a lifetime!
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Larry was slower than usual to reach his locker. Apprehension weighed him down during his walk, and when he saw Plato waiting for him, he also froze like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Hey there," Plato said, smiling.
"Hi." Larry briefly debated the merits of turning tail and running, but decided it would not only be cowardly, it would probably be very rude. After all, Plato saved him from a beating.
"I'll get right to the point. You need help with keeping Courtland off your back, and I need help with one of my classes."
Larry blinked. Could it be that easy? "What class?"
Plato shifted from hoof to hoof. "Promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise." After seeing how Plato handled Courtland, Larry would be the last gryphon on Earth to laugh at him.
"I'm having problems with Math."
"But you're a Senior, aren't you? Shouldn't you get someone in your grade to help you?"
Plato looked at the locker, then closed his eyes. "It's Remedial Math. You know, for students with...learning disabilities."
"Oh." Larry didn't know what else to say, except: "Well, I can try to tutor you." Was he qualified to tutor someone with a learning disability?
Plato met Larry's eyes, and his own eyes brightened at Larry's answer. "Really? Thanks!"
"When do you want me to tutor you?"
Plato gave that question some thought. "How about my place this Friday? After school?"
Larry couldn't think of anything he needed to do that day except for hanging out with Osaze, so he nodded. "Sure. Give me the directions to your place later."
"All right, Larry. See you then."
As Larry watched Plato walk down the hall to his next class, a thought struck the gryphon:
The minotaur was really cute.