The Wolf Tutor
Another older story I wrote in 2011.
Dylan was a small child who had difficulty reading and writing, and struggled to improve. His Mother and Father kept trying to teach him but Dylan still had troubles. One day while Dylan was sitting outside in the backyard, a rustling sound came from the bushes, Dylan looked up and out of the bushes stood a wolf, the wolf was pure white and had piercing eyes.
Dylan backed away in terror, "Don't be afraid," said the wolf.
"Who are you," asked Dylan?
"I don't have a name, just call me Tutor," replied the wolf.
"Why are you here," asked Dylan?
"I'm here because I sensed that you are having a tough time in learning how to read and write. And I thought I could help you if you want," answered Tutor.
"Yes please," said Dylan!
"Alright, let's begin," said Tutor.
"Bring some chalk," instructed the wolf.
Dylan nodded and went inside to get some chalk while keeping quiet so his parents couldn't hear him, who was having a deep discussion.
He came back out and found the wolf standing next to some flagstones. "Good," and the wolf took a piece with his paw.
"How do you do that, hold the chalk with your paw," asked Dylan?
"Years of practice," answered Tutor.
"Now watch and pay attention," ordered the wolf.
The wolf made a capital 'A' and then a small 'a' on the flagstone. "Now this is an 'a' it is the first letter in the alphabet. It has a couple of ways it is said depending were it is in a word the first sound it makes is 'ei' likeAsia. Say it with me, 'ei'" ordered the wolf.
"Ei" said Dylan.
"Good, here is the other way it sounds," after the wolf showed the ways 'a' sounded he moved on to the next letter.
"Now this is a 'B', it also has a couple of ways to be said, the first is like this 'bi' as in bee say it now."
This went on till they reached 'E' then the wolf stopped. "Recite all the letters we have gone through and so Dylan did and the wolf made him say them again and again.
"Terrific, tonight I want you to write these letters several times on a piece of paper and have it ready when we meet again which will be tomorrow at the same time good for you" asked the wolf?
"Yes, why is there homework involved" asked Dylan?
The wolf smirked and smiled, "To practice and it won't kill you, to learn you must put work in to it and in the end you'll be better at it. Now go to your house and get it done and have a good nights sleep," said Tutor and in turned tail and walked away.
That evening Dylan did what he was told and wrote all the letters that he and the wolf went through today many times. His Mom came in and saw this and asked what he was doing and Dylan showed her and she walked out with out another word though in her mind she was happy that he was mastering letters.
The next day Dylan met at the same flagstone bringing the chalk and the wolf jumped to him and sat down. "Did you do your assigned work," asked the wolf?
"Yes" said Dylan and laid the paper in front of the wolf.
"Good" Now let us continue where left off yesterday.
This continued for several days. They reached the end of the alphabet and started with numbers. Dylan did well on most of them but had trouble with 13 and 15 and 21. Dylan found it frustrating and the wolf put a paw on his shoulder, "We all have our issues with some part of learning everyone learns differently and we all have an issue with on detain ever now and then, don't quit just keep trying and you'll get it," soothed the wolf.
Eventually Dylan, after the wolf tried another technique for Dylan to understand and he got the three numbers mastered. The next thing they worked on was sentences. "Write me at least ten complete sentences due tomorrow when we meet again sleep well," said Tutor.
"Geez, more homework," groaned Dylan, the wolf laughed "Won't kill you," and he pranced off.
After that the tutor made Dylan read some books out loud to him and Dylan found he enjoyed poetry especially after hearing the wolf recite some of his own that sounded magical.
After he mastered English the wolf taught him the letters in other languages, When Dylan asked why the wolf said: "It won't hurt plus if you get a fascination for other languages you'll have a jump start" replied the wolf.
After much work and effort Dylan finally mastered reading and writing. One day when Dylan's parents were away, Dylan ventured out in to the morning and out there stood the wolf. "Hello," said Dylan.
"Hello my good friend" and the wolf trotted forward and gestured for Dylan to follow him.
"So how are you doing in school," asked the wolf?
"Excellent," replied Dylan he was on top in his class and his parents could relax when they asked him how he mastered everything he had just told them he had a great tutor.
The wolf smiled, "That is very good, I see you have listened and applied."
Another moment of silence went by. "I came here to tell you farewell, and to continue to do well in your schooling," said the wolf.
Dylan took this in, "Will I every see you again," asked Dylan?
"Maybe, maybe not unless you have a major problem down the road," answered the wolf.
"Thank you for everything and how can I repay you," asked Dylan who was trying to hold back tears?
The wolf stopped and looked at him, "This is how you can, I want you to never stop learning, for we learn more everyday let me leave you with a quote:
The day that someone stops learning is the day that someone will die not by body but by the mind"
Dylan nodded his head and promised the tutor and he kneeled down hugged the white wolf and the wolf returned it and the wolf trotted off. Dylan spent the day wondering around the yard. Even as time passed he never stopped learning and kept the promise he made to his wolf tutor.