Marked For Failure - Hugs.And.Kisses (book club recommendations .TXT) 📗

was still shaky, and still trying to calm down. But as they passed by the brownstone and began lap two, Layton finally broke the silence. "You said your parents have been yelling a lot? Fighting?"

"Yes…"

"What are they fighting about?"

Luke sighed. "Anything and everything, I guess," he said, keeping his eyes down. "I try not to listen too much." There were far too many evenings spent with his head crushed between his mattress and his pillow, reciting everything from multiplication tables to poetry in his head to try and block it out, and only being marginally successful.

"And this is why you're having difficulties in school?" the Professor asked. "You can't study while you're there because of the fighting?" It was bordering on the infuriating, how Layton had that calm demeanor about him and that kindness and the gentle voice that just made a person want to tell him everything, up to and including their deepest, darkest secrets.

Right now, that aura (for lack of a better word) was dragging everything out of his apprentice.

"I tried, Professor. I really did," Luke said miserably. "But having to listen to them…"

"So this is what's been bothering you?" Layton asked. "You haven't been yourself for quite some time now." At Luke's startled look, the Professor went on, "I noticed that something was wrong, but it didn't seem that you wanted to talk about it, so I didn't know if I should ask."

So Layton had noticed? It was a surprise to Luke. But there was one other thing bothering him, and he decided to take the risk. By now, he was sure that Layton wouldn't laugh at him or belittle him for his concerns. He bit his lip. "And the worst part…"

"The worst part?"

It was a fear that he had been harboring for a while, and finally decided to just let it out in a very small voice. "What if…what if they won't let me come here anymore?" The idea terrified him. He adored the Professor, and he loved coming to the office after his normal schoolday and learning from the man and their lessons and the adventures they went on.

Layton was quiet for a moment at that. By this time, they had come back to Layton's office for the second time, and Layton stopped at the walkway that led up to his front door. "Let's go back inside," he said with a gesture towards the building. Luke nodded and followed obediently.

As Luke was taking off his shoes once again, Layton picked up the fallen papers from the floor and studied them for a moment. Then he asked, "Do you have schoolwork to do tonight?"

"Yes…"

"Get it out. Let's take a look at it. I'll warm the tea," he said, regathering the tray.

Luke was startled. "But don't we have things to do?"

"Nothing that can't wait another day or so," the Professor said with a casual wave of the hand. "It's a simple question of priorities, my boy. That's all." And he began walking back towards the kitchen with the tray in his hands.

Despite the fact that his head was still both spinning and aching, Luke obediently gathered his schoolthings and opened them across the desk where they usually worked and had their lessons (and the occasional puzzle night). By the time he had things out and organized, fresh tea had appeared, and in a relatively short time they were sitting across the desk from each other, nursing cups of tea and diving into the wonderful world of mathematics.

Now that it was in the open, Luke was completely honest about just how far behind he was. And judging by the look on the Professor's face when he saw all of it, the problem was worse than Layton had initially thought. There were a good many unfinished assignments to be made up, as well as the current ones. But they buckled down and worked hard. By the time they were ready to call it a night, the sun was sinking dangerously low in the sky, and a good number of the backlogged assignments in Luke's folder were completed, along with the homework that was to be turned in the following day.

"Thank you for everything, Professor," Luke said as he gathered his things and prepared to head home. He was already trying to mentally steel himself for what would happen once he got home. He already knew that it wasn't going to be pretty. But at least everything was done for tomorrow, as well as some of the missing things, so there was that to be grateful for. He could face his teachers at school for another day, and that was no small thing.

"It's no trouble," Layton said. His expression grew serious for a moment. "Luke, I want you to make me a promise." He put a hand on Luke's shoulder, the weight warm and comforting. "If something is bothering you, I want you to promise that you'll tell me. Because I will help you however I can."

For some reason, Luke suddenly felt very ashamed of himself. "I promise."

Now the smile was back on Layton's face. "Good. Now I think you'd best be getting home. And Luke?" He gave the boy's shoulder a squeeze. "If you have more schoolwork, bring it with you tomorrow. Our regular lessons can wait a while longer."

Luke hesitated, then lunged forward and threw his arms around the Professor's waist. It was a spur of the moment gesture, completely impulsive and probably very silly, but he couldn't really think of any good verbal way to convey anything he was thinking or feeling right then.

Hands came to rest lightly on his back, and he heard a low chuckle. "You're welcome." A softer voice as one of the hands patted his back. "It's all right, Luke. We are going to get you through this. Everything is going to be just fine."

And really, no matter what was to come when he got home that night and presented the letter to his parents and weathered the storm that would undoubtedly accompany it, he felt better. After all, Professor Layton did not break his word. He said it was going to be all right.

And that was all the reassurance that Luke needed then.

The End
Imprint

Publication Date: 12-04-2011

All Rights Reserved