Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Those boys are gonna be the death of me,” Amelia said, taking a seat next to Ava. “They have so much energy.”
The trio of girls had already skipped the first grade together. They were all smart. I expected other years and classes to be jumped over, but Livie had a rare next-level intelligence. When the school nudged us to pinpoint her brilliance, we spoke with her pediatrician who agreed to work with their elementary school to perform a series of IQ tests. Today’s meeting was the grand finale of everyone’s efforts.
I threw out a hand when Dash stayed quiet. He needed to lead this charge. I felt like the village idiot surrounded by all these excessively smart people. “As we all know, this is really about Livie, and all the meetings she went through this summer. We’ve agreed to have Ava and Mia tested in the same way.” Dash nodded. He did that a lot when trying to get the answer he wanted. “But today’s results are all about Liv.”
“We aren’t smart like Livie’s smart,” Mia said, reasonably.
“She’s not wrong,” Ava interjected.
“We’ll circle back to you two, but we have some big decisions to make before school begins in a couple of weeks,” I said, motioning Dash to take the reins again.
“Before your paw and I sign any papers, we want to hear from you. Specifically Livie.” Dash faced Livie. I put my arm on the back of her chair, sliding a reassuring hand up and down her back.
“Honey, you’re in a league of your own. Your IQ’s a whooping one hundred and sixty-nine. You’re exceptionally gifted.” Generally, Livie was selective in giving a smile, but that did it. She beamed at Dash, then turned the smile on me. Butterflies took flight inside my belly.
“I’m proud of you,” I said, returning the grin.
Her happy face turned to Abuela, then her sisters. Mia was already grinning brightly. “I told you that you’re smarter than everyone else,” Mia said, reaching a hand across the table, encouraging Livie into the hold. Of course she didn’t voluntarily take Mia’s hand, germs and all, but they shared a silent stare while grinning at each other.
The doorbell rang, drawing everyone’s attention in that direction. “That’s your counselor, Mrs. Pinkney. She’s here to answer the questions you have, Livie.”
I let her in, skipping the greeting formalities since Dash and I were the ones asking her over tonight and started this meeting without her.
We probably should’ve waited… I’d have to apologize later for the misstep.
“So, how far have you gotten?” she asked, laying a pad and paper on the table before her.
“Just gettin' to the good stuff,” I said. Dash and I had expected pushback from the girls. Livie, Mia, and Ava were a squad. They went most places together. How would they feel about being broken apart?
“We believe you should begin the new school year in junior high school,” Mrs. Pinkney said. “With many reassessments as we go. This will be new territory for us all.”
“Without Mia and Ava?” Livie asked. Her bright eyes turned worried. “What about my friends?”
“You don’t have friends,” Ava chirped, not mean-spirited, but as if only stating a fact. “Me and Mia have friends, and you tag along with us. You’re smarter than the teachers, and you follow all the rules. Nobody else likes that.”
“Ava,” Mia said, her brows knitted together as she put her sister on notice.
My heart gave an ache for Livie. I had no idea this was happening. Tears instantly fell from Livie’s eyes, her forehead hit her crossed arms on the table. Amelia was up, going to Livie’s other side to comfort her. Dash looked as confused as me.
“I wanna… have friends. No one… likes me.” Each word was said between pain, tears, and hiccups.
“Here, baby. Stop crying,” Amelia said, pushing a napkin between her arms. “Take a drink from your juice box and find your calm. We can talk through it.”
“What about your dance classmates? Aren’t y’all all friends?” I asked, since that was why she had started dance lessons in the first place.
“They don’t like her either,” Ava blurted.
“Ava, are you talking badly about your sister?” Dash asked, using the serious tone reserved only for his work.
“No, Daddy, she doesn’t,” Mia the peacemaker jumped in. “Ava stomps on their crayons and breaks their scissors when they talk bad about Livie.”
Whoa. Where had this solid left turn come from?
“Livie,” Mrs. Pinkney said gently, but firmly. “Look at me, please.”
Livie did. Her red face and swollen eyes broke my heart in two. I couldn’t take the tears, but I knew they hit Dash harder. He looked ready to cry. The hiccups never stopped as she did her best to gain control.
“Mrs. Crabtree felt like you’d feel this way and has offered her office to become your classroom. We’ll set you up remotely with the junior high. You know the office is only a hall away from your grade. You can learn at an accelerated pace while still being with your peers.”