“Fractions,” the boy answered. His expression was most serious. “They’re perturbing me.”
Charlie refrained from laughing. “Oh, I see. Well, I know that fractions often perturb people when they are first attempting to understand them.”
“I just don’t understand,” the boy continued. “You want me to reduce them, but I can’t figure out how. I have nine-thirds, and you said when the top number is bigger than the bottom it needs to be reduced, but I can’t remember how to do it.”
Charlie felt great affection for the boy. “Tell me, how do you feel about division?”
The boy’s tense expression relaxed. “I like division. Makes sense to me.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you enjoy it.” Charlie went to the blackboard. “Fractions are really nothing more than division problems.”
The boy’s look of stress was back. “How can that be a division problem, Mr. Decker?”
Charlie smiled. “Because nine over three is really just another way of saying nine divided by three. The bar is nothing more than a division bar.”
The boy’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then Charlie saw his eyes widen as understanding dawned. “A division bar?”
“Exactly. So when I ask you to reduce the fraction, what would the answer be?”
“Three,” the boy said without hesitation. He looked up at Charlie for reassurance that he had answered correctly.
“There you are. That’s right.”
“Well, I’ll be.” The boy shook his head. “My ma is never gonna believe this.”
“I think she’ll be very pleased with you, Isaac. You’re quite smart.”
The boy stood a little taller. “Thank you for helping me, Mr. Decker.”
“No problem. Fractions will get a little more complicated, but I know you’re smart enough to handle it, and you can always come to me with your questions. Now you’d better go on and eat your lunch. Mrs. Decker will be waiting for you.”
Isaac ran for the door and disappeared into the next room, while Charlie erased the problem he’d written on the board. He had a full school of twenty-two boys, all ranging in age from ten to sixteen. There was even a waiting list for people who wanted Charlie to take their boys on as well. It wasquite a challenge to plan out lessons for each age group, but Melody had proven to be quite helpful. She seemed to enjoy working with various projects.
Charlie had no sooner reclaimed a seat at his desk than Melody appeared with his lunch in hand. He jumped back up as she placed the food on his desk. He took her in his arms, glanced around her at the open door, and then kissed her in a most loving fashion.
“Charlie Decker,” she declared as he turned her loose. “That is not the way to conduct yourself in a schoolroom.”
He laughed and sat back down. “I used to be jealous of boys who stole kisses from girls in school. I never had the chance to do that, and now I do.”
“As the recipient of that kind of attention, I can tell you it was quite annoying. However, I don’t mind your attention at all.” She smiled and leaned back against the desk. “So what will you be teaching after lunch?”
“We’re going to study how Wyoming became a territory and what the procedure is for statehood. After I talk about it, you can help us make a map. I think the boys will like getting an idea of where everything is situated. My father is arranging for a United States map that we can hang on the wall. It will be quite detailed and really give the boys a perspective on the country.”
“That will be wonderful.” Melody leaned over and kissed Charlie on the top of his head. “Oh, I’m wondering how you would feel about taking on another student.”
“Now, Melody, you know we can’t. There isn’t room. Not only that, but we already have a waiting list.”
“But this child won’t start for a while. They’ll probably need about five years before they’ll be ready to sit in class.”
Charlie was more than a little confused. “What are you talking about?”
Melody leaned over once again. Her eyes were wide. “I’m going to have a baby, Mr. Decker. That’s what I’m talking about.”
If she’d said the school was on fire, Charlie couldn’t have been more shocked. “A baby?”
She nodded and straightened. “A baby. Our baby.”
“When?”
