Extra Credit

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 31

Lincoln
“Ready for bed, squirt?” I said as I bounded down the stairs. “If we start getting ready now I’ll have time to read you a story.”

Sadie’s blue eyes lit up with excitement. “Any story I want?”

I stood by the couch, planting my bare feet on the beige carpet that covered the living room floor. My hair was still sopping wet. Droplets of water hit my shoulders as I ran a ratty towel through it.

“Any story you want,” I promised.

Sadie dropped her crayons into the bin, hopping up from the coffee table. She buzzed past me and then stalled to a stop by the stairs.

“Can Cali come?”

The tutor in question was still by the coffee table, her legs tucked underneath her. She regarded Sadie before peering up at me, curious as to how I would respond to my sister’s request.

“Sure.” I glanced back at Sadie. “Maybe she can read you your bedtime story tonight.”

“Yeah!” Sadie cheered. Her little legs scampered up the stairs. “I’m going to go pick one.”

“We need to brush your teeth first,” I reminded her, but she was already out of sight and barreling towards her room.

“Guess I’ve been volun-told,” Cali said, coming up beside me.

“Wouldn’t want you to miss out on all of the fun. You seem like the type that enjoys reading.”

Cali gave me a coy smile as she brushed past me towards the stairs. “Luckily for you, I do.”

→

Within minutes Sadie had drifted off to sleep. Halfway through the book her eyes were already fluttering shut. And by the time Cali reached the last few pages, she was snoring. I couldn’t tell if it was because she was actually tired or if Cali’s voice was just that soothing. Whatever it was, I was grateful to have some much needed time to myself before hitting the sack.

“What’s your room like?” Cali had asked once I had flicked off the light and closed Sadie’s bedroom door.

I blinked at her, not registering the question. “My room?”

Cali nodded, her hands folded in front of her.

“It’s really nothing special,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Can I see it anyways?”

“Uh,” I stuttered. “Sure.”

Tucking my hands into my pockets I led Cali to the end of the dim hall. The door to my room was left a crack open. I pushed it, flicking on the light and gesturing into the cramped space.

“After you.”

Cali accepted the invitation, taking a few steps and pausing by a worn, wooden dresser that I had since I was a kid.

After a few moments she said, “This isn’t what I was expecting your room to look like.”

“What were you expecting?” I asked, stepping inside, hands still in my pockets.

“I don’t know to be honest. Most bedrooms I’ve seen are a reflection of the people they belong to. Yours doesn’t even look like it’s being used.” She took in the empty, white walls, pausing for a brief moment to stare at the patched up hole by my closet. “I think mine and Ella’s dorm room looks more lived in than this.”

I knew where she was coming from. In comparison to Sadie’s room (which looked like a rainbow projectile vomited everywhere), mine looked like a hotel room; bare and sterile. Besides a couple of books on the desk and my gym bag on the floor, there was no sign that this space was anything more than a guest room.