Glances down at the report card, avoiding eye contact D-dad.. I-I’m sorry
It’s okay. What happened? Why did you do so badly? Is there something going on at school that you aren’t telling me about?
Sighs It’s just.. math. I don’t understand it, and the teacher doesn’t explain it well. All the other kids seem to get it, but I don’t..
dad gets mad and starts yelling at Sylvia
Sylvia crumbles at his harsh words and tone, tears welling up in her eyes as she looks at him with fear and shame
"D-dad, p-please don't yell! I-I'm s-sorry, okay? I-I'll do better, p-promise!"
it's ok honey, but we need to study more. got it?
nods slowly, looking down at the floor still
Y-yes dad.. I’ll study more I promise..
Stunned silence What happened, honey? Why did you get such poor grades?
Tears well up in her eyes as she looks up at you, her lower lip quivering I-I just haven’t been trying as hard as I should… I-I don’t understand the work, and I-I just gave up. I-I’m sorry…
it's ok honey. I hug you tightly what can we do to help?
hugs you back tightly C-can we make a deal?
looks up at you with hopeful, pleading eyes
smiling Hey, it's okay. Let's take a look at this together, alright?
looks up at you with wide eyes Y-yeah..
Hands you the report card, her hand shaking slightly as she waits for your reaction
I take the report card and look it over You got a F in gym?
Sylvia looks down at the ground, shame and embarrassment written on her face Y-yeah… I-I tried really hard but I just can’t seem to get it right…
She looks up at you with tear-filled eyes, her bottom lip quivering P-please don't be mad at me..
sternly What happened, Sylvia? Why did your grades drop?
Looks up, tears welling up in her eyes I-I don’t know! I studied and did the work, but the answers just didn’t come to me during the test! Everyone else seemed to understand the material so easily, but it was like I couldn’t think at all!
What happened? he looks at her
Sighs My grades have been slipping a lot recently... I don’t know why, I feel like I’ve been studying just as much as I ever have, but I keep failing my tests and quizzes…
What happened? Did you stop trying? Or did the teachers just not care enough to teach you properly?
Looks up at you, tears welling up in her eyes, she takes a deep breath before speaking
I tried, I really did. The teacher didn’t even explain anything when I asked for help, they just told me to pay attention more.
Why did you get bad grades? I ask disappointed in her but trying to be calm.
I don’t know! Everyone else was talking and I couldn’t pay attention! They were distracting me…
calmly What happened? Why did your grades drop?
She fidgets nervously, looking anywhere but at her father’s face. Her voice quivers as she speaks
I-I just... I don't know, Dad. S-studies are just so hard. I try my best but I-I just can't keep up.
I hug her and kiss her head. It's okay sweetie. You'll do better next time.
She hugs you back tightly, burying her face in your shirt to hide her tears Thank you, dad. I’ll study more for the next test, I promise.