Valerie and the Math Attack!

I stopped at the kitchen table, sweating after a long day of school.

Eww.  School.  Both my heart, and my backpack was heavy with the thought of homework.  

I wanted to work on my movie, work to become a big director/actress, not do MATH homework!

I took a big gulp as soon as I saw Emily working on her grocery list.  How would I tell her?

“Oh, hey Valerie!  Did you have a good day at school?”

I didn’t respond, but the answer was no.

Wordlessly, I slid my test across the table.

Emily gasped when she saw it.

“Valerie Isabel Parker!”  she began,

“I know Emily, and I tried my best…”

The test fluttered to the floor.

“These grades are not acceptable in this house Valerie, and you know that!  I don’t understand it!  You are one of the smartest girls in this house!  You’ve brought in nothing but good grades so far, but this?”

“I’m sorry Emily, I-”

“Did you try your hardest on this test?”

I was being honest when I said, “Yes!”

“Did you understand the concept?”

“No.”

Emily slipped the grocery list into her purse, “Do you have homework?”

I sighed, “Yes.”

“By the time I get back from shopping, I want your homework finished, and I want it ALL correct.  You need to learn this Valerie!”

“But it’s the end of the year, does it really matter!?”

“Yes Valerie!  It does!  I know you only have 2 weeks of school left, but these weeks are the ones that really count towards the gradebook.  Now, go to your desk, and if you don’t do what I asked, then-”

“I know, Then I’ll be grounded.”

“Ok, good.  Bye!  I’ll be back in about 45 minutes!”

“Alright!”  I grumbled.

I dumped the contents of my backpack onto the desk.

I needed it to be Summer.  I needed it to be Summer so I could work on my movie, not math!

Numbers and operation raced through my head, creating a messed up jumble of confusion.

I groaned.

*Groan*

*sigh*

*groan*

 

*groan*  *groan*

I almost jumped out of my shoes as soon as Grace scooted a smoothie across my desk.

“Valerie, do you need help?”

“Uh, no!  I’m fine, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Are you sure?  Because I’m like, really good at math.  You need math for baking ya’ know?  Especially fractions.”

Ooh, she knew how to conquer fractions, my number one enemy.

It was tempting.  But I could do it myself.  Maybe?

“No, I promise, I’m fine.”

“Ok then!  But please stop groaning and sighing!”

Oh, so that’s what she was there for. Oops!

I nodded.  And sighed.

 

“Ok Valerie, here’s the deal, I can tell you need help, so I’m helping you whether you like it or not!  Kapeesh?”

“Kapeesh.”

I stood up to hug her, “Thank you so much Grace, I got a D on my math test and Emily is mad, and I have to finish-”
“It’s Ok Valerie, you’re really smart, and I’m going to teach you how to do this.”

I smiled.

“Ok!  Let’s learn some math!”

I never thought I’d be excited for someone to say that.

“All the pages are on fraction Grace.”

“That’s perfect!”

I was confused, “It is?”

“Uh, yeah!  I wasn’t kidding when I said I was good at fractions!”

I laughed, “Uh, Ok!  Let’s do this!”

She pulled out some paper and scissors out of our desk drawer, “Grace, what is that supposed to be for?  I thought you were helping me!”

“I am, silly!”

She cut the paper in four pieces.

She snatched the pencil out of her hand and labeled, the four pieces.

“What is the first problem Valerie?”

“Uh, 4/4 minus 1/4.”

She cut all the pieces in half.

“Ok, see these?  These are our fraction tiles.  First you need to see how simple fractions are.  Right here, we have equivalent fractions.  We have both 4/4 and 8/8.  There are 8 pieces, but it you put 2 pieces together in all of them, you have 4/4.  And we could even cut it in half again to get 16/16.  What I’m saying is that one whole can have many pieces and many different denominators if we split it up differently.  The smaller the denominator, the bigger the pieces.  Got it?”

Surprisingly, I did get it!  “Yeah!”

“Now 4/4- 3/4… Let’s see. what is 4 minus 3?”

“Uh, duh!  1!”

“See, you can subtract and add fractions just by their numerator.  Just make sure to leave the denominator alone.  So, 4/4-3/4=1/4!”

“Wow!”

Grace helped me solve each and every problem on my paper with the fraction tiles, and I was even able to do some myself.

 

“Grace!  We’re done!”

“Great!  But who cares if we’re done or not, do you understand fractions?”

I thought for a second.  Grace had made fractions so much easier for me to visualize, “Yes, I do understand them!”

Grace passed me some cookies with a sly grin on her face.  How could one person know me so well??

“So, Valerie, I also wanted to tell you some news…”
My mouth was full of cookie crumbs as I spoke, “Ywes?”

Grace giggled at my altered speech due to her famous peanut butter cookies, “Well!  I suppose it’s good news, but it does mean you’re not the newest addition!”

She leaned closer to me and whispered into my ear, “Sammy’s Aunt surprised her by logging on to the AG website and ordering-” 

I gasped.  Oh, dear reader, I do really wish I could share with you all my wonderful news, but I’m afraid I have to keep my lips sealed!

~The next Day~

*grace’s POV*

The blender made that horrible sound again as I flipped it on again.

Valerie spoke halfheartedly to me, “Hi Grace.”

“Oh, hey Valerie!  How did the teacher like your awesome homework!”

Valerie clumped to the ground.

“Are you Ok Valerie?  What happened at school!”

“I’m not Ok Grace!  I LEFT MY HOMEWORK IN MY ROOM!”

“Oh no!  Why don’t you just walk down to school and hand it in a tad bit late?  I’m sure the teacher won’t mind!”

“I’m grounded Grace!”

Oh well.  I suppose Valerie would have to receive her first grounding at some point.

I drowned her groans with the sounds of my blender…

The end!

Hey guys!  So I hope you enjoyed that short little photo story.  Happy Saturday!  My hair is currently green and I have emoji tattoos plastered on my face.

Why, you ask?  Yesterday was my school carnival.  I’ve been to the carnival every year, and this year was my last year.  I guess I would have to leave this school at some point though.  I’ve been there for 7 years, it’s about time for a change of pace!  XD

Ok, I’m bored.  I’ll just talk to you guys for a while.

First up, I love you.  I love you all so much.  When I’m having a bad day, all I have to do is look at my comment feed and smile at all your amazing comments.  Also, I just wanted to say thanks for 280 follows.  I never thought this blog would make it this far.

Ok, onto not so mushy stuff!

Twila decided to lay down and be adorable for the cameras.  ❤  ❤  (Seriously though, don’t I just have the cutest cat ever?)

Oh, and about my doll house!  I feel like I have finally completed decorating it!  It’s complete, and I love it!  So, a tour is coming soon!  I have had so much fun making furniture, and I hope you guys will like it as much as I do!  I have made a new bathroom, a new couch, a living room… everything is lookin’ good!

 

Emily is wearing Kit’s school skirt set top, Molly’s accessories purse, and jeans from Amazon.

Valerie is wearing a top made by Grandma, backpack from Journey girls, and shoes/leggings from Our Generation.

Grace has shorts from her collection, shoes from AG, and top made by Grandma.

Ok, I’m done talking now, gotta go clean my room now.  XD

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