Sure enough, JoJo took a test over the irregular verbs chart. He only missed one, so he received a grade of 97. Mrs. Tense averaged that with his other grades, which boosted his average from a 67 to a 72. Many students would not be happy about a 72, but JoJo was happy, happy.
"Yes! A 72!:
"JoJo, I am glad you are doing a little better, but we're not going to stop there, Buster!"
"We're not?"
"No Sir. You will report to me after school every Tuesday. You will take a quiz over material I will give to you on the previous day."
"That sounds great, Mrs. Tense. But..."
"Go on."
"Why are you helping me? We both know I am a major pain."
Mrs. Tense let out a yelp of a laugh. "You sure are, Mister!" Then, she cackled again.
"Well? Why the help?"
"JoJo, you are not a bad boy. If you will keep it a secret...I am not as mean as the students think. I see potential in you."
"What? I mean...Mam?"
"Sometimes, students just need a little push in the right direction."
"I appreciate all you're doing for me, Mrs. Tense. But...how can you see this potential?"
"I have been around a long time. Plus, I want you to be a productive citizen, and pay taxes. So, I can have a job."
This time, JoJo laughed. "Yes mam."
JoJo kept all this Tense stuff to himself. He didn't want anybody thinking he was the teacher's pet!
However, something changed inside JoJo. He believed the message Tense sent to him about potential. He began to study in ALL his classes. Of course, he remained the class clown, but he was a smarter clown.
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