For Keeps (Aggie's Inheritance) (43 page)

“
I thought we all got to know each other the night you and Luke were working on the library and the bathroom.
”

“
Well, maybe I misunderstood, but that’s the gist I got. She’s looking out for me. I think she’s afraid someone’s going to break my heart or something.
”
Aggie threw the pillow behind her head and flopped down.
“
As if I have time for that.
”

Before William could respond, Tina breezed into the room.
“
Hey, William. Has Aggie convinced you to have dinner with us yet?
”

“
Absolutely. Just tell me when to be here.
”

“
Seven is good. The kids can watch a movie, go to bed, and we can all have a good chat.
”
Tina thrust a notebook and sheaf of papers into Aggie’s lap.
“
Look! This group is packed with information. I got you a letter of intent form for each child, although one woman says you just need one for both schools. There are co-ops and field trips and they even do school pictures!
”

“
What is she talking about?
”
William took the first paper off the stack and frowned as he read it.
“
Tell me you aren’t actually considering this.
”

“
I ordered curriculum for Vannie today. We just have to decide on the others. I don’t think Laird will be so independently motivated, so I chose not to do the video course for him.
”
Aggie chose to ignore the continued disapproval from William.
“
What did they say about choosing curriculum?
”

Tina’s face twisted in a mixture of disgust and frustration.
“
I asked almost every woman there and they all agree.
”

“
So why do you look revolted by their choice.
”

“
Ask me.
”
Tina kicked off her shoes, sat cross-legged across from them, and leaned back on her hands.
“
I dare you to ask me what kind of curriculum you should use.
”

“
Ok…
”
The whole thing seemed ridiculous to Aggie.
“
What kind of curriculum should I use?
”

With a falsetto that made William and Aggie snicker before they even heard the answer, Tina said,
“
Oh, you have to find what works for
you
.
”

“
What!
”

“
The good news is, I did figure out how to get a feel for what they’d suggest if they weren’t so adamant about everyone blazing their own trail through the home educating wilderness.
”

William’s face grew more disapproving with every word.
“
How?
”

“
I asked what they use. I went back to every woman and asked what curriculum they use and why.
”

“
Genius!
”
Aggie’s momentary push to the brink of a breakdown was halted by Tina’s forethought.

“
Yep. Here, I’ve got the final tally. I spoke to eight classic home educators who mostly used the same core curriculum, nine Charlotte Mason people, several of whom use that one website we found, remember?
”
Aggie nodded and gestured for her to continue.
“
I found four who use strictly textbooks from companies that supply Christian schools, and two that use those worktext type things we looked at.
”

“
I liked those because it looked easy to implement for the first year.
”

“
Oh, and then here are eleven…
”
Tina continued as she flipped the next page.
“
Eleven!
”

“
Eleven what?
”

“
Eleven mothers who call themselves ‘eclectic.’ They use whatever they like from whatever company and use them in various ways.
”
She studied the page a bit more.
“
Oh, and there were three ‘unschoolers.’ Apparently, some people fill the home with educational materials and things and encourage their children to explore them as they like. It sounded fascinating, but…
”

“
Yeah, I’m not ready for that,
”
Aggie agreed.

“
Well, I’m glad to hear it.
”
William interjected with exaggerated relief.
“
That sounds irresponsible at best. I wonder that the state doesn’t get more involved to make sure these kids are learning what they’re supposed to be.
”

Tina, passing the notebook to Aggie, shot him a dirty look.
“
Listen, until you are reasonably acquainted with responsible home education, I think you can just keep your uneducated opinions to yourself. I was so amazed and impressed tonight by how thorough these women are. They had ideas and plans for things that I heard mentor teachers only dream of when we were doing our student teaching.
”

“
Like what?
”
Aggie ignored the stormy look on William’s face as she listened to Tina’s story.

“
Ok, the best example was this gal from California. You know how they have all those cool missions and amazing state history?
”

“
Yeah?
”

“
Her family started in San Diego and drove and camped all up along the coast to see every mission. They created notebooks
--
oh, man you should have seen those notebooks. It was just incredible. The whole thing was on display along with a few other things. One family did their own version of Colonial House but tried to live as Native Americans for a month. The dad is a teacher, so he had July off work. They said it was amazing trying to survive.
”

“
Wow.
”

“
How does that help a child learn math?
”
Skepticism dripped from every word.

“
It doesn’t. It helps a child learn geography, history, and an appreciation for technology and modern science. It was a great experience that the family had on their month
off
school.
”
Tina’s eyes narrowed.
“
You know, I thought I liked you, but I’m beginning to wonder.
”

Aggie laughed. She knew William would miss the sarcasm Tina tried to employ to remind William that he was being rude again.
“
Tina doesn’t appreciate uneducated opinions, remember?
”

“
Whatever. I just think Aggie has enough work without adding more.
”

“
That’s an opinion I can get behind. She does. But,
”
Tina leaned forward excitedly,
“
that’s something I really learned a lot about tonight. Yes, it’s hard work, but it’s exchanging one kind of hard work for another. One of the moms put her kids in school last year because she needed a break. She said it was just as much work, just different. She had to run around more, help with homework, volunteer in classrooms… it was a lot of work.
”

“
But was it that much work last year, Aggie?
”

Before Aggie could answer, Tina piped up again,
“
Well, and then there’s the rewarding factor. Aggie trained for five years to be a teacher. This way, she actually gets to use her training. That alone has got to feel good after a year of formula, diapers, and ant farm disasters.
”

Aggie decided to stay quiet and listen to the debate rage. It was hilarious to watch Tina shoot down every one of William’s objections. Slowly, their words made no sense, as she grew groggy, until at last, only the faint drone of their voices entered her consciousness. Time became nebulous until she dreamed of bouncing over dirt roads from mission to mission and William complaining,
“
This isn’t easy going up, you know.
”

Saturday, September 13
^th

Gentle dreams drifted from her, pushed away by the morning breeze through the window. Summer was definitely waning. Aggie stretched, as the last vestiges of sleep evaporated, and her first coherent thought of the morning forced her to a sitting position.
“
How did I get in bed?
”
She glanced down at the blouse and skirt.
“
I know I did not climb into bed in these clothes of
--”
A memory intruded.
“
Seriously, Lord? She thought it was a good idea to make that man carry me to bed? Seriously?
”

Aggie flopped back on the pillows, wondering how much weaker she’d fallen in William’s eyes. He could make their new educational adventure a nightmare if he chose. She stretched.
“
Hey, the soreness is gone!
”
She was hungry, and if the itching were any indication, she had more pox, but the queasiness and achy feeling seemed to have dissipated in the night.
“
Well, Lord, thanks for that!
”

Her words gave her a snicker as she began singing,
“
Thank you, Lord for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord for making me kindasortawhole. Thank you, Lord for giving to me…
”

The silence of her house unnerved her, so Aggie rolled to check the clock and found a plush chicken holding a box of pansies and sitting on her trunk-turned-nightstand.
“
What
--”
A small
“
card
”
tucked beneath the chicken’s wing diverted her questioning. She unfolded it and read the note inside.
Praying that you feel
better today. May she inspir
e
many smiles just as you inspire so many of mine. Luke.