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Rent Matthew
Chapter 8 - The Professor
Matthew made the dutiful trek back to Georgia, a combination of flights, layovers, and bus rides.
Matthew's stepfather had been a man of few words. He worked hard, took care of his family, and lived a simple life. He loved his beautiful wife and prioritized her over everything.
At the funeral, Matthew gave a short speech about his late stepfather's love and devotion to his family and how much they will miss him. Without him, the road ahead would not be easy.
* * * * *
It took weeks of backbreaking work to get the farm back in shape. Matthew promised his mom he would keep things running until the harvest. After that, they would sell everything and use the proceeds to start over in San Diego, where his maternal grandparents lived.
Getting up at the crack of dawn, Matthew took care of the multitude of crops and animals. These were responsibilities he used to share with his stepfather, but now they were his alone.
After the first month, Matthew got help from the seasonal workers that his late stepfather had contracted with. The migrant workers had worked on the farm for many years, so they didn't require supervision.
With relief from much of the farm responsibilities, Matthew was able to register for classes at the local community college.
To pay for tuition and books, he managed to get a baseball scholarship. Matthew was a natural at sports and used practice to release some of his pent-up stress. In addition, he also got a part-time job at a local restaurant.
Unfortunately, Matthew got distracted and fell behind in his schoolwork. One of his professors even wrote to him.
Matthew,
It looks like you're on track to fail my calculus class. I suggest you drop my course and retake it in the future. Pls see me this week.
Professor Hubbard
* * * * *
Dropping the class was not an option for Matthew. He couldn't afford to lose his athletic scholarship, especially when the farm wouldn't be cash flow positive until after the harvest. Therefore, he decided to plead his case in person.
When class ended and Matthew made his way to the front, Professor Hubbard noticed how good-looking the kid was up close. Previously, on the rare occasions when Matthew did show up to class, he would sit in the back.
"Professor ... I got your note."
"Matthew, you failed the midterm and haven't been turning in your homework. Is everything okay?"
"About that ... I'm sorry, Professor. I had some personal issues. Is there any way I can make it up?"
Matthew bit his lip, which caught his teacher's attention.
"To be honest, it won't be easy. In order to pass my class, you'll need to work hard to catch up."
"I understand. I'm willing to do anything ...."
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