Tortured by the T-Girl Tutor

Duncan didn't quite know how to handle it. He'd planned on a quiet Winter Break. Sleeping til noon, watching too much television and eating tons of junk food. That kind of stuff. He had a whole two weeks off from community college.

At school, he was an outcast. They say life gets better after high school. That hadn't been the case for Duncan. Things were the same. He was an introvert, shy and self-conscious; qualities which didn't lend themselves to making friends. Duncan's plans for Winter Break were shattered earlier in the day when his mom told him she'd hired a tutor. His grades were bad. He wasn't the least bit thrilled about having a tutor, but he couldn't reason with his mom once she had her mind settled. Duncan knew she had her heart in the right place. She just didn't understand that he and his little sister, Emily were too different people. Emily was naive, but she excelled at school and making friends.

His mom jumped at the chance to hire a tutor when her friend recommended someone. Her name was Miranda. She was also off from a nearby university and could use the money. Duncan felt a little more panic when he realized his tutor would be a girl around his age. That panic worsened when his mom told him she'd be coming over today.

Duncan cleaned his room as best he could. He shoveled clothing into his closet and threw out empty soda cans. He was feeling more apprehensive with each second that ticked by on his clock. He heard his mom call up the stairs. She told him that Miranda had just phoned and she'd be here in five minutes.

He hid some plastic models he'd painted in high school under his bed and pulled out his school books. Duncan laid them on the table opposite his bed and then sat down. No more than a couple minutes passed before he heard the front door open and shut, then a short conversation, and finally, the loud thump of steps heading up the stairs. Duncan crossed his floor quickly and opened his bedroom door. He got back to his chair just as Miranda entered.