Page 123 of Seasons of Love
“Are you hungry? I’ve made too much salad for my lunch, so if you like tuna, you’re welcome to the rest,” Ellis says.
“I brought my sandwich.” I take it out of Sara’s bag, and even I know it’s a sad-looking lunch.
“Please, I insist. The lettuce will be all soggy by tomorrow, and I hate having it go to waste. Besides, after all the work you’ve done outside, I bet you can manage the salad and your sandwich.”
He’s not wrong, so I gratefully accept.
His tuna salad is delicious, and it’s not a huge amount, so I supplement it with my sandwich, but I’m not convinced Ellis accidentally made too much.
When you’re a single man who doesn’t like waste, you don’t accidentally make too much of anything. I would know.
Since it seems to make him happy, I don’t say anything.
I’m too full to go back out in the sun and work, so it’s a good opportunity to broach the subject I’ve been avoiding for a while.
“Ellis, you said I could ask you anything about the GED exam.”
He straightens and smiles, almost like he’s been expecting me to bring it up. “Yes, anything.”
“I’ve, um…been going to the library to study in my free time. I did almost all of high school, so I didn’t miss all that much, but I don’t know what to do to actually take the test. Do I still need to attend the classes?” I sigh. “It’s probably pointless anyway because I’m struggling with a few things, so I’m sure I’d fail.”
“You’ve been studying on your own?”
I nod. It’s hard to read him as he gazes at me with his lips slightly parted as though he wants to say something but doesn’t know what.
Ellis’s expression changes as he places his hands on the table.
This one I know. It’s his teacher face.
“Okay, first, you need to register on the GED portal so you can access the resources and book your exam.”
I stare at him. “How do I do that?”
“I’ll take a guess you don’t own a computer,” he says, and I nod. “I’m happy to help you register using my laptop. We can do it now if you like. It doesn’t take long.”
“Okay.”
Ellis leaves the table and returns a moment later with his laptop.
“What made you change your mind?” he asks.
I look at Sara, happily chewing on her toy. “I need a better job desperately. At work, all the supervisor jobs require a GED.” I let out a tired sigh. “Not that it matters. The store manager doesn’t like me, so he’ll probably never promote me, but maybe I could get another job somewhere else.”
Ellis turns on the laptop and searches for the website.
It doesn’t take long to register me on the portal. I write down my access details so I can go back and explore the area better from the computer in the library. After all, I do have to get to work.
“Thank you for your help with this. I should probably get out there. I want to finish what I started today so I can dig for the deck foundation next time.”
Ellis shuts down his laptop. “I’m glad to help.”
I’m almost by the door when he calls me.
“Milo, I just want you to know that GED or no GED, you’re an amazing person. You’re raising a child on your own and you’re a hard worker. You’re smart, and clearly, you have initiative. I know the job market out there won’t see all of that. They’ll just see three letters from an exam taken at a moment in time that show you have some education. So anyway, you know those things you said you were struggling with? I’m happy to tutor you after work if you like.”
My words are stuck in my throat. Between feeling like Ellis can see the person I am and his generous offer, I might actually cry.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
