The Beloved Daughter

Dina* was in grade five when she became my student in the tutorial center I used to work for. She was the only daughter of her engineer father and architect mother. Consequently, she grew up to be a brat like a pampered princess. Honestly, I didn’t mind that, mind much I mean. Most girls are silly but they didn’t have to be lazy and pain in the neck.

For some reasons, Dina always arrive at the center late and unexpectedly. Obviously, she and her nanny ignored our reminder to call the center first to make sure whether the tutor in a particular subject is around or not. It wasn’t only once we had to send her home because the Math tutor was absent or that the Science tutor was on leave. But they didn’t seem to learn.

One time, she came late, as usual, but I tried to squeeze her in. I checked her notes and gave her something to do. I left her for while to check on my other students expecting to check her work when I came back. I was dismayed when I caught her drawing at the back of her notebook. She wasn’t doing what I asked her to do. So, I gave her time to do and I sat beside her to force her to work. She just stared at the paper and asked me..

"”Do, I need to answer all these?”

“Yes, you need to..” I answered.

“But I have to think hard in order to answer this..” she answered with a groan.

“Well, that’s the idea. You have to think, and you have to think hard.. Don’t you know it?” I was sincerely curious to know the answer to that.

She kept silent and started working. After a short while, she stopped and said..

“I’m done..”

I checked out her paper and saw that she answered only a few items..

“But you haven’t answered all..” I said.

“I can’t answer anymore. I’m already tired..”

Since I couldn’t force her, or anyone, to do things they don’t want to do, I left her be. When her mother came to pick her up, I told her what happened. The mother just smiled at me and said..

“It’s ok teacher, maybe she’s just not in the mood to study... She will just finish it at home…”

Then, she and the smiling Dina left.. They paid half a thousand pesos to write twenty words on a sheet of paper..

*not real name