"When solving these equations with fractions, it's important to remember the working order, first the outers, then the inners, and the last, do you understand?" Mariam Aoun asked, standing before the blackboard, hands on her hips. Five-foot-ten, sturdy, attractive yet professional, she definitely meant business. In the classroom located on the topmost floor of the Loeb building at Carleton University, the tutor looked at her audience expectantly.
"Duly noted," replied Samuel Augustin, and the tall, Afro-sporting and well-dressed young black man scribbled something in his notepad, putting away his cell phone after Mariam casually gave him the evil eye. Bossy gal, Samuel thought, annoyed. It was a warm day in mid-June, and like most people in the City of Ottawa, Samuel would rather be outside, enjoying the sunshine and all that. It was summer after all...
Instead, Samuel was stuck on campus, taking the last elective he needed in order to graduate from Carleton University with his political science degree. Why did he have to pick a damn math elective? Oh yeah, he needed a science or mathematics elective in order to finally get out of Carleton. Samuel had major plans, which included law school. Math had never been his strong suit. Nevertheless, he had to do what he had to do...
"Mr. Augustin, I don't get it, seriously, if you're not taking these tutoring sessions seriously, then why are you here?" Mariam asked, her growing exasperation with this difficult pupil actually showing. Samuel looked at her, a coy smile on his not-unattractive face. If only he weren't so full of himself, Mariam thought, before she resumed the lesson.
As a graduate student in the civil engineering programme at Carleton University, Mariam was no stranger to tough mathematics courses. That's why she was working as a teacher's assistant for no less than two different courses, taught by two different professors. Of course, Mariam needed extra-money in order to keep her place in Merivale, hence why she was working as a private tutor...
"Mariam, I'm sorry for being distracted, it won't happen again," Samuel replied, forcing himself to be calm, and somewhat sincere. He wasn't particularly fond of Mariam's tone of voice. According to her Facebook and LinkedIn pages, the Lebanese-Canadian gal was another one of those overly educated professional students who couldn't hack it in the real world. She was an active member of Saint Charbel, the local Arab Christian church, and a member of Engineers Without Borders. Interesting.
"Good to hear, Samuel, now, how do I go about solving this quadratic equation?" Mariam asked, and Samuel watched as she pointed to a bunch of equations she scribbled on the board. Just looking at all of this mathematical mumbo jumbo was enough to give him a frigging headache. Why does a political science major with law school aspirations need mathematics again?
"Let me take a crack at it," Samuel replied, and he left his seat and walked up to the front, as Mariam watched him, a bemused expression on her face. Samuel took a piece of chalk and began attempting to solve the mathematical equation. Forty over sixty nine multiplied by eleven point nine over ten point six equals exactly what? What I wouldn't give for a calculator right now, Samuel thought.
The brother can't do math to save his life but he's got a nice butt, Mariam thought, smiling as she watched Samuel try to solve the math problem, and fail tragically. Oh well, if Samuel wanted to go into politics after graduating from Carleton University, he'd fit right in with the dim-witted fools on Parliament Hill. After all, they just needed to be told where to sign and screw the lives of millions of Canadians before lunch every day...
"Hmm, good attempt, Samuel, but you were off by a little," Mariam said, and she wiped the smile off her face, and walked up to him, holding out her hand to take the chalk from him. Samuel hesitated, then handed her the piece of chalk, and watched as Mariam once more made math seem effortless and easy. Dammit I am starting to feel dumb, Samuel thought, annoyed.
"Look, Mariam, I just need to get like fifty out of a hundred to pass this mathematics course, I'm not trying to get Albert Einstein's job, alright?" Samuel said flatly, and Mariam grinned and nodded. It was four o'clock and they'd been at it for well over an hour. Mariam was ready to call it a day, but she wouldn't be the one to suggest it, since she was a good tutor working with a slacker.
"Samuel, if I may, you're not a math major, I get that, but you won't get far in this life if passing is the only thing you're concerned with, you can actually excel with some effort," Mariam said, sighing deeply. Samuel looked at her, his expression unreadable. What's going on inside this slacker brain of his? Mariam wondered privately.
"Mariam, I respect your work ethic, and I'll have you know that I averaged a solid B in all five of my political science courses this past winter, mathematics simply isn't my thing," Samuel said, and he flashed her a cocky grin, and Mariam tried not to roll her eyes. Math is the language of the universe, you silly goose, you should give it a try, Mariam thought dejectedly.
"Sounds like fun, Samuel, on that note, I think we'll stop for the day," Mariam replied, and Samuel nodded, smiling with relief. Hey, it's your life, and your grades, buddy, Mariam thought, as she gathered her belongings. Samuel quietly did the same, and then courteously held the door open for her when she finished. Handsome, with decent smarts but a bit lazy, Mariam thought, smiling politely at Samuel as she exited the room.
Hmmm, Miss Mathematics has one hell of an ass, Samuel thought with an appreciative grin as Mariam exited the classroom ahead of him. They walked to the elevator, and rode it to the main floor, then went their separate ways. Samuel began the long trek from Carleton University to his building on Dynes Road, a couple of kilometers away.