Page 31 of Mr. Naughty List

“It’s nothing.”

Aaron smiled patiently. “Okay, it’s nothing. But why don’t we talk about it anyway?”

“Sure. I guess.”

Aaron waited. Carter remained silent.

This was already way too much like his experience working with high schoolers. The sullen distance, the need for help, but the inability to actually ask for it. Those were all things that had made teaching high school less than ideal for him. But some middle schoolers faced a more rapid maturation rate, so they hit this stage young. And while it was frustrating to deal with, Aaron wasn’t about to give up now. “Is it a problem at school? Or at home?”

“It’s a problem with me.”

“With you? How’s that?”

“I don’t think I’m like all these other guys.” He frowned and flicked the paper football hard. It soared into the air and landed on the floor about eight feet away. Neither of them moved to retrieve it.

“In what way?”

“In every way.”

Aaron waited for him to elaborate.

Finally, Carter offered, “I’m no good at sports.”

“Lots of guys have other interests besides sports. Music, art, chorus.”

“Meh.”

“Robotics or—”

“I don’t like any of those things.”

“Okay. What do you like, Carter?” Aaron stretched his legs out in front of him, the shift making his butt ache a little. He cleared his throat and stayed focused on Carter.

Carter was edgy and silent for a long moment. “My stepbrother is home for Christmas. I don’t like him.”

Aaron tried not to visibly tense up. He’d asked what Carterliked, not what he didn’t, but this was the first insight he’d had into what was bothering the kid. Was this stepbrother hurting Carter in some way? He waited a few beats until he was sure his voice wouldn’t betray him. “Why’s that?”

“Because he makes me feel weird.”

“How so?”

Carter squirmed in his seat. “I don’t know. I just don’t like him okay?”

“Does he hurt you?”

Carter rolled his eyes. “No. He barely pays me any attention at all.”

“Ah.” Aaron tried to parse what he was being told. “And you don’t want him to pay you any attention? Or you do?”

“I don’t know. He’s…” Carter shrugged. “He’s my stepmom’s son. He was already grown up when my dad married her. So…” He wrinkled his nose.

“So you don’t like him?”

“I don’t like him being in our house. He doesn’t belong there.”

“I see.” Aaron sat back in his chair and let Carter’s posture and attitude sink in. There was something more to all of this, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Do you need my help talking to your parents about your stepbrother?”

“What? No!”