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 Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 11:53 pm
The Destiny City Community Center- DCCC, or DC Cubed to some of its regulars- had a number of programs that Sophie liked to help with. It often held performances, either as fundraisers or forums for kids to show off their skills. It offered classes in just about everything one could ask, from arts to sciences to practical skills. Sophie had gotten her certifications in basic First Aid and CPR from the DCCC, and was occasionally called in as a teacher's assistant, which helped her keep her skills from getting rusty.
That day, though, she was helping out with the afterschool program. It usually kept kids busy with games and crafts, but before the fun could start, everybody had to finish their homework. Sophie walked around the tables as kids bent their heads to the desks, some working quickly, some more slowly, and some had just stopped and started doodling on their notebooks.
One of Sophie's favorite kids, an eleven year-old named Jenny, was struggling with a math worksheet. Sophie got on her knees so she could be at a good level with the seated child, and tried her best to explain. "Ah, just starting algebra? That can be tricky. The trick is to remember that the letters here all stand for numbers, you just have to find out what numbers they stand for."
Jenny shook her head in frustration, and Sophie frowned. It had been a long time since she'd started to learn algebra. Maybe she wasn't the best person to offer an explanation. It wasn't, when you got to the core of it, a hard subject, so clearly Sophie was just bad at making it clear.
"Hey, Lily?" she called, thinking quickly. Maybe a younger student would be better able to make a connection that Jenny could understand. "What do you think about algebra?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:08 pm
Lily was helping a eight-year old named Amari with a few fractions when Sophie called to her asking about algebra. It took all of her will power not to outwardly frown at the question. Math although she did well in it, due to her love for studying was her worst and least favorite subject. On top of that it seemed today was the day everyone needed help with it.
She quickly asked Amari if he would be okay and with a nod from the boy, she headed over to Sophie. "It has been a while she said honestly, since I have done basic algebra, but I could certain give it a go."
Lily stooped down next to the girl and looked over her work trying to see how Jenny was going about solving the problem and after a few moments she noticed the girl mistake. "I think you are trying to solve for the wrong letter. See her in the question, they give you m, so you need to solve for the other letter j. SO, m or 12 - 4 equals j. Now all you have to do is subtract, so j equals ... 8, right," she said with a smile. "Now you try one on your own and remember to read carefully, so you do not get mixed up."
Lily turned to Sophie and gave a crazed expression, "thinking in numbers," she whispered, "so not my strong suit."
Lily gave a giggle before turning to make sure Jenny was okay. The girl was going more slowly now, but that was for the best. She turned back to Sophie, "we had better finish setting up. I see several of the kids look ready to start."
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Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:51 pm
"It's been even longer for me," Sophie replied cheerfully. Math was one of those in-between subjects for her: while it wasn't as bad as, say, Latin (why she was studying a dead language was totally beyond her, but she slogged through it for the credits), it was a far cry from the favored Psychology. Or gym. Sophie always liked gym, but couldn't do anything about it until they jumped over this hurdle.
It seemed that she was right, at least, to ask for help with this one. Sophie smiled as she watched Lily explain, making a mental note of her approach. It wasn't anything groundbreaking, but she did approach the specific problem head-on. Sophie had been trying to tackle all of algebra with her explanation, which may have been a bit too ambitious for poor Jenny.
She winked at Lily, as Jenny took a stab at the next problem. "You did well, especially if it's not your strong suit," she whispered back. It may not have been the most imaginative response to the problem, but it worked, and that was what was most important. Sophie believed that telling people how important their work was, especially when it helped others, was one of the best ways to extol the virtues of teamwork and service.
"So, what's next on our agenda today, Miss Liliana?" When addressing the other volunteers in front of the kids, Sophie tended to be more formal. Most of the kids had finished their homework, leaving Jenny struggling to catch up, so they had a captive audience. "More good, hard work-" the kids booed and shouted other suggestions- "or something fun?"
As expected, that was met with cheers and further suggestions. Sophie grinned. It was fun to make people happy.
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Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:45 pm
Lily smiled as she was compliment on her helping Jenny to comprehend. "Thanks," she said softly before moving away from Jenny's table to allow the girl space to finish her homework.
Her smile brighten as Sophie spoke loudly to her making it obvious she was addressing the kids. She tired not to laugh at the chorus of boos, and a even a fews rasberries which was quickly replaced with cheering.
Lily walked over to a big chalkboard which obviously had somethinh hanging on the back. She went behind it speaking," Well hard work is tempting," she said receiving boos, "but I was thinking something more long the lines of life size self portraits."
Lily turned the board to reveal a lifesize tracing of her body with a crudly drawn rendition of her school uniform, hair, and face drawn on. She then pulled a giant spool of paper on wheels from over the side.
She motioned for Sophie to bring ouf the color pencils and crayons, then thanked her star they were in the gym. Lots of space.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 10:05 pm
On days like this, Sophie really loved her job. Even though it wasn't a job, per se- she wasn't getting paid, and her defining it as a job was only because she considered helping people to be the job of every human being- she loved it. She didn't volunteer because she enjoyed it, but that didn't mean that she couldn't make it fun. Or that it could be fun without her doing a thing.
"What an idea!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. It was, of course, the center's idea, not theirs, but there were always ways to spice things up. That Liliana had one already done as a sample was unexpected, but Sophie mentally applauded her preparedness. That saved them the time they otherwise would have had to spend demonstrating, and meant that they could skip straight to getting the kids working on theirs.
As Lily wheeled out the paper, Sophie winked to the kids. "I'll be right back," she promised, quickly walking out of the gym and to a nearby rec room. In the corner were a pair of wheeled carts, filled to overflowing with markers, crayons, colored pencils, glitter glue, and watercolors. The sets were well-used and many were worn down, but they still served their purpose. Placing one hand on the rim of each cart, Sophie dragged them out of the room and back to the gym.
"Okay, everyone!" Her back was to the room, as she pulled the carts in, but that didn't stop her from addressing the crowd. "We're only using markers, crayons, and colored pencils today. Nothing that takes too long to dry, since you want to take them home with you, right?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:02 pm
Lily grinned at Sophie when she clapped at the idea. The center had suggested it a week back and she had quite a bit of fun making up a sample. The kids were cheering and seemed excited about the life sized art project, so much so the Lily almost did not notice Sophie slip out.
"Okay everyone, grab a partner and line up. I will wheel off a piece of paper a little longer than each of you is tall. Once you and your partner have your paper take turns tracing an outline of each. After that all you have to do is have fun decorating a big picture of you."
Lily saw Sophie come back in the the cart and smiled, happy the girl had gotten the supplies that she had forgotten. They were in currently in a well worn condition, which meant there would soon be shopping for a few new things, but for now they would do just fine. After Sophie gave her instructions Lily waved her over, wanting her to help unroll paper for the kids while she guessed height and cut.
It wouldn't take to long and after they would be able to help the kids with their art.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:33 pm
Sophie wheeled the carts on the side of the gym with the paper, thinking as she did so. "If we're both working on this," she told Lily quietly, "maybe I can hold it up while you bring the end to the ground? Then we can cut them to exactly the height we need, so we neither waste paper nor cut too short."
Efficiency was important in these things, and, not waiting for Lily to answer, Sophie took the end of the roll and draped it over her outstreched arm. With her other hand, she grabbed a pair of scissors off the nearest cart, holding it at the ready. "Look good?"
Of course it did. While Sophie was proud of Lily for her good ideas, she also felt that it was time she helped out too, and was rather zealous about making some sort of worthwhile contribution to the project. Even if it was just being tall enough to measure well above the heads of the children they were measuring, or saving a few inches of paper and a few minutes of time, she was determined to do something worthwhile in even the simplest of projects.
Whether it worked or not remained to be seen.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:48 am
Lily nodded at her suggestion and motioned for the first child in line to come over to be 'measured'. "It will need to be a little longer than each child. They'll have to lay on the ground to do this, so will want them to be able to stay on the paper."
She looked up when asked if it looked good and she nodded with a bright smile. "It's perfect." she turned back to the little girl before her and grinned, "alright Haylie. I need you to stand up nice and tall so we can get you a piece of paper. Johnny is you partner yes."
Haylie nodded and Lily smiled, "alright, than we should do you and then him, so you can carry the paper together."
She over to Sophie pulling the paper down to the ground and waiting for her to cut it to the right length. It went just like that down to the last pair then Lily grinned at Sophie with a smile, "Now for the really fun part, tracing the body outlines and decorating. You can take them home when you are done or they can go up in the hall of the center, for everyone to see."
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