9 Chapter 9: She Is Satisfied

While they were talking, people were distributing books around. Piles of books covered the teacher's desk. There weren't many textbooks for eleventh grade, but the school had ordered a lot of revision materials. The whole desk was piled up.

Ms. Acheson asked her helpers to classify the books and give them out.

There were a lot of books. Each helper had a pile to give out, and it didn't take too much time.

The stack of books in front of Sophia gradually piled up. She didn't intend to read these books, but with the three girls next to her, she felt obliged to set a good example for them and inspire them to study hard.

She sorted the textbooks, laid them neatly on the desk, and looked around at them.

Carol was the most obedient one. She saw what Sophia did, and while confused, she also put her books away carefully. Mariah and Melissa didn't take it seriously but did the same.

Sophia was satisfied. Treating books with respect was the first step, and they did it very well.

After all the books were handed out, Ms. Acheson cleared her throat and said, "Each student should have seventeen books and ten exercise books. Count your books. If you don't have enough books, check the booklist on the blackboard to see which one is missing. Also, check to make sure you don't have a duplicate book."

Students started to count their books. Some students didn't get enough books, and they reported books they missed.

Sophia Green saw the girls were still. She coughed and began to count her books.

And so the three girls had to count too.

"I don't have 'the Mathematics Guide Manual'." Sophia said as she raised her hand.

"I don't have a Chinese textbook." Mariah raised her hand, too.

Ms. Acheson looked up all the books that were missing from the extra ones. Finally, she said in a bit of a quandary, "There is only one 'Mathematics Guide Manual' left. But both Sophia Green and Molly McDowell don't have one. How about you negotiate between you who will use this book first? And I'll check if there is one leftover somewhere else."

Sophia was just trying to show her seriousness and set an example to her friends. She didn't really want the book. She wanted to give it to Molly McDowell. But Molly McDowell said quickly, "Ms. Acheson, I get really good grades in school and she won't study with the book. Give it to me. This book has to be used when the class starts, and it's more useful to me. I'd like to look over it this weekend."

'Mathematics Guide Manual' was a book for students to read before class. Hardworking students usually finished it before class.

When Sophia Green heard what she said, she got upset. She had intended to give this girl the book, but now she changed her mind.

Carol Carter was also very angry. But she couldn't exactly deny what she had said. She looked at Mariah and Melissa. They also didn't know what to say. It was true that Sophia didn't study hard. There didn't seem to be a point arguing with Molly McDowell for a math book.

Sophia Green stood up and smiled, "I'm sorry. Ms. Acheson. I also need this book."

Molly McDowell stood up and said angrily, "What do you want books for? Can you even do math? I know, I'll pick a question. If you can work it out, I'll give you the book."

Ms. Acheson heard their quarreling and hurried to calm the situation, "Molly McDowell, don't joke! We haven't learned this book yet. How could you make her do that? I'll keep the book. And I'll give it to you when I find another one. Is that fair?"

Sophia Green didn't actually care. She just felt angry about what Molly had said. If Molly McDowell hadn't said those words, she would have given her the book quite happily.

But Molly McDowell didn't agree, "Ms. Acheson. I really need this book. It's no good for you. Give it to me first! It's not too late to give her another one!"

Ms. Acheson was a bit awkward, "Well…"

Sophia was not a very patient person. She suddenly said, "McDowell. Do you mean what you just said?

Molly McDowell didn't react, "Which bit?"

"You said you'd give me the book if I can work out a problem."

"That… of course, that counts." Molly was delighted. She hadn't expected Sophia to be so angry that she was actually willing to do some work.

"Choose a question." Sophia Green said lightly.

Carol gently pulled on Sophia's arm, a little worried, and whispered in her ear, "Boss. Don't bet on it. If you lose the bet, you'll lose face."

She knew Sophia well. She couldn't even work out the math questions in tenth grade, let alone eleventh-grade tests.

Sophia smiled, patted her hand, and said nothing.

Molly said happily, "You've said it. Don't blame me when you lose. Please give me the book, Ms. Acheson. I'll find her a question."

Ms. Acheson couldn't help with it. Now that the two students had reached an agreement and it was a study test, after all, she had no reason to object. So she gave the book to Molly McDowell.

Molly flipped through the book and pointed to one of the questions at random, "This one. Do it. You'll have twenty minutes. If you can't work it out, this book is mine."

Sophia picked up the book, took a look at it, and said lightly, "It won't take twenty minutes. The answer is that 'x' equals seven, and 'y' equals fifteen."

Molly McDowell handed the book to Ms. Acheson, "Ms. Acheson. There is no answer here. Please check whether she is right."

Ms. Acheson took the book back and saw that it was a very complicated geometric problem. Although she was a math teacher, she could not tell the answer straight away. She picked up a student's pen, drew two auxiliary lines, and spent a couple of moments working it out. She looked up in surprise.

"Sophia Green's answer is… right!"

Molly McDowell looked surprised. How was that possible? Even Ms. Acheson had taken some time to solve the problem. Sophia Green just gave the answer at once. She must have guessed it.

Ms. Acheson handed the book to Sophia, "Sophia Green has been studying hard lately. It's paid off!"