Falling Short

Marco realizes that it is after midnight, and he still needs to do his homework. He logs into Math Conservatory, an online homework site, but quickly encounters a problem that he does not know how to solve. He presses the “help” option to get a practice problem, but it does not help him. He has never failed to understand anything in math class, and he begins to feel panicked. He looks online for resources to help him understand and reads and rereads his math textbook, but nothing helps. His hands begin to tremble, and he feels like he cannot breathe. Amid a panic attack, he climbs out of his window and heads for the light he sees in Isaac’s room, next door.

Hearing Marco’s strained breathing, Isaac realizes that his friend is having a panic attack. Isaac wraps his arms around Marco and urges him to take deep breaths. Marco gasps out that he has to be perfect at academics because it is all he is good at. Isaac tells him that he is a good friend and person and that his grades are not what others value about him. Marco begins to relax. Isaac suggests that Marco sleep over; as Marco falls asleep beside him, Isaac decides that he must do something about Marco’s incomplete homework.