I Don't Need Math or Algebra To Make It In Life

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This story is about uncle Joseph, who's got a very personal task: help his niece Sarah. At times we, the creative writers, come up with stories from real life situations that appeal to everybody.

Nicole, Sarah's mom is worried about her daughter's future and asked her brother to step in. Unfortunately, good souls depart early in real life stories, and uncle Joseph is not an exception to this unexplainable fact of life. This might've been somebody's story... that probably our muses brought to us overnight... but, let's hear from uncle Joseph:

"My niece was having problems with her mom and I had to watch her academic improvements for a while. If I knew how hard it was going to be... meaning taking the place of her dad, the one she never had -- Dad found another woman, I think I would've past on the responsibility. However, I had promised my own mother to do my damn best in helping little grand daughter."

PICKING HER UP FROM SCHOOL

Sarah, was already 14 and facing a hard day at school. I was told already by her mom (my sister), that her grades were not improving. That made me think on my way to the school, she needed more than math, she actually needed a father figure.

On the school's parking lot, she approached to me saying bye to, sure! Of course! her boyfriend, who was a mixture of Ashton Kutcher and Nick Jonas. I didn't know Sarah was that tall and already showing some tattoos on her neck. I was shocked to see a cute little woman in front of me."

WHY DO WE NEED ALGEBRA ANYWAY...?

That's what she asked me on our way home. She was resentful to her math teacher for being so hard on her and her classmates. I had to come up with something, since I knew... it was in my hands, to change her life forever, and definetely for good!

Math is a rigorous subject that puts your mind to a challenge. For instance, when these Arabic geniuses invented Algebra, they were already in the search of something. If you found yourself on an island like Robinson Crusoe did, the first thing you would've come up with, would be this letter 'X.'

Mathematicians and those 'archaic brains' were fascinated with this symbol. Going back to Baghdad or Mesopotamia, Chess players were obsessed with squares and labyrinths. Algebra took the place of the spirit of the unknown. Phoenicians were veteran traders, but they needed a better math. For a total they needed to break down the losses and waste for perishable goods. Little by little, a 'need' gave way to a new math: Algebra

AT HOME

Sarah, was browsing through her homework on the kitchen table. Her mom left us alone. As a mom, she knew herself that I was talking about life to her daughter. Then I continued:

If you hate math, then you need to correct that repulsive thinking immediately. "Uncle Joseph, you didn't answer my question, or maybe is that... you love History so much?"

She was right! I was going with the flow and I ended up in Mesopotamia and Chaldean-Assyrian soil in my own mind.

Sarah's mother made this chicken carbonara pasta for all of us, and I was trying to explain to Sarah, that in life and especially today, more than ever we needed a degree and no matter what, she would have to pass the math subject.

"But uncle Joseph, I really don't see any use for it. Math is not really for me. You cannot change my own mind just like that! Maybe is not that cool, or appealing to my generation. Gee! Why did they make it so hard to understand! All my last four teachers were effing retards!" she said.

Let me put it clear for you Sarah. Do you see your mom struggling everyday working at that Super-center, late at nights right? She gave it all for... who was, and still is your dad. But life paid her so wrong. Do you want to end with this week after week paycheck? I know you are better than that! I see it in your eyes. So sorry for coming a little late in your life. Is okay, I know you and your mother are going to make me cry too! (both were crying)

"Joseph, I was young I know... and married her father and I did what I thought it was right. Sarah came into this world without asking for it, and I take the blame... but Sarah has been the reason for me to stay alive; the meaning of my own continuity, and I want to thank you so much...(tears)"

10 MINUTES LATER...

Let me give you an example and try to break down some math for you Sarah...

If you buy a watermelon for four dollars and you get 25% off. How much would you get from a five dollars bill?

"I'm lost Uncle Joseph. I guess I will have to trust the cashier..?"

Did you hear what you just said? You said to me and to yourself, and 'to the world,' that it was okay to trust others. And this is not what I want from you. I'm prone to... I resist to believe... that you are going to be just another soul from the crowd. Being a woman is hard enough to make it in this world, but not taking advantage or your brain...? That wouldn't even make sense to your own dad.

To talk to her with that authority and stern voice. Believe it or not, I saw hope in her eyes and her mind. What really struck me was her ability to work with computers. Her FaceBook was filled with the latest games and ' Kool friends' of course. When I saw on her 'wall' a man holding a cute toddler on a pony ride picture, she was happy to tell me that her dad did love her until that other woman took him from her. Sarah was resentful to the world, but was changing slowly thanks to uncle Joseph.

"Uncle Joseph... guess what? You are really a cool dude! Ya know?"

She gave me the biggest hug, and her mom did the same thing after she heard her own daughter. Both women were carrying their cross on their own... and me, thanking myself to my parents, I made a promise to help Sarah with her academic achievements and her ultimate success.

I see myself doing these deeds, like in a vivid movie. Forgot to write it down; four years later, I had my call and 'accidentally' heavens took me back... by an unexplainable twist of fate.

"....Sarah graduates today Magna Cum Laude. She leaves a copy of her Diploma on her Uncle's resting place. Unfortunately good souls depart early.

Nicole, her mom, survived a car crash... and married Ronald, the guy who hit her...."

IN MEMORY OF ALL THE UNCLES THAT WERE THERE FOR THEIR NIECES AND NEPHEWS

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 "