The Jones Family Part 3: The New Challenges

The following week, Megan, the tutor, had arrived every afternoon to work with Harper and Mark. Though the kids had initially been skeptical about having an "old grandma" as a tutor, they were slowly warming up to her. Megan was far from what they had expected. She wasn’t old at all, but rather energetic and lively, with a quirky sense of humor that kept the kids engaged.

"You know," Megan said one afternoon as they sat around the kitchen table with their books, "you two might not have started on the right foot, but we’re going to make sure you finish this year strong. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about making progress." Harper looked at her notebook and sighed. "But everything seems so hard. Why can't I just be good at this like the other kids? Megan smiled. "It’s normal to struggle when things are new. But, every time you try, you're getting better. Think of each mistake as a stepping stone to learning something new."

Mark, who had been doodling in his notebook, looked up. "But what if the other kids make fun of us for being the new ones?" Tom, who had been quietly listening in the living room, entered the kitchen. "You don’t need to worry about them, Mark. You don’t need to impress anyone but yourself. Besides, you’re learning, and that’s what matters."

Meanwhile, across the street, Summer was having her usual friendly chat with the neighbors, but she could sense the tension in the air. She had heard about the tutoring sessions, and she decided to drop by one afternoon to check on how things were going. She found Harper and Mark in the backyard, trying to put up a treehouse. "Hey, what’s going on here?" Summer asked with a smile. "Trying to build a treehouse," Mark said, though he seemed unsure. "But I don't think it’s gonna work. It’s too hard." "Well, you know what they say," Summer said, kneeling down beside him. "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly until you get good at it." Harper looked at her. "I guess we’re just not good at anything yet."

"That’s the thing," Summer replied. "No one’s good at something the first time they try it. But you keep at it. You learn from mistakes, and soon enough, you'll be experts. Besides, you can always ask for help from the people around you, like Travis, Liberty, or me. "Mark's eyes lit up. "You mean, we could get help building the treehouse?" Summer nodded. "Absolutely. Why not ask for help when you need it? No shame in that." The kids exchanged glances. Maybe this whole new life in Willow Creek wouldn’t be so bad after all. That evening, as the family gathered for dinner, they shared stories about their day. Tom smiled proudly at Harper and Mark and said, "So, how’s the tutoring going?" "It’s better than we thought," Harper said, surprising herself. "Megan's... okay, I guess. She's patient." "And we got a new project," Mark added. "We’re building a treehouse with Summer and Travis!" "A treehouse, huh? You two sure are busy." said Sarah.

Harper grinned. "Yeah, it’s fun. We’re learning how to do stuff ourselves." Tom exchanged a look with Sarah. "That’s what it’s all about, right? Not just school, but life." As the evening settled into quiet conversation, it felt like the family was beginning to find their rhythm in Willow Creek. Though the road ahead would certainly have challenges—new schools, new friendships, and all the uncertainty that came with it—they were learning that they could face it together. And that made all the difference.