Lots of it. Seriously, I mean, we're talking hours.
"Okay, class. Remember that History test I had you take last week?" You ask. Your students groan. For them, that test was especially hard. Unsurprisingly, Equestria's education system is rather lenient on necessary subjects, and, since the Friendship school is independent from the EEA, your classes are just so much more rigorous.
A couple months after Twilight Sparkle founded the school, she realized that she couldn't just teach friendship for the entire day. Being a good friend most certainly wouldn't get you a stable job after graduating. After weeks and weeks of searching for a suitable teacher with the right credentials, she was just about to give up, but that's when you came in. A quick interview followed, and she found that you were more than qualified to teach. And hey, you were looking for a job at the time anyway and were happy that she didn't discriminate against you for being a giant, hulking alien literally three times her size.
"I'm handing it back today, and yes, Gallus. There will be extra credit." The students sigh in relief, glad that their grades wouldn't be entirely ruined. And they should be glad. Judging by the terrible scores they got, you're being extremely generous with them. As you start handing back the tests, you can see some of the front-row dwellers sweating. However, one of them isn't nervous whatsoever. Ocellus, one of your best students, if not the best student in your classes smiles brightly at you as you pass back her test. You can't help but feel sorry for her as tears well in her eyes. Patting her on the back, you whisper in her ear: "It's okay. It happens to everyone. Come see me after class and I'll see what I can do." She nods, sniffling quietly.
The rest of the class ends up in similar states as Ocellus, albeit at varying levels. You sigh. This test was a failure. Not only to them but also to you. No one got even close to an A. Finishing up the last couple tests in the back row, you make your way towards the front of the classroom, clearing your throat on the way.
"There are several ways you can make up points for this test." You say. "The first is going through your exam and redoing all of the problems you missed, as well as completing several book assignments and worksheets which can be found attached to your assessment. This will be due exactly one week from now." The students groan once again, knowing that getting their grades up will not be easy. Should've studied more for the test. You think. When I give out a study guide, I mean it. "The second option is staying after school every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday until the end of the semester, going over class material with me, a study group of sorts. I will be keeping track of the people attending, so don't get any half-assed ideas." It's definitely a good thing that ass isn't a swear word in Equestria. Otherwise, you would have been fired on the very first day on the job. One of your students, a hippogriff by the name of Silverstream raises her claw, a puzzled looked upon her face.
"But, Mr. Anon. Wouldn't that take so much more time than test corrections?" You nod.
"Good point. However, along with making up for the test, an additional 2.5% will be added to your final semester grade." Your eyes scan the group of students, focusing on a green colt who doesn't seem to be paying very much attention. Sandbar. "And believe me, some of you will need whatever you can get." Silverstream nods, lowering her appendage. "You have the class available for work time. Come on, it's best to get it done now." All the students immediately start frantically pulling out their notebooks, hoping to put a dent in their gargantuan assignment.
All except Ocellus. The small cyan changeling simply sits there, a soulless look on her face with hooves held over her head, small sniffling noises able to be heard from her as The rest of the class period goes by fairly quickly, with the students getting together in groups and collaborating with each other. When the bell rings, everyone starts leaving until only a handful are left in the classroom, which you identify as Ocellus and her group of friends.
"I'll be right out, guys. Go ahead."
"Are you sure? We can wait."
"No, it's fine. I want to talk to Mr. Anon about something." Her friends leave the room, probably going towards the library to continue with their assignment. Once they're gone, she walks up towards your desk, pulls over a chair, and takes a seat. She clears her throat with a small, delicate cough, and you can see that her eyes have become quite red.
"I, um, saw the grade." You nod, wearing a neutral expression. "And I heard your options for extra credit." She pulls out a notebook. "And,-" She sniffles. "I don't think it's gonna be enough to get my grade back up to an A before semester finals. Here, I did the calculations." Ocellus is full on crying now, her tears staining both her hooves that she holds in front of her eyes and the notebook, although most of the stains don't look fresh. You stand up and walk around the desk, pushing the notebook to the side. You reach out with your hands and grasp one of her surprisingly soft hooves in your left hand, pulling it away from her face, while the other wipes a couple of tears from her eyes.
"Listen, Ocellus. From the first day you walked into this classroom, I knew there was something special about you." She stops sniffling and looks up at you, with her big, reflective eyes staring into the depths of your soul. "From every day further, you have proven yourself to be the most dedicated and attentive student I have ever had. Never once have you missed a question, and never once have you missed an assignment." A small smile starts coming across her face. "I am proud of you. Very much so. I know that you're worried about your grades, and I want to help you. But it's going to be hard, and a ton of work." Her ears flop to the sides of her head. "But if you do this, I guarantee you. You will have an A before the end of the semester, and you'll be ready for semester finals as well."
"I'll do it." She says determinedly, smiling with confidence. You smile back, before returning to your chair on the other side of the desk.
"So here are the terms. Currently, your test grade is a D-. Your class grade is currently a C-." She flinches. "With test corrections, your grade would be moved up to a C+. If you choose the other option, your grade will be a B-."
"I know. I did the calculations. So, what do I have to do?" She asks, with a rather impatient tone.
"If you want to get an A, you'll have to do test corrections, and stay behind every single day of the week, excluding weekends working on and studying class material with me." You say. She inhales sharply, before nodding.
"When is it gonna start?"
"Tomorrow. And...Listen, don't let anyone know I've told you this, okay?" You pull out a folder with her name on it from a locked drawer in your desk, placing it in front of her and rotating it so she can see. You point towards a specific snippet of the front page, and she moves her head in closer to get a better view.
Math: A, 96.55%
History: C-, 70.54%
Science: A, 94.57%
Ponish: A, 92.11%
"I-I don't see the problem here." She says, confused by your findings. You raise your eyebrows.
"In all classes except History and Ponish, I've given you multiple choice tests. When I first took this job, I had to argue with Twilight. First, over giving you guys multiple choice questions at all, and second over how many options. In the end, we settled on three." Ocellus nods.
"Right now, you're probably wondering why I was arguing for written out answers. You see, where I come from, multiple choice questions are rare. Extremely so. They're just not good at determining if someone knows the material." She gasps, clearly at a loss for words.
"B-but how did you take the tests then? Wouldn't everycreature in the classes fail?" You chuckle and shake your head.
"We just had to study, and hope that we were ready for the test. That's what you, along with the rest of the class will have to be doing when semester finals roll along." Once again, Ocellus' ears flop to the sides of her head.
"There will be fifty questions per test, and they will all have to be written out. Once you get your History grade up, which I'm sure you will, finals might bring it back down again." She nods, understanding her current predicament.
"Why are you telling me this? Wouldn't it be better if you just let the entire class know at the same time?" You pause for a moment, thinking of a good answer.
"I'm planning to spread the info about a week from now so they can get prepared. As for you...Let me say it's just a gift for my favorite student." A deep red blush spreads across her face, and she holds a hoof in front of it to hide her embarrassment.
"U-um, t-thank you." She stutters out, unable to meet your eyes with her own. You chuckle.
"Don't get too comfortable, now. Just because you're my favorite doesn't mean you can slack!" She nods, before looking towards a clock located on the wall behind you. You turn to face it as well.
"Looks like I've kept you here long enough. Go ahead and join your friends, and I guess-" You place the folder back into its cellulose prison- "I'll see you tomorrow, then." You start returning to your work, beginning to grade today's homework, but you're interrupted by a tap on your shoulder. Ocellus is still there, smiling at you. Before you can say anything, she buzzes towards you and brings you into a hug, wings folding into her back. You can feel her warm breath on the side of your neck, as well as the smooth chitin of her muzzle and front hooves as they wrap around you. Without more of an option, you wrap your arms around her, patting her for a bit. Utilizing what strength she has in her lithe body, she squeezes your muscular torso even tighter, and sighs.
"Thank You!" She says, before letting go and hopping back onto the ground. You remark that her mood has improved significantly. Trotting over to her desk, she picks up her stuff and places it into her saddlebags, before approaching the exit. "Bye, Mr. Anon! See you tomorrow!" She waves.
"Bye! Have fun!" You respond, before the door clicks shut, leaving you alone to do your work.
You sigh as well. It's not her you're worried about. Ocellus will do well, as she always does. Today's test was only an exception. Once you're done with grading the homework, you pull out a specific folder from your desk's secure drawer, and you scoff, putting in the points from the latest assignment. This guy, man. Who the hell does he think he is!?
What a piece of work.
Author's Note
Just like Ocellus, finals are comin' up fast for me. Don't expect another chapter until after 1/25/19.
