Amy's mother calls

The phone's buzz woke Matt from a sound sleep. He definitely needed to buy a new ringtone.

"Huh?"

"Sorry Matt, did I wake you?"

"I guess. Who is this?"

"It's Eliza Hartman. Amy's mom."

"Oh. Uh, hi Mrs. Hartman, I mean Eliza."

She giggled. "Amy told me she had a fun time at the dance last night and that you danced with her... even after not taking my money."

"Of course I did. Amy is a nice girl. Why wouldn't I dance with her?"

"Well considering that nobody else did, I don't think it's an unfair question."

"Oh." Was Eliza mad at him for not sending more guys Amy's way. "Listen, Mrs.... I mean Eliza. You have to understand I just moved here. I haven't made any guy friends yet so I didn't have anyone I could ask to--"

"I understand, Matt. I just wanted to let you know that if you'd do more than just tutor Amy, if you'd be her... friend... , I'd be very grateful. Grateful to the tune of maybe a hundred a week."

"You're offering to pay me to be Amy's boyfriend?"

"Well, if you want to be crude about it. I was thinking more that since I know you and Karen don't have the kind of spending money that most of the kids on the Hill do, and since, if you were Amy's boyfriend you'd have to do certain activities that are bound to cost some money, I could chip in a little to help. Now I'm not saying you have to be exclusive. You're at the age where it's okay to date around, explore different situations. I understand that and as long as you're careful with Amy's feelings, I'm okay with it. But Amy has really enjoyed her time with you and Karen and frankly she doesn't have that many friends."

"I understand."

"So, you'll do it?"