Midterm Time

Midterms loom at Roseville High, and stress levels are through the roof! Daisy takes it upon herself to whip Tess into academic shape, but her tough love tutoring style clashes with the gentle approach she takes with her beloved "Mikie". Will Daisy's efforts pay off, or will this be one test she can't ace?

Midterm Time
Chapter	29 of 122 (list of chapters)
Published	January 12, 2007 (2007-01-12)
Page count	5
Major characters	Mike, Daisy, Tess
Minor characters	Lucy, Paulo, David, Abbey, Math Teacher
Locations	Roseville Middle School, Daisy's house
Collected in	Volume One, Omnibus 1
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Synopsis

The pressure is on as midterms loom over the Roseville gang in "Midterm Time". Mike struts into the cafeteria, riding high on his stellar report card and ready to gloat. "You'd be dancing too if you got HONOR ROLL!" he proclaims, much to Paulo's annoyance. David is flabbergasted that Mike aced math, of all things. Lucy suggests Tess just bribe her teachers for better grades, advice that Tess finds appalling.

Daisy, ever the eager beaver, volunteers to tutor Tess. Despite Tess's initial skepticism about being coached by a freshman, Daisy's perfect grades speak for themselves. However, Tess is mortified to discover Daisy doodled Mike's face on her report card, hinting at a secret crush. "S-SHUTTUP!!" Daisy stammers, beet red. Daisy channels her inner drill sergeant in a tutoring montage, rapping rulers and barking orders. No subject is safe from her relentless coaching, from the "Lebensraum" of Nazi Germany to the multiplicity of math. She even makes Tess jog in a tracksuit while quizzing her on U.S. presidents. The fruits of their labor are evident when Tess thanks Daisy before the big exam, acknowledging all her hard work.

Meanwhile, the boys face their own challenges. Mike and David's math teacher threatens to hunt them down if they drop to "Algeom", the dreaded remedial class. David scoffs at the importance of math, much to the teacher's chagrin. "What do you wanna be, then, David?" the teacher asks. David's vacant stare says it all: "An astronaut.. Test day arrives, and Tess is shocked to find the exam a breeze thanks to Daisy's rigorous prep. She's never been so confident! Daisy, on the other hand, realizes with dawning horror that she forgot to study for her own test. "I.. I forgot to study for my own exam!!" she laments, sinking into a void of despair. As Tess begins her exam, she's shocked to realize "I.. know all of this!!" Daisy's rigorous practice tests have prepared her well. Tess thinks triumphantly, "I never thought I could be THIS sure of myself!" But in a tragic twist, Daisy suddenly realizes "I forgot to study for my OWN exam!!" Overwhelmed by despair, Daisy's mind goes blank, filled only with basic chemistry terms as her hopes fade away.

Critical Moments

• Mike's honor roll achievement sparks joy and resentment among his friends.
• Tess's poor grades leave her dreading midterms, until Daisy enthusiastically offers to tutor her.
• Daisy's intense tutoring methods clash with her gentle approach to Mike, exposing her favoritism and leaving Tess feeling slighted.
• Tess is elated to find the exam easier than expected thanks to Daisy's rigorous preparation, while Daisy realizes she neglected her own studies in the process.

Story Themes

• The Perils of Young Love: Daisy's not-so-secret crush on Mike is highlighted as her lovingly doodled report card is exposed. Her mortified reaction speaks volumes about the vulnerability of wearing your heart on your sleeve (or in this case, on your report card).
• Tough Love and Double Standards: Daisy's no-nonsense, drill sergeant approach to tutoring Tess is juxtaposed with her patient, gentle treatment of her crush Mike. This double standard in teaching styles leads to friction between Daisy and Tess, who feels unfairly judged and pushed to her limits.
• Friendship Finds a Way: Despite personality clashes and differing skill levels, the bonds of friendship prevail. Daisy's harsh tutoring methods may rub Tess the wrong way, but her dedication demonstrates a genuine desire to help.
• The Price of Prioritizing Others: Daisy's all-consuming focus on helping Tess succeed academically comes at a steep personal cost. By neglecting her own exam preparation, Daisy sets herself up for a rude awakening when faced with questions she can't answer.

Character Dynamics

• Mike, Paulo and Abbey: The trio's dynamics are on full display as they react to Mike's academic achievement. When Mike excitedly shares his honor roll status, Paulo dismisses it with a curt "Loser", while Abbey warmly congratulates him. This contrast highlights Paulo's disdain for Mike's quirks and Abbey's more supportive nature as a friend. Abbey even calls out Paulo's intolerance, saying "He gets on your nerves no matter what, doesn't he?" - a direct challenge to Paulo's unreasonable irritation with Mike.
• Tess and Daisy: Tess and Daisy's relationship takes center stage as Daisy offers to tutor the struggling Tess. Despite Tess' initial skepticism about a freshman helping her, Daisy confidently asserts her academic capability, even taking a jab at Tess' "messy" notes. As the tutoring begins, Daisy's strict, tough-love approach contrasts with her gentle treatment of her crush Mike - a fact that Tess calls out as unfair. However, Tess does genuinely appreciate Daisy's dedication, and their bond strengthens as Tess' confidence grows leading up to the midterms.
• Daisy and Mike: Daisy's crush on Mike is revealed when her report card doodle of him is discovered. Her violent reaction to Lucy nearly exposing this secret highlights the depth of her embarrassment and desire to keep her feelings hidden. Later, Mike's unknowing praise of Daisy as "the sweetest tutor ever" showcases his obliviousness to her affections. Daisy's differential treatment of Mike in tutoring stems directly from her crush, as she adoringly calls him "a very intelligent young man" - a stark contrast to her harsh methods with Tess.
• Daisy and Lucy: When an elated Tess rushes to thank Daisy after acing her midterms, Daisy is shockingly furious, even going so far as to choke Tess while declaring "You ruined me... It's revealed that in focusing so much on helping Tess, Daisy neglected to study for her own exams. Lucy just snickers "Pff." at Daisy's meltdown, amused by her friend's self-sabotaging over-helpfulness and Tess's frightened confusion at the assault. This showcases Lucy's often unsympathetic, snarky attitude, especially towards Daisy's tribulations.

Reader Perspectives

Readers were highly amused by David's outrageous comments in this chapter, from his accusation of racist grading to his clueless declaration of wanting to be an astronaut despite dismissing the importance of math. The intense tutoring montage between Daisy and Tess also generated discussion, with readers enjoying Rocky references and debating the proper spelling of the German term "Lebensraum". But the real showstopper was the cliffhanger ending, where a crazed, frazzled Daisy violently chokes Tess for supposedly "ruining" her by doing well on the exam Daisy forgot to study for.

Trivia & Observations

• In this chapter, Mike reveals he made the honor roll for the first time, a major academic achievement for him.
• The term "Lebensraum" that Daisy quizzes Tess on is a reference to a key concept in Nazi ideology during World War II, meaning "living space". It was used to justify German territorial expansion.
• Tess jogging in a tracksuit while being drilled on U.S. Presidents is a clear shout-out to Rocky's iconic training montage. Eye of the tiger, Tess!
• This chapter marks the first time Tess and Daisy have a major interaction.
• The Math Teacher's threat to hunt down any student who drops to "Algeom" is a reference to a remedial math class in Taeshi's real high school, for those who couldn't handle regular Algebra.
• David's aspiration to be an astronaut is played for laughs given his dismissive attitude towards math education. In reality, astronauts require extensive knowledge of mathematics, physics, and engineering.
• Daisy's violent outburst in choking Tess and screaming "You ruined me.." after the midterm is shockingly out of character for the normally sweet Daisy. It's a rare glimpse of her unhinged side that will pop up again in later chapters.

Related Chapters

• The Burden of Parenthood: We see Daisy's academic prowess on display here too, as she easily grasps concepts for the baby assignment that leave Tess and others struggling. Her eagerness to tutor and impress Mike also mirrors her efforts in Chapter 29.
• Enter High School: Mike and Lucy's differing class placements and the group's reactions to Daisy being a "smart" freshman set the stage for the academic pressures and dynamics at play in "Midterm Time". Tess is also shown rolling her eyes in response to Mr. Poodles of Noodles' impassioned speech about the HSPA and SATs.
• Unfit for Education: Yashy's confrontation with the teacher about her academic aspirations parallels Tess's defensive reaction to having her poor grades exposed. Both chapters highlight the characters' insecurities about school performance.