The Reluctant Student.

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Two Pi's

Don looked at Rama who was slouched in her desk, the nine year old looked as if she had been convicted of a heinous crime and would never live to see the light of day. It was a typical look for his niece when she was caught in the classroom area of the sewer lair. Personally, Don felt that it was he who must have done something, terrible, after all he was the one saddled with trying to get this lack luster student to shine or show some sign of, intelligence beyond simple basics. Don didn't know what he had ever done to deserve this, if he was one to believe in reincarnation, he might think that he had to atone for past sins. Whatever the case was teaching Rama was probably the most difficult thing Don ever had to do, and that was saying quite a lot.

"Rama let us go into math now" Don announced.

Rama looked up at him blinking her eyes "Pardon?" She muttered, as she twirled her pen in one hand.

"I want you to open your math book to page one thirty six please." Don stated firmly.

"I'm not done with this yet" she grumbled gesturing to the papers and book on her desk, notes on geography.

"Then you will have to finish it for homework" Don informed her kindly "It is time for math."

Rama heaved a sigh and muttered under her breath "Saggin fraggin dipsticking pain in the..."

"Ramiela do you want to do an essay on respect?" Don barked quickly as his sharp ears caught her complaints.

"Sure, I can easily copy the ten others I've already done, on that subject" Rama agreed, rolling her eyes as she put that work away. Hauling out her math book and opening it to the requested page.

"Now when we talk about Pi." Don began.

"Pie?" Rama smiled suddenly licking her lips "What sort of pie, blueberry, cherry, apple, lemon meringue,rhubarb?" Rama shook her head, "Are we having a pie eating contest Uncle Donatello, bet I can beat you at it" Rama bounced in her seat. Math might not be so boring if they were going have pie. "Ohhhhh" she waved her hand suddenly "I know we can see how many ways you can slice a pie" she suggested enthusiastically.

Don smiled, as usual, his niece had things a little mixed up. "That isn't exactly what I meant Ramiela" he chided gently, "For that isn't the pie I am talking about."

Rama shrugged, she should have known that her Uncle wasn't talking about real pies, he was much too boring for all that, "What other kind of pie is there?" she demanded.

"In math Pi stands for something else and the formula that is used is two pi are square."

Rama cracked up laughing thumping a hand on her desk, "You gotta be joking! No way am I going believe that!" she hooted.

"Ramiela I am trying to teach you about Pi."

"You better talk to my dad then" Rama declared, "Because I help him with lots of pies and you know not a single one of them happens to be square. Two pies are round, everyone knows this Uncle Donatello. You are trying to play a joke on me but it isn't working because I'm smarter then that" Rama boasted proudly.

"Ramiela the formula two pi are square..."

"Your thinking of cake Uncle Donatello" Rama kindly corrected him, "Cake can be square or rectangle but pie is always round no matter how many pies you have they are round. Round like a ball," she said then sang "The wheels on the bus go round and round."

"Ramiela!" Don barked, "Are you going to start paying attention."

"Only when you stop trying to teach me nonsense like pies being square. That is ridiculous, you are supposed to teach me useful things, not this stuff." Rama sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her plastron " I'm gonna tell my daddy on you. Tell him you are trying to fill my head full of nonsense."

Don groaned, he hadn't believed in God before he had his niece to teach but, he now found he spent a lot of his time praying, praying for patience, praying not to murder his niece, praying for someone else to take over this job so he could enjoy his life. So far none of his praying had made a difference. However Don knew when Rama got into this obstinate mood that very little could sway her.

"Why don't we forget Pi for today and we'll work on fraction instead." Don suggested.

"Sure easy for you to say, you get me all hungry talking about pies and then you decide to forget them" Rama huffed, she sighed, "I know maybe I can ask dad to make us pie for dessert tonight."

The rest of Rama's lessons went about the same but after Don was finished with teaching Rama, he went in search of Mike. He found his brother in the kitchen checking through the cupboards and fridge trying to come up with an idea for dinner.

"Mike can you do me a favour and make a couple of pies for dessert?" Don asked.

"What is this, first Rama, now you, want pies." Mike exclaimed.

Don whispered something to Mike and a slow smile crossed Mike's face as Don continued to talk in a low tone. Mike chuckled and then laughed out right.

"You can count on me, you know I love playing jokes" Mike smiled.

That night after dinner Mike went to fetch the dessert, which he had kept hidden, from sight at any rate, from all family members.

Rama however was telling Karena " We is havin' pie cause Uncle Donatello gots to talking about it in class and made me so hungry for it. Only he were tryin' to lies to me." Rama insisted shooting Don a sour look.

Jennifer arched an eyebrow "Twp pi are square?"

"No they ain't pies are round" Rama corrected Jen, "I see he gots you believin' him."

Mike entered and placed the pies in the table "Two pies are what Rama?" Mike inquired innocently as he placed two square pans down on the table.

"Those pies are square!" Rama gasped staring in shock and awe, "But daddy pies sposta be round."

"Not when they are two pie Rama, and if you listened to your teacher, you'd know that." Mike informed her, "And I best not hear of you giving him any more trouble tomorrow when he tries to teach you about pi, because any more trouble on that count young lady, and you won't be sitting down for a week" Mike threatened.

Rama nodded meekly replying "yes dad" as she took her fork and bit into her piece of square pie, it tasted the same, in spite of its shape. she raised her head glowering at Don, knowing somehow he was behind these two square pie, but she knew better then to complain about it, this was one battle she might have to forfeit but it didn't mean the war was over, not by a long shot.