Pary Barry & John- Life's Lessons: PB & J, #11

By Kamaryn Kelsey

A desperate Pary signs up for a course at a local college. But it's not a normal course. Pary tells John that it's part of a grant program when he questions how she can afford it. The truth is, the course is a behavioral studies program and Pary is getting paid to attend! So what's not to love?

The fact that she gets paired with other "students" who have issues of their own.
The fact that she learns a few hard truths about her life in general, and John Smith, in particular.
The professors spot Pary and a fellow student as trouble right from the start.
The professors don't like Pary and what she's doing to the other students... and their class.

So it's not all fun and games. In fact, it gets down and dirty until the teams realize that they all have problems, and they all need to make changes. And Pary doesn't take to changes easily, but she's willing to try. So she gives it a shot.

Those sudden changes in the once "always off the wall" Pary have John concerned. So he decides to look into Pary's grant class and finds out the truth behind it. The truth Pary didn't know because she didn't read the fine print. (Who reads the fine print?) But in the end, Pary really does learn valuable lessons about life- and shopping.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kamaryn Kelsey
• Release date: May 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386052654

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

This is not a standalone book.

Chapter 1

Why are you looking so smug? John Smith asked his neighbor, Parody Hope Barry (AKA Pary or PB) as they got on the elevator Monday morning. Obviously you don't have a job yet, not when you dress like that.

Pary wore her shoulder length light brown hair clipped into a knot, on top of her head. It wasn't done neatly, and chunks of hair stuck out in every direction. But not only hair stuck out. Pary had several writing utensils jammed through the knot. She ignored John's sarcastic remark of attempted self lobotomy? Her spandex leggings were metallic lime green, and she wore a yellow tunic with an orange belt. Her shoes were... John checked again, then looked up at her in disbelief. She wore her favorite style of slippers, with the pointy toes that curled up over the top! Pink pointy toe slippers.

Pary sniffed and shoved her overloaded red tote bag his way, and John lifted a brow. Is that supposed to mean something, other than the fact that you can double as a pack mule?

I have something important to do, Mr. Nosy, she replied. And it's none of your business!

You mean it's none of my business until it falls apart. Then you drag me into your mess and it becomes my business whether I like it or not! He held her arm to prevent her from exiting the elevator. I can ride this thing all day, he told her with a grin. "My boss is such a nice guy. Is your something important that nice? Because you're not sneaking up behind me to chop off my legs with an ax when you get into trouble again! Spill the beans right now, so I can prepare myself for your next disaster."

Pary shuffled around in the elevator trying to loosen John's grip. She hollered when the doors closed and the elevator went up with her and John still inside. They rode the elevator down with more tenants. It opened on the ground floor, and Pary started to bounce anxiously. As the doors began to close, she broke.

All right! Just let me out of here so I won't be late!

John opened the elevator doors, but kept a hand on Pary's arm. I'm waiting, he told her as they exited Garden Square Apartments and walked across the street to the parking garage.

With a scowl, Pary said, I'm going back to school, John!

John looked her over. Kindergarten? You're bound to fit right in, except for those sharpened weapons you're sporting as hair decorations. Those will get you bounced!

I'm going to college, she replied in a lofty voice. And that's all you need to know.

Whoa, there! How is it you can afford college without a job? he asked when they stopped behind his car.

Pary closed her eyes and chewed on her lip while she thought up a good answer. John watched in amusement as he saw the possibilities flit across her face. Each time she dismissed one, she shook her head. Finally, with a look of confidence, she nodded and said, It's sort of a grant program.

"Sort of a grant program? he asked doubtfully. How does that work?"

How should I know? she asked in a crabby voice. I'm not taking a course in college funding, you know!

And that's exactly why I'm asking. You didn't forge my name on loan papers, did you? he asked suspiciously.

John, would I do that to you? she asked, her big gray eyes looking hurt.

He snorted. Yes, if you thought you'd get away with it.

She left him at his car and as she continued toward her minivan, she said, Well, I didn't forge your name on loan papers, John Smith!

He narrowed his brown eyes, still not convinced, but climbed into his car.

Pary continued her walk, and she grinned. I forged your name on the reference letter!

She found her minivan and climbed in. With a blast of smoky exhaust, PB was on her way to college.

Chapter 2

What Pary hadn't told John was that she wasn't taking a college course in the typical sense. She was getting paid for this particular course because she was a test subject in a psych study. So in a way it was a win/win situation. She was getting paid to go to college, right? John wouldn't see it that way, but he seldom viewed things from PB's angle.

Pary motored into the lot at the college, found a parking spot, and followed the big red arrows into the building. The woman sitting behind the greeting desk took one look over her reading glasses and just pointed down a hall. Pary waved and skipped down the hall, anxious to start collecting her pay as a test subject.

The room was well marked, and half filled with other test subjects. Pary grabbed her name tag, then looked around at the variety of fellow testers. Who knew so many people qualified as psych study subjects? She shrugged and found a seat near the back of the room. She'd learned during her public education years that sitting at the back brought less scrutiny from the overworked, over stressed, overloaded, and underpaid public servants called teachers. Unfortunately, she didn't stop to realize this wasn't a public