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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Favoritism (02/28/05)
“Mrs. Hunter’s room is just down the hall,” the school secretary kept chatterin’
at me as I walked along beside her. I knew she was just tryin’ to be nice, but I’d
had my fill of new schools and new teachers. This was the second school this year,
and it wasn’t even Christmas yet.

“No, ma’am we’re not from around here. We’re from down south,” I swallowed
hard so’as to keep from cryin’. “My daddy works in the fields so we move around
a lot.” I got tired of tellin’ the same ole story over and over.

“Well, we’re sure glad to have you at Tobey Elementary, honey,” she put her
arm around my shoulder as we rounded the corner to number 18, my new
classroom.

Miss Lewis meant well, but I knew the truth. Anybody that moved around as
much as we did was not really welcome. I could see it in her eyes. I was a
nuisance. I held my breath as the secretary knocked on the big wooden door. It
seemed like forever til it opened.

A tall, skinny, freckled-face boy stood there, just starin’ at me. “Hey, Mrs.
Hunter, the new kid’s here.” I got real scared and hid behind the secretary’s skirt.
Just because I did this a lot didn’t make it easier.

The click of heels tap, tap, tapped towards the door and a smilin’ face looked
around for me. Shyly, I peeked out from behind the secretary and looked into the
eyes of my new third grade teacher. “Well, Starisha, you’re here just in time for
show and tell. Come right on in. I have a desk ready for you over here by Kirsten.”
She took my old, beat up book bag, stuck it in a nearby cubby and led me to the
empty seat.

Kirsten was wearing a pretty pink sweater and pants. As I looked around, I
noticed that all the girls seemed to have nice clothes. I felt like they were sizing me
up pretty good. I squirmed and pulled at my shirt. Mama said it wasn’t too tight,
but I knew better. It was the only thing that was clean.

I plunked myself down and tried to scrunch up and make myself invisible. I
could hear whispers buzzin’ round that class like a bunch of bees. Just as I turned
my head, I spied a note tossed from one desk to another. Yep, it was just the same,
no matter what school, or town, or state.

“Boys and girls, I’d like you to meet Starisha. I want you to all make her feel
welcome. Kirsten, will you make sure she knows where the girls’ bathroom and
lunchroom are?”

“Sure, Mrs. Hunter.” She eyed me like a dog starin’ at a snake. I knew already
that Kirsten wasn’t goin’ to like me. I guess it didn’t matter anways since we never
stayed long enough to make friends. I tried to look straight ahead at the blackboard
even though there wasn’t anything there.

I hoped that nobody found out what they called me at the last school. I could
still hear the kids screamin’, “Cootie bug, You’re a cootie bug.” Tears started up
just thinkin’ about it. Pullin’ my sleeve up to my face, I swiped ‘em away real quick
so nobody would notice.

I just wished I could be like everybody else with a mama and a daddy who lived
in the same house all the time. Maybe then people wouldn’t treat me different.
Maybe then I could have friends and go over to somebody’s house and play. I
could hear Daddy’s voice in my head. “Oh, Starisha, you’re just makin’ pipe
dreams.”

Mrs. Hunter made me jump. I felt kinda stupid cause I could hear kids gigglin’.
“Starisha, would you like to come over to the circle with us?” She took my hand
and led me over to a carpeted area with lots of pillows on the floor.

Something seemed different about her, but I couldn’t figure it out. Then she bent
over and whispered in my ear, “Jesus loves you and so do I. I’m glad you’re here.”
This time I couldn’t stop the tears that sneaked down my cheek. The teacher
seemed to see them too cause she passed me a kleenex, kinda secret like so nobody
else would see.

I looked at her plump white hand still tucked over my little black one. Then I
peeked up into her soft blue eyes. Somehow I believed her.
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This article has been read 1328 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lisa Beaman
03/07/05
I really liked this. You did a great job of putting the reader into the girl's shoes. It brought tears to my eyes & I've lived in the same county all my life so I have no idea of how it would feel to move around a lot. Nice entry.
Jared Norton
03/07/05
Good use of language and surroundings in story. Your use of the child's poor english and subtle ethnic references helped create perspective. I thank Christ that His love looks beyond those things! Keep up the good work!
Lynne Gaunt
03/08/05
This is a wonderful story. I was reading it aloud but when I got to the part where the teacher whispers to Starisha, I got all choked up and had to finish reading in my head. Your "jargon" is well done too, and not artificial sounding. Very nice job! Thank you!
Sally Hanan
03/09/05
Beautiful.
Kathy Cartee
03/10/05
Great story.

I could feel the pain of this child.

Being the daughter of a construction worker and then the wife of a construction worker this brought back memories.
Thank God for caring teachers.

Kathy
donna robinson
03/10/05
Several years back I worked for the Migrant Ministry. We used to give scholarships to migrant kids to go to camps and then had to choose the "brightest ones" as the others couldn't afford to miss summer school. It hurt me so much so my boss and I helped start a free camp at the end of summer school for everyone. I wanted them to have a place they belonged and could share camp stories when school started like other kids. I worked with migrant kids on the weekends to get them out of some isolated camps. I heard this story so many times and always cried with them. So this just brought back some memories for me. You told the story in such a truthful manner that it had to touch the reader.
Suzanne R
03/13/05
Very touching. You get inside this little girl's mind so beautifully. Well done.
Phyllis Inniss 
03/14/05
A very touching story. The reader was able to feel the pain of the child and was happy that Jesus' love was exemplified in the teacher. Very realistically told.
Deborah Porter 
03/14/05
Chris, congratulations on receiving a Level 2 Highly Commended Award. The level of competition was very high for this Challenge, and this award really is a credit to you. Well done. With love, Deb (Challenge Co-ordinator)