Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Allowed - Aloud (01/05/23)
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TITLE: Bad Words | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom
01/12/23 -
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Grandma wrapped her arm around Wrigley’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Bad day in first grade?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “The worst.”
Grandma said, “Wanna talk or snuggle?”
“Both.” The little girl wiggled closer. “I just don’t get people.”
Grandma smiled. “Me neither. And I’ve had more years to learn too. Some days I don’t think I know much more than I did when I was your age.”
”Really? I thought you knew everything.” The two sat in silence until Wrigley sighed again. “Lisa said a naughty word today. Ms. Jones was mad.”
“Wanna tell me?”
Wrigley shivered and shook her head. “No one should ever say that word aloud. It's been banned now. There’s a new kid in our class, Breah. She looks different than people around here.” Wrigley cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered, “She’s Black. But that’s not the word Lisa used.”
Nodding, Grandma said, “I see.”
“She said, ‘We don’t allow,’ um, you know…” Wrigley shrugged her shoulders and fidgeted on the couch.
Grandma said, “Hmmm. It’s true that Stone’s Falls has almost all white people.”
Wrinkling her nose, Wrigley asked, ”Why? Are different people not allowed to live here?”
“Of course not. It just happens that few people of color live here. Actually we are all different. But we are also more alike than some people want to admit.”
“But why are some not allowed here?”
Grandma cupped her hand around Wrigley’s chin and tilted her face so she could look into her eyes. “Oh honey. It’s not that certain people aren’t allowed; it’s more that not many people of color live here. And before you ask why, I’m not sure I can fully answer. There are lots of reasons. Stone’s Falls is a small, rural town.
"I’m glad a new family moved in. Maybe things will change. But I’m also sad that Lisa even knows a word like that.” Grandma wiped away a tear.
Wrigley scrunched up her face. “The thing is, Grandma, I don’t think she knew it was a bad word. She said everyone in her family says it.” Wrigley felt her cheeks grow warm and lowered her eyes. “I didn’t know it was a bad word either. I hear it on TV and the bus all the time. It’s even in some songs.”
“True, that word gets tossed around a lot, and when I was your age, it was the word everyone used. But now it’s a hateful, hurtful word. One you should never say.”
Wrigley snickered. “Yeah, I figured that out when Ms. Jones went berserk. Her face turned red and she yelled, ‘I never want to hear that word in this class again!’ Then she made Lisa apologize to Breah. Lisa said she was sorry and she cried. A lot. She kept saying that she didn’t know it was a bad word. Some of the kids laughed. But Breah didn’t. She said that it was okay, but Ms. Jones said,‘That word is never okay.’ Then she said we were going to talk more about it next week.”
“It sounds like Lisa and Breah had a rough day.” Grandma patted Wrigley’s knee. “You, too, huh?”
Wrigley nodded. “I’ve been thinking. A lot. I’m glad Lisa was wrong about certain people not being allowed to live here. That idea made me super sad. Plus Breah’s nice. And I’ve been thinking about Ms. Jones saying she never wanted to hear that word again. But I don’t think that solves the problem.”
Grandma raised her eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah, people shouldn’t think about mean words. Once they get in our heads, it’s too easy for them to come out of our mouths.”
“So true, Punkin.” Grandma kissed Wrigley.
“Why do people care about skin color anyway? Maybe Breah’s family will help Lisa’s family understand that we aren’t so different. Do you think they know the ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children’ song? ‘Cause it says, ‘Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight.’”
Wrigley laid her head on Grandma’s lap. “I’ve seen black and brown people on TV, but the only red and yellow ones are in cartoons. Do you think red and yellow people might move into Stone’s Falls next?”
Grandma just chuckled.
After thinking about it for a few seconds, Wrigley said, “Hey, Grandma, I think this town needs purple people, too.”
This time Grandma laughed aloud. “You nailed it with that idea!”
Author’s Note: The tune, "Jesus Loves the Little Children," was written in 1864 by George Frederick Root. Later, the familiar lyrics were written by Clare Herbert Woolston.
This is a fictional children’s story geared for ages six to ten.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Happy Dance! Congratulations! Wrigley is back! Fresh way to look at the words that are said and how we need to change them
Congratulations on your 1st place win! I love your Wrigley stories. So much wisdom.