Glimpse of Splendor (The Celebration Series) by Moser Kay

Author:Moser, Kay [Moser, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Living Parables
Published: 2013-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

As Rachel walked among her students’ desks the next afternoon, watching them work, she noticed that Chelsey never raised her head from her work. At first she thought the girl was simply concentrating, but then she began to sense that Chelsey was avoiding looking at her. When the class was finally over and Chelsey rose to leave, Rachel was stunned by what she saw. Chelsey’s right check was lacerated and badly swollen. Rachel hurried across the emptying classroom, and when she reached the teenager’s side, she demanded in a whisper, “What happened?”

Chelsey stared down at the floor and said nothing.

Rachel waited until the remaining students had left before saying, “Just give it to me straight, Chelsey. What happened to your face?” When Chelsey still remained silent, Rachel added, “You’re not leaving here until you tell me what’s going on.”

Chelsey settled heavily into a desk and looked up at Rachel. Finally she spoke, her voice draped in sadness. “I went over to talk Sassy into coming back to the school, and Jamal was over there.”

“Who’s Jamal?” Rachel asked.

“Just a guy, a real mean guy....real mean.”

“Okay. So you went over there to find Sassy. Then what happened?”

“They was doing drugs, and he hit me and threw me outta the trailer into the dirt.” She paused and looked down at her lap. In spite of Rachel’s instant fury, she managed to wait for the girl to continue. “Now I feels like dirt,” Chelsey whispered as tears rolled down her face.

Rachel immediately squatted down next to Chelsey and stared intently into her eyes. “Listen to me, Chelsey, and hear what I say. You’re not dirt. No one can make you into dirt. You are God’s child. He gives you the kind of worth that nobody can take away from you. I know you don’t understand that right now, so you’re going to have to trust me and believe what I’m saying. In time, I hope you will understand who you really are. I’m going to do everything I can to help you understand, but you have a part to play too.” Rachel stopped and waited for a reaction from Chelsey; when the girl said nothing, she asked, “Do you at least hear what I’m saying?”

“Yes, ma’am. I hear you.” Chelsey murmured as the rivulets of water continued to stream down her face.

Rachel reached up and stroked the top of the girl’s head as she explained, “We’re going to have to work on these feelings of yours, and it’s going to take time. Right now, I’m worried about Sassy. Do you know where she is?”

“Probably at her mama’s trailer.”

“Do you think Jamal’s there?”

Chelsey nodded slowly, then looked up at Rachel. “He gonna kill her, Miz Rachel, it just be a matter of time.”

Rachel struggled to take in the unbelievable words. Suddenly they registered, and she stood up abruptly. “Not today he’s not!” she exclaimed as she walked back to her desk for her coat.

“What you gonna do, Miz Rachel?”

“I’m going over there and throw him off my property!”

“You can’t go over there, Miz Rachel.

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