Try a Little Tenderness by Isaiah David Paul

Author:Isaiah David Paul
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Urban Books
Published: 2015-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

We Are Not Ashamed

Amirah sat in a daze in her classroom. She had considered calling out but didn’t have enough paid time off, and she couldn’t afford to have a substitute’s pay come out of her pocket.

Thankfully, her class hadn’t started yet when Mrs. Ingle walked in. “Amirah,” she called out in concern.

Amirah snapped out of it and turned her head to face Mrs. Ingle. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you sure you are okay?” Mrs. Ingle asked. “I heard about what happened over the weekend, and I’m sorry that you knew the young man involved in that incident.”

“We had a good date, too,” Amirah answered. She couldn’t play off her feelings for him if she wanted to.

Mrs. Ingle grabbed Amirah’s hand without warning, closed her eyes, and bowed her head. Amirah immediately did the same. “Father God, we come before you now, praying healing mercy and grace on that young man—what’s his name, dear?”

“Mateo,” Amirah stuttered. “Mateo Valdez.”

“We pray for healing mercy and grace for Mateo Valdez and his family as they go through this time of need. Lord, you are Jehovah Rapha, and we need you to heal Mateo’s mind, body, and spirit in the way you see fit. Bring about the spirit of comfort and forgiveness for this family, and we pray for mercy and healing for the family of the young man who inflicted pain on Mateo. Help them know your love if they should not know you, and encourage them to stay strong in you and your Word if they do. God, we praise you, honor you, and magnify you, and it is in your Son Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen,” Mrs. Ingle prayed.

“It is well.” The utterance of these three words caused Amirah’s spirit to heal and to feel at peace. She smiled for the first time that day, and remembering what Mateo said about her smile made her want to smile even more. “I’m thankful you prayed with me.” Amirah reached out to Mrs. Ingle for a hug.

“That is what we do, child,” Mrs. Ingle replied when she hugged her back. “That is what we do. This is Shiloh Christian Academy, and in this house and at this school, we will praise and serve the Lord.”

Amirah knew Mrs. Ingle meant that. She heard the bell ring, and she quickly grabbed some tissue to wipe away any tears. She did not want her students seeing her in distress.

“We are teachers,” Mrs. Ingle said.

“Our duty is to teach the youth,” Amirah replied when Xen walked in.

Mrs. Ingle found her exit as more students walked in.

“Ms. Dalton, I apologize for how my parents acted the other day,” Xen offered as other students were putting their bags at their desk and logging into the computers.

“It’s all right.” Amirah accepted his apology.

“I also have this to give you.” Xen pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. “I was saving this so I can get a car, but I feel responsible for my mother destroying the monitors.”

Amirah could feel the weight of the money in the envelope and handed it back to him.

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