©2010 Wanza Leftwich
This is part five of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two, click here to read part three, click here to read the continuation of part three, click here to read part four, and click here to read the contiuation of part four.
Instead of studying for her midterm, Esther read the advertisements on the train, counted the amount of people in the train car and watched a group of what looked liked high school students laughing and talking loudly. It was only a few years ago that she was able to laugh with her friends on the train going home from school. Those days seemed so hard, but if Esther knew what she knows then what she knows now, she would have never taken getting good grades or having friends for granted.
A tear rolled down her face as she remembered the day she dropped out of school. It was exactly one month after her mother died. It was the first time Esther was ever early for class. Mr. Brewster, her biology teacher was stunned when she walked in the door before the bell rang.
“Ms. Dowdry,” Mr. Brewster’s eyebrow arched above his gold trimmed glasses. “You’re here early today, so nice to see you.”
“Good morning, Mr. Brewster. I’m here to tell you that –“
“You’ve finished your project early as well?” He smiled.
“Actually, I won’t need to finish that project,” Esther bit her bottom lip. “I came to say goodbye.”
“Oh?”
“See, today is my last day of school and I came to say goodbye to you because you are my favorite teacher.”
“So, you’ve decided to move out to California with your aunt – good choice.”
“Uh, no. I’m not moving in with my aunt Jamie. She doesn’t want me. I’m dropping out of school.”
“Dropping out? You can’t drop out.” Mr. Brewster sat on the edge of his desk. “You’re an honor student with less than a year to go. You can’t drop out.”
Esther stepped back from Mr. Brewster. “I’ve made my decision. Today is my last day. I got a job in the city so I can keep the apartment.”
“Stay in school. There are programs to help children that have lost parents. You can go into foster care and – “
“No, no foster care. That’s why I have to get out of the school system.” Esther backed away from the desk.
“The school has to report that you have no guardian. They will make you go into foster care.”
“No! No, absolutely not. I’ve heard too many horror stories. I will be fine on my own. I just wanted you to know that I am fine and for you not to worry.”
The bell rang and students began to enter the classroom. “Good morning, class,” Mr. Brewster greeted them. “Esther wait!”
Esther ignored his plea and exited out the back door of the classroom. She never spoke to Mr. Brewster again.
Esther sighed at the memories she wished she could forget. “Oh, no!” She jumped up and ran off the train. She could hear people laughing at her as she pulled her jacket out of the closing train doors. One second more and she would have missed her stop.
She glanced at her watch. She was early for class for the first time.
Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer and speaker. She is an avid blogger and the editor of thegospelwriter.org. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.
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