Karma by Diane Godfrey-Doherty (ebook reader macos .TXT) 📕

is like on a daily basis and that she seemed to really care. “Things are going to change around here Karma and I’m going to start that change”. “I need you to be strong and know I’m here for you when you need me.” “I want you to tell me when ever any bulling happens to you”. I just sat there staring at her she must have thought I was really stupid or something until I spit out, “Ok, Ms Weber”. She handed me a tissue and said, now wipe your tears and clear your head then head back to class. I quickly got up and walked out the door as Ms. Weber walked over to open it for me. She then stopped me and said “remember all we talked about Karma”. “My door is always open.” I couldn’t say anything I was in shock I thing. I just walked out and down the hall towards the classroom.
At first I just couldn’t believe what my ears had heard. Maybe I was dreaming? Or this was a great big sick joke someone was playing on me. I just couldn’t believe what I had just heard. I walked back to class in daze and when I returned my teacher Ms. Avery was not happy that I had missed her whole lesson on number facts and she made no secret to how she felt and that she wouldn’t be reviewing the missed lesson or the homework assignment. “My job is to teach this once Karma, just because you’re off gallivanting the halls doesn’t give you the right to have me to re teach it to you. Does it?” She bellowed the question at me. I had to reply, “How will I know what to do Ms. Avery?” “That’s not my problem is it Karma, maybe you should have thought of that before you walked out of the class!” She said with such sharpness, it just cut me in two. I wouldn’t dare ask her anything else. I knew that Ms Avery knew I was called down to the office by Ms. Weber and that I wasn’t just wandering the halls. But somehow I was still in trouble for leaving and she was still mad. I really wondered if Ms Weber could or even would change things at West Park Elementary School. How could one person change so much ugliness even if she was the principal of the school? But in the months that came I did notice a small change. Not much of a change in my classroom or with my teacher except that I wasn’t being sent down to the office as much anymore. And when Ms Avery had sent me there on a daily basis I realized my visits with Ms Weber were nothing to fear.
I think after sometime Ms Weber started to become suspicious as to why I was being sent to the office almost every day. She began to ask me questions, questions that made me kind of nervous. They were about my teacher and the way she would speak to me or treat the other kids in the classroom. At first I didn’t want to answer her. I was afraid that if Ms Avery found out what I was saying she would really get mad and then who knew what would happen. I might get sent to “time out” for a whole day or worse lose my lunch privileges as she called it. That woman scared me. She scared me so much I couldn’t even look at her for fear that she might yell at me. Even though I never did say very much to the principal when she asked me questions, I always felt that Ms Avery knew that Ms Weber was asking me things about her.
Ms Weber had a way of making me feel safe. It’s sad to think that I would need safety from my teacher of all people but that was my reality my Momma would say. And that human nature was not always good thing. I never really understood what my momma meant by the things she would say but I knew she was supporting me. It just didn’t seem to do much to make me feel better. I often wondered why my Momma or Dad never went to the nasty teachers and told them to stop being so mean. But they never did. At least not that I ever knew of. I don’t think momma or dad ever had a proper sit down meeting with the principals or teachers of my school until Ms Weber came. That was another change I guess I didn’t notice right away. That and on some days Ms Weber would set up a work station in her office and invite Ally and me to work there. We felt so special during those times. She would bring in tea and her special sugar cookies. They were special because they made you smile, she would say, even if you were very sad. She was so kind to us. Often I would find I would have to choke back the tears and the urge to want to hug her and bury my face in her arms. I knew Ally felt the same I could see it in her eyes and she would smile every time we had the chance to work there. But I never saw Ally get all teary like me. I guess I’m just a sappy girl. Ally and I treasured these days because they were very far and few between.

Chapter 11


Ally and I walked into class on this ordinary Wednesday, and we froze. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was I seeing, right? Who was this? Ally and I looked at each other and asked at the same time. It certainly wasn’t Ms. Avery. As we stood staring from the back of the room without movement from either one of us, all the other students began to pile in through the door. No one noticed what Ally and I were staring at; or I should say who we were staring at. All the kids were busy talking and pushing each other about. I finally began to move my feet towards my desk and so did Ally. Soon after we noticed that the room became very quiet and all the kids took their seats and we all looked forward. Some with their mouths open wide, as if it was stuck open with something. I guess it was shock. “Good morning children”, the teacher said. No one said a word we all just stared. “Good morning children,” the teacher repeated, looking at us as if we were all mute or really stupid. “Good morning”, I said.
I think I was the only one who spoke. I wasn’t even sure if Ally said anything or was still sitting with her mouth hanging open. “My name is Mr. Doucette, and I am your supply teacher today,” he continued. “I may be with you for a few days things are unsure at the moment”. “But I can ensure you we will have loads of fun and enjoy our time together”. As Mr. Doucette continued to talk all I could hear was blah, blah, blah, blah, as I’m sure many of us were. I just couldn’t stop thinking this is the first time I have ever seen a black teacher in our school. And most of the teachers are women so that was a double shock. I had a lot of feelings going on inside me, but one that was very strong was a feeling of belonging. I belonged here now. With Mr. Doucette here teaching us, I could concentrate on school and not the bullied part and maybe, just maybe I could be something one day. My mind floated off into space as he continued to talk to the class. Day dreams I didn’t dare dream about crossed my mind. I got lost there for a while thinking how wonderful life can be some time. The gifts you get are sometimes so small but can mean so much. Like Ms Weber and now Mr. Doucette. I had to close my eyes hard and say a quiet thank you in my head, because I knew there was a lot to be thankful for. Karma Lea was called out into the class. I must not have heard my name being called at first because by the time I realized it everyone was looking at me. Including, Mr. Doucette. “Oh sorry,” I said. “Are you Karma Lea?” Mr. Doucette, repeated, “Yes sir, yes I am”. I sat waiting, and wondering if I was in trouble for day dreaming and not hearing him speaking right away. As I waited nervously, he continued to call out names. “Matthew Lombardi”? “Here”, Matthew replied. Normally he is the rowdiest kid in the class and when he replied to Mr. Doucette it was so quiet I could barely hear him. That was different I thought. “Ryan Brown,” he continued. Then I realized Mr. Doucette was just taking the attendance.
I let out a sigh big enough to fill a balloon. Maybe things were going to change just as Ms Weber said they would. At the morning recess Ally and I went outside together as usual. Ally was my best friend, she was my only friend. I never minded that I only had one friend. My dad would always say to me, and my brothers and sisters that one true friend is worth more than a bucket full of people you know. You know he was right. I trusted Ally, and I know she trusted me. As long as I had Ally, I didn’t feel alone. Somehow I didn’t think I was enough for her. I think things for her at home where not as nice. But I was guessing because I never got to spend another day at her house. After my first and only visit to Ally’s I never was invited back and I never pushed her to have me over again either. There was just something about her Momma. I really didn’t know what it was, but I could see things were different with her then it was with my Mamma. My Momma never stayed in her nightgown all day, and she never looked like she just woke up at four in the afternoon. But then again maybe she was sick and had the flu. I thought of the times when my Momma was sick with the flu and she looked pretty bad too. That must have been it. I bet she’s just like my Momma. But I always wondered why Ally came to school without proper winter clothes, or with pants just a smidge to short. Her clothes were always clean and so was she but it seemed as if she was in need of some TLC. The kind of TLC I felt when I went home after school and Momma or Jen would make me a warm cup of coca after a cold walk home. Ally didn’t talk about her family much. Come to think about it she never mentioned her Dad much except for the time when we first met and how her Dad was gone all the time. She never talked about having any brothers or sisters. When I went to her apartment that one time I don’t remember ever seeing any signs of other children living there. However they could be older, I continued to think, and in that case there wouldn’t be toys and little kids things around. I wished that Ally and I could be closer friends. Almost