She Didn’t Get It Out Of Her Heart! Part I

Gelana’s phone rang through her car as she pulled out of her driveway to work. Glancing at the image in her caller Id, she quickly answered saying, “Keep the damn thing until later. I have to go in to work early today to help prepare our annual office Christmas Party.”

A very angry voice demands, “Get your ass to my office in five minutes or I turn your God-daughter over to child services!”

Gelana stepped on the brakes as her upper body jolted back and forth. Her seat belt saved her as she paused halfway out of her driveway in shock.

“You have four minutes and fifty seconds to get to my office!” Rica, her best friend shouts disconnecting the call.

Gelana drove at the speed of light to the Theresa Spano Elementary School, her thoughts racing. What is Sari doing at school so early? Why did Gracie take her to school when she knew no one was there? School starts at 8:45 am, glancing at the time on her car. It wasn’t even 7:00 yet.

A voice says, “But school is out! Damn!” Gelana cried as her car swayed left to right on the road.

Rica’s car was the only car in the parking lot when she arrived. Parking quickly, she rushed inside the school through a private entrance. Rica was inside her office. She led Gelana to a small play area. Glass separated them as she stared at Sari, who sat playing, dressed in a tight red t-shirt and black underwear. A pair of black sneakers adorn her feet, along with two different color socks. She swayed her head singing while playing with Legos.

“What the . . .”

“School gave holiday two days ago and she didn’t send her to school. I forgot the stuff for you and decided to come in early to get it. I found her on the step, shivering. She was wearing that thin coat on the coat rack, behind her.” Rica points to a light blue end-of-spring coat. “It’s fifty degrees outside! In December! What is she trying to do, kill this child?”

“What!” Gelana shouts.

“I have been calling her, but she isn’t answering. She said her mom dropped her off. I was supposed to call child services weeks ago. As a Social worker it’s my job to notify them,” Rica explained.

Gelana sighed, then said, “I’ll fix her.”

Then walks into the room towards Sari. Who saw her and bolted up rushing into her arms.

“If anything comes back to me, I am going to protect myself and my job,” Rica warns out of earshot of Sari as Gelana takes the coat off the rack and they head back to Rica’s office. “What the hell is wrong with her mother!”

“Didn’t I say I am going to fix her?” Gelana repeats.

Rica nodded, then went into a closet in her office and took out a pair of red sweatpants and a winter coat. Suggesting, “Dress her, I don’t want her freezing to death on my watch.”

Gelana was shocked when she arrived at Gracie’s house storming into the kitchen, Sari by her side. To see Gracie sitting on a chair as if she was expecting her. Tonya and Lorna position themselves in a protective shield to her left and right.

Sari ran to her mother, hugging her asking, “You look sad Mommy are you alright?”

Gelana glared at her, and stormed towards her, as Tonya and Lorna eased in. “Your mommy is fine baby. Go to your room and take out some warm clothing. I am coming to bathe you.”

“Ok, Auntie Lana,” she hugged Gelana and hurried out.

“What are you two doing here?” she demands.

“Rica said you might kill her, and we must stop you,” Tonya informs.

“Why did you send her to school, when school is out dressed like that?” she demands from Gracie.

“Every time I looked at her, I see him,” she fired back.

“He is her father. You look like yours, and so do I,” Gelana threw back.

“Well, our fathers didn’t use us and refused us. Refused to acknowledge or support his child!”

“You are still holding onto the hatred and hurting that five-year-old who didn’t ask to be here!”

“You don’t understand,” she cried. “Every time I look at her, I see and feel the cruelty and thoughtlessness he did to me!”

“So, you can’t get to punish him, so you are punishing her?”

“It’s not intentional.”

“You left a five-year-old child almost naked, in 49-degree weather. In December. In the early hours of the morning on the steps of her school, which was closed, to either freeze to death or be raped and murdered!” Gelana screamed easing towards her.

If your heart could speak, what would it say?

Children are gifts, treat them accordingly!

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.