Ginger November
even her name evoked colorful images
Ginger November, a student of mine
quiet girl with ebony hair
a blessing to teach till family troubles intervened
divorcing parents of a Catholic schoolgirl
Ginger tried to keep the burden hid
enduring much hardship
struggling to cope
mid-semester exams evoked fear
to avoid failure, students had to pass
no student could copy another’s work
four different tests I’d prepared
quietly, I patrolled each aisle
students barely knew I was there
from behind I approached Ginger’s desk
to find her checking notes in her sleeve
if I’d adhered to rules
Ginger would not have graduated
this thought I couldn’t bear
knowing her hardships at home
“You cannot get an A,” I said after class
“but return here after school”
at three p.m. she slowly entered
shame clouding the beauty of her face
a different version of the test I handed her
“If you pass, you’ll get a 70;
when averaged with your other grades,
you can still make a ‘C’”
this “A” student earned her “C”
but cried while retaking the test
other teachers might have let her fail
I thought she needed support
for Ginger I broke the rules
knowing the pain she carried
what I did was surely wrong
but a second chance I felt she deserved
January 16, 2019
For Chantelle Anne Cook's "Second Chances"
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