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"