shouldn’t be sitting in a classroom all day.” She took a deep breath, doing her best to remain calm. “I would appreciate it if you would speak to him about how important an education is.”
“Is my boy causing problems?”
“Other than fidgeting and distracting the other students and not knowing his answers when called to recite, no, but he is a distraction with his attitude.” She wasn’t worried about the pranks in the schoolyard. They were just for fun and all the boys went through a phase where they tormented the girls.
“I guess that’s your problem then, isn’t it?”
Patience closed her eyes and mentally recited the fruits of the spirit from Galatians chapter five. She found it better than counting to ten, and emphasized temperance in her mind. “I was hoping we could work together to get him to apply himself more to his schoolwork.” She paused for a moment. “I know he doesn’t have a mother, and that’s probably making it harder for him.”
“The boy’s mother is no business of yours.” Mr. Walker’s voice had been challenging and slightly amused up until that point. It turned icy at the mention of Charlie’s mother.
“What happened to her?” Patience asked the question softly. She’d lost her own mother at six, and knew how hard it was. Thankfully, her father had married Millie, her mama, when she was seven, and she hadn’t had to grow up without a mother. She couldn’t imagine where she’d be now, without her sweet mother’s influence.
“She’s gone. You don’t need to know anything more.” He looked around. “Where is my boy anyway?” It was plain to Patience he was through listening and was ready to take his boy home.
She looked at the ground, sad that he’d responded so poorly to her questions about Charlie’s mother. “He’s copying the spelling words he missed onto the blackboard as punishment for not studying.” Her voice was weary by this point because it was obvious there was nothing she could do to get through to this belligerent man.
Mr. Walker’s eyes widened with rage. “You have no right to punish my boy. You’re his teacher. Nothing more.” He strode into the schoolhouse calling Charlie. “Let’s go, boy.”
Patience clenched her fists in fury. How could any man care so little for his son’s education? What was wrong with him? She was so angry she wished she had something at hand to throw at his head. She bit back the retort she’d wanted to make, and softly said, “I’ll pray for you.”
Mr. Walker laughed harshly. “You’ll pray I get kicked by a mule, maybe.” He took his son’s hand in his, and they walked toward their farm. Patience watched them until they disappeared from sight. She kicked the step on the schoolhouse, wishing it was Mr. Walker’s backside, but only succeeded in hurting her toe.
She bowed her head and prayed for patience in dealing with Mr. Walker. She went back into the schoolhouse and noted Charlie hadn’t written another word since she’d stepped outside to talk to his father. She erased the board and picked up her lunch pail. Usually her younger siblings waited to walk home with her, but it was Friday and she’d had to stay late, so they’d obviously gone on without her.
Her enjoyment of the beautiful spring day was quenched by the anger she’d seen on Mr. Walker’s face. Why couldn’t he see she only wanted what was best for his son? Through the entire mile walk back to her parents’ farm, she grumbled under her breath, ignoring the beauty around her she’d been so anxious to see just a short time before as she stared out the window of the schoolhouse.
Once the house came into view she took some deep calming breaths. It wouldn’t do for her mama to see her in such a state. She walked into the house, which had grown considerably over the years. Her papa and brothers had added on three more bedrooms and a sitting
“Is my boy causing problems?”
“Other than fidgeting and distracting the other students and not knowing his answers when called to recite, no, but he is a distraction with his attitude.” She wasn’t worried about the pranks in the schoolyard. They were just for fun and all the boys went through a phase where they tormented the girls.
“I guess that’s your problem then, isn’t it?”
Patience closed her eyes and mentally recited the fruits of the spirit from Galatians chapter five. She found it better than counting to ten, and emphasized temperance in her mind. “I was hoping we could work together to get him to apply himself more to his schoolwork.” She paused for a moment. “I know he doesn’t have a mother, and that’s probably making it harder for him.”
“The boy’s mother is no business of yours.” Mr. Walker’s voice had been challenging and slightly amused up until that point. It turned icy at the mention of Charlie’s mother.
“What happened to her?” Patience asked the question softly. She’d lost her own mother at six, and knew how hard it was. Thankfully, her father had married Millie, her mama, when she was seven, and she hadn’t had to grow up without a mother. She couldn’t imagine where she’d be now, without her sweet mother’s influence.
“She’s gone. You don’t need to know anything more.” He looked around. “Where is my boy anyway?” It was plain to Patience he was through listening and was ready to take his boy home.
She looked at the ground, sad that he’d responded so poorly to her questions about Charlie’s mother. “He’s copying the spelling words he missed onto the blackboard as punishment for not studying.” Her voice was weary by this point because it was obvious there was nothing she could do to get through to this belligerent man.
Mr. Walker’s eyes widened with rage. “You have no right to punish my boy. You’re his teacher. Nothing more.” He strode into the schoolhouse calling Charlie. “Let’s go, boy.”
Patience clenched her fists in fury. How could any man care so little for his son’s education? What was wrong with him? She was so angry she wished she had something at hand to throw at his head. She bit back the retort she’d wanted to make, and softly said, “I’ll pray for you.”
Mr. Walker laughed harshly. “You’ll pray I get kicked by a mule, maybe.” He took his son’s hand in his, and they walked toward their farm. Patience watched them until they disappeared from sight. She kicked the step on the schoolhouse, wishing it was Mr. Walker’s backside, but only succeeded in hurting her toe.
She bowed her head and prayed for patience in dealing with Mr. Walker. She went back into the schoolhouse and noted Charlie hadn’t written another word since she’d stepped outside to talk to his father. She erased the board and picked up her lunch pail. Usually her younger siblings waited to walk home with her, but it was Friday and she’d had to stay late, so they’d obviously gone on without her.
Her enjoyment of the beautiful spring day was quenched by the anger she’d seen on Mr. Walker’s face. Why couldn’t he see she only wanted what was best for his son? Through the entire mile walk back to her parents’ farm, she grumbled under her breath, ignoring the beauty around her she’d been so anxious to see just a short time before as she stared out the window of the schoolhouse.
Once the house came into view she took some deep calming breaths. It wouldn’t do for her mama to see her in such a state. She walked into the house, which had grown considerably over the years. Her papa and brothers had added on three more bedrooms and a sitting
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