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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Day's End (01/01/14)
The Reason
As she walked towards the front door, Kate wondered why she kept on doing this. Yesterday was a nightmare. She cried herself to sleep last night. At first this was just for the money, but now it was so much more. No longer was the money a reason. She had enough saved to pay off her bills so she did not need to continue. But still she did. Why?
Walking in, she went into the room where he sat. He did not acknowledge her presence. It felt like she wasn’t in the room with him. Her heart broke again. Each day began the same way and ended the same way. She decided to sit opposite him and let him continue with what he was doing. Oh, how she loved him. It broke her heart every time she left him, but she couldn’t stay. She had her own life to live.
Lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice that he had turned his attention to her. He called at her the only way he knew how, but she did not respond. He called again. Still she did not respond. So he did the one thing he felt would get her attention.
He spat at her.
Shocked Kate turned and looked at him. Then she remembered the instructions she had been following with him for the past year. She got up, avoided eye contact and took up a wipe. Gently she wiped herself and then walked up to him and wiped his mouth. She looked at what he was doing and saw the painting he was making. She wanted to tell him she was sorry. She had not intentionally ignored him, that the finger painting was beautiful. But if she did that, it would mean she was condoning his behavior.
It was so hard. Deciding which to follow; the instructions of the doctor or the tugging’s of her heart. But she knew what must be done. She ignored him and went about looking for another alternative to redirect his attention. She had to remain neutral, less he feeds off her reaction.
Immediately she turned from him, he started pinching her. He wanted her attention now and she wasn’t giving him. She knew he was acting out in frustration. So she did what the doctor had told her. In a calm, monotonous voice devoid of any emotion, she said;
“Tony hands down. No pinching.”
He stopped immediately and looked directly into her eyes.
Kate wanted to hug him and tell him she understood why he was agitated. But she could not; for to do so will go against all that they were trying to teach him. Consistency was the key otherwise he would start getting mixed message. Picking up a lolipop from the table, she opened it and gave to him. He gulped it in delight forgetting completely the reason why he had thrown a fit a few seconds earlier.
And so the day began for both of them; the nanny and her ward. As the hours progressed, each one filled with trials and triumphs, Kate reveled in the beauty of the child’s innocence and gained strength from the joy she saw in his eyes every time he got something right and communicated his requests without throwing tantrums.
Finally his mother came back from work and it was time for her to leave. As she prepared to go bending down so she could buckle her sandals, he ran up to her and placed a wet, sloppy kiss on her cheeks, then ran back to his mother to seek her attention.
Kate smiled as his mother whispered the words ‘thank you’ to her, even as she held the arms of her non-verbal, five years old autistic son and walked into the kitchen.
This was it. This ritual he did each day when she was about to leave was the reason why she had not stopped; his appreciation and love shown the only way he knew how to. His kiss.
At day’s end, when her body ached and she relaxed for a night rest, Kate would remember why she went back each day; a child’s love.

*****This is a work of fiction.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 639 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
01/10/14
I’d love to have your input into the free writing lessons available on the FaithWriters forums. This week’s lesson is on writing devotionals, and next week will cover writing on topic for the weekly challenge. Look for it at http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=67, or if you’re on Facebook, you can “like” Faithwriters Writing Lessons.
C D Swanson 
01/10/14
Your words and story touched my heart. This was a powerful read.
Thank you.

God bless~
Amelia Brown 
01/10/14
Beautiful and heart-warming. I admire the MC's patience.
Sara Harricharan
01/11/14
Some very good emotions were captured in here. I liked seeing things from Kate's POV. I also liked how the title tied in with the ending.

Just a tip--for easier reading, make sure to add the extra spaces between paragraphs before you submit. It's easier on the eyes then. :)

Thanks for sharing!
Jan Ackerson
01/13/14
I've worked with autistic students, and you're right--they can be both heartbreaking and marvelous.

Some extra polish of punctuation here and there would bump this up a notch. Your writing is compelling and bittersweet, and definitely worthy of that little extra attention to make it really shine.
Larry Whittington
01/15/14
The rising tension and the unknown characters fit well together to build drama.

Good story filled with emotion.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
01/17/14
Congratulations on ranking 6th in your level! (The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.)