I SEE YOU | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: I SEE YOU | Previous Challenge Entry
By Vicki J. Cypcar
02/02/22
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Nobody saw Samantha
The little girl with the ragged jeans
And the torn pink sweater
Unruly red hair
But Miss Mallory did

When Samantha was struggling to color
Inside the lines
And the other children laughed
Or kicked her chair
Or called her lice girl
The class would be reprimanded
To be silent and rest their heads on their desks
Such a cruel punishment for 5-year-olds

Samantha’s mom was an alcoholic
An angry and wounded woman
Jaded by life
Abandoned by the girl’s father

One day Samantha was not in her chair
Sitting by the window
Where she always sat
With her weary head on the desk

Mallory got a call on the intercom
And reported to the school nurse
Samantha’s fine the nurse said
But her mother took matters into her own hands
Apparently in a drunken state

Samantha peeked from behind the door
Her bald head shining in the fluorescent light
Mallory gasped – oh no
Tear stained cheeks
On a face so dirty
Tears streaked
Like zebra stripes

Miss Mallory took Samantha by the hand
To wash her face
Then removed a floral scarf from around her own neck
And tied it around Samantha’s head
Samantha closed her eyes
Why are you so nice to me?
Because I see you
Because God sees you and loves you

Samantha choked back tears
The other kids never choose me
To play on their teams

I’m sorry Samantha
Maybe today during recess
You would like to do some finger-painting
And maybe even have some extra graham crackers
And a chocolate milk
And I can read to you
From a favorite book of mine

Later that afternoon while the children napped
Mallory removed the pink cardigan from the hook
And used the quiet time to sew the hem
Of the tattered sweater
Then stitched a heart on the lapel
As an embroidered reminder
Of God’s unfailing love

When Samantha saw her sweater
With the little heart
She gave Mallory a hug

Miss Mallory
I will never forget you

Why is that Samantha
Because you make me feel
Like I count

My goodness Samantha
Of course you count
You are one of the most precious students
I have ever had in my kindergarten class

***

Mallory stared out the window of the nursing home
As the tall pine trees swayed in the breeze
Oh how she missed her husband Ted
It had been nine years since he passed

Quarantine made her pray for death to find her
After no visitors for two years
Covered beneath a well-worn quilt
Made by her granddaughters
Two-thousand miles away

Daydreams would comfort her
She would recollect all of the lively sounds
Of the children she loved
Playing on the playground
It was the happiest of sounds
Now replaced by patients
Groaning for help

Once quarantine was lifted
A woman with unruly red hair
Walked in with her therapy dog

Hello Mallory
I figured you would like some company
This is Bailey
He’s my therapy dog

Samantha Winton? Is that you?
Samantha smiled
It’s Samantha Simpson now

Samantha approached the bed
While choking back tears at the sight
Of Mallory’s bald head
Then removed the floral scarf
From around her neck
Remember this?

She gently wrapped it around Mallory’s head
Then removed a book from her backpack
I figure “Little Women” is a solid choice

A soft snow began to fall outside
The golden retriever jumped onto the bed
And nestled in beside Mallory
As Samantha opened the book
Mallory began to weep

Samantha wiped the tears from Mallory’s face

Why Miss Mallory
Why are you crying?

Because Samantha
After being sick and alone in this room
Hidden away from life
And the people I love
I was beginning to believe
That God no longer sees me
And that my life no longer counts

Samantha clasped Mallory’s fragile hand
That is so untrue
God placed you in my life
And you changed my life
When others did not see me
You saw me

And now – I see you.

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