“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”
The Bible verse echoed in Hannah’s subconscious as she watched Freda from the corner of her eye. The feeling came again, yet Hannah could not put a name to it.
It was just like her first day at the school. Freda’s bright smile caught her attention when she was introduced to her students. She had asked them to share their names, and one by one, they stood up to introduce themselves. When it was Freda’s turn, she stated her name and made a subtle gesture, as if handing over an invisible baton to the next student, signalling them to proceed with their introduction.
Hannah was taken aback when Freda didn’t stand up to introduce herself. That’s when she noticed the special needs chair Freda was sitting in. Suddenly, an uneasy feeling rose from her stomach and exploded in her heart.
Really, Lord? Hannah had gone home that day to pray feeling so full.
“I don’t think I want any disabled person in my class; my heart is too fragile to accept it. I don’t want to treat her differently; I don’t even know how to teach a disabled person,” she continued in prayers.
She prayed, then burst into tears, and eventually, laughter followed. What was happening to her? How different would it be to teach one who has a physical disability? Hannah’s laughter was short-lived, as tears began to flow once more, “I still don’t know what to do; I feel like I owe her a responsibility, and I’m not going to fail her; please help me, Lord.”
And so now, she watched as Freda worked her numbers, counting some off with her fingers and eyes furrowed in concentration. Hannah wondered if the class work she had given was too challenging, but then she reminded herself that it was straight from their Grade 4 mathematics textbook. She opened the textbook again to review the assessment and reassured herself that the work was suitable, plus she had just shown them how to do it.
Freda was the first to finish and, in her usual way, started to wheel herself to the front to submit. Hannah struggled with standing up and going to meet her halfway to collect it or allow her to come all day. She decided the latter and watched as Freda came forward and placed her note dutifully on her desk, then wheeled back to her position just in between the rows of seats.
Hannah exhaled deeply, only then realizing she had been holding her breath the entire time she was watching Freda
“Dear Lord, please save me from this feeling. Please help me,” she muttered quietly.
She took Freda’s note, scanned through her work quickly and the smile started stretching her lips. The girl was just too brilliant! Hannah took her pen and started marking. Other students soon started submitting one after the other.
Hannah knew then that she had nothing to worry about. She would be a great teacher for Freda.
Those high thoughts clouded Hannah’s mind till the end of the term, she saw Freda differently and even started including her in every extracurricular activity.
She ensured Freda joined the other kids for P.E. She made her join the music class and encouraged her to sing loud just like the others. Next, she encouraged her to join the choreography class as well. She might not be able to stand and move her body like the others, but at least she could move it in her wheelchair and work it with her hands.
“I’ve never done this before,” Freda would always say whenever Hannah introduced a new activity for her to do.
“Well, today is your lucky day,” Hannah would respond and wheel her out to the table tennis court, to the art and painting class, to the music class and the dance class.
So it happened, the day that changed everything.
It was a few minutes to their break time for the curricular activity. Hannah erased the whiteboard the second time to continue writing and completing the notes on social studies for the week. She was done in no time and waited for her students to finish writing, too, before erasing the board again.
She walked around the class, observing as the students looked up at the board, took in the information, and transferred it to their notes.
“Please hurry up, it’s almost time for a break,” Hannah urged them.
She walked back to the board to erase a section at the top, making space to write again. Then a glorious thought came to her mind and in no time, it flooded her entire system.
Her pulse quickened as she gripped the eraser in her hands and turned to face the class.
“Who would like to help me wipe the board?” She asked.
All hands went up, as always. Hannah wondered why this task was a class favourite. Everyone except Freda, who never joined in. Hannah knew she wouldn’t raise her hand.
“Freda,” Hannah called.
The class gasped, all eyes darted at Hannah and then at Freda. What was she trying to do? Freda’s hand would not even get to the top of the board.
Freda was shocked as well and sat frozen in her chair. Hannah had never called her before.
“Have it,” Hannah stretched the eraser to her, “Come and wipe the top of the board.”
Hannah’s eyes got teary immediately as she held out her hand waiting for Freda to come take the eraser.
“The top of the board?” Freda asked puzzled
“Yes.”
“Ma——”
“No excuses, please wipe the top of the board,” Hannah said gently.
Freda wheeled herself to the front of the class and dutifully collected the eraser from Hannah.
“Ma, she can’t do it. Can I come and help?” The class prefect offered.
It felt like a punishment. Everyone knew it was impossible so why would Hannah choose to humiliate Freda like that?
Hannah shot the prefect an icy stare before replying, “No, she would do it herself, even if it is her first.”
Then she touched Freda’s shoulders, “Right, darling? You can wipe the top of the board if you’ve always wanted to, and now please show them. Do it for me.”
Freda started sobbing quietly and just as she wanted to say, “I really can’t.”
Hannah touched her shoulders again and Freda’s body quivered, her muscles tensing as if fighting off an invisible force. She held the side of the chair and started to will herself to stand, her legs trembling with the effort. Hannah let go completely as she watched her best student stand fully. Freda’s legs trembled momentarily before finding their strength enough to take a step forward and get to the board to wipe it.
The tears flowed freely now from Hannah’s eyes and then she looked at the class and saw they were all standing too and looking at her like she was one crazy lady.
Then they all started shouting and running out of the class in excitement. It caught the attention of the other teachers and students, and they all trooped into the class to see Freda standing for the first time since she got admitted into their school.
“What is happening here?” The head teacher asked as she managed to get in.
“I can stand and walk,” Freda said and started walking towards them. The little crowd made way for her immediately, and soon they were all outside the class.
Hannah was still standing in her position, with the tears streaming down her face. She could hear Freda telling them outside, “She just insisted I should clean the top of the board and she touched my shoulders. She made me stand.”
“Just like that!”
“Unbelievable!”
“What else did she say you should do?”
“Thank God!”
“This is a Miracle!”
The voices came to Hannah first, and then she started hearing their footsteps; they were coming back for her.
Then she heard God’s voice.
“I told you, you’re just the perfect teacher for Freda. Just have faith in me.”
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