that he wasn’t proud of everything she’d accomplished as a homemaker—and maybe it was her own hang-up—but the feeling was still there.
She gave her head a little shake. All of the unnecessary analyzing had made it start to ache. Her job was enjoyable. The employees were nice, Myrna was great, and she felt like she was doing something important. So she focused on the mini-breakthrough she’d had with Cara on Friday and refused to let worry bring her down.
The group session flew by in the morning with all of the children and teachers in attendance. Cara disrupted the class several times when she tried to talk to Darlene about Ansley and the chickens. Darlene promised her that they would talk later, during their one-on-one class.
By the time the afternoon rolled around, Cara was talking so fast that Darlene could barely understand her. “Cara, honey . . . slow down so I can understand you.”
Cara shook her head hard several times, then tried to start again, but frustration won out and she started to cry. It was the first time Darlene had seen her cry. Darlene reached for her hand, but Cara jerked away and let out a low groan.
“Why don’t we try one of your math problems, then we’ll talk about the chickens?” She eased the math workbook in front of Cara, but Cara pushed it away and cried harder. “Chickens,” was all she managed to get out between sobs.
Darlene thought for a few moments. “Why don’t we draw a picture of the chickens? Do you think you can do that?”
Cara sniffled as she nodded.
Darlene was relieved that her crying was easing up. She wanted to hug her like she would anyone who was upset, but Cara didn’t like to be touched. Darlene quickly found a pad of paper in the pile of work for the day. She pushed it toward Cara, along with a pencil. “Do you know how to draw a chicken?”
Cara had Darlene’s photo album in one hand. She put it down on the table and picked up the pencil. Then she turned to Darlene. “Help me.” Darlene was surprised that Cara had spoken slowly and clearly.
“Okay. I can help you draw a chicken.” Darlene reached for another pencil, but Cara shook her head.
“No, no, no.” She started to cry again.
Darlene put the pencil down. “Okay.” She wasn’t sure what to do.
Cara pointed the pencil at Darlene’s chest, tears streaming down the little girl’s cheeks. She said something very fast, but Darlene didn’t understand her. She seemed to be repeating the same thing over and over, the pencil still pointed at Darlene. Darlene had been told that Cara could become violent, and now Cara had a very sharp pencil pointed at her.
“Cara . . . can . . . you . . . talk . . . very . . . slowly . . . like . . . I . . . am?” Darlene’s heart was racing, but she didn’t move.
Cara put the pencil down and opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
“Just say your words very slowly so I can understand you, and I’ll help you with whatever you want.”
“Ansley’s chickens.”
Darlene took a deep breath. “Do you want to draw Ansley’s chickens?”
“No.” Cara squeezed her eyes shut. “I want to see Ansley’s chickens.”
“You want to see Ansley’s chickens?”
Cara smiled, nodding her head.
Darlene thought about how all this had started. If she’d known Cara would become so consumed with the chickens, she would have never mentioned them. “Well, uh . . .”
Cara touched the top of Darlene’s hand, her eyes glistening with hope.
“Okay. Let’s do all your work, and we’ll ask your dad if you can see Ansley’s chickens sometime.”
Cara eased her hand away. “You are a mother.”
Darlene smiled. “Yes.”
Cara picked up her pencil and did every math problem Darlene gave her . . . and every lesson for the rest of the afternoon.
Dave eased up to the door of The Evans School, then peered through the glass pane. He’d been coming in the side door that went directly to Cara’s room for months. It was easier than coming through the main entrance, and Myrna didn’t mind. Darlene was talking to Cara, and his daughter was laughing— just like she was last Friday when Dave had arrived to pick her up. The jury was still out on this new teacher, but seeing her and Cara laughing together brought a smile to his face. He opened the door, closing it behind him. Darlene and Cara turned