Ida finished the lesson and sighed with relief. Although she had been teaching all her life, she felt out of place in the new school.
She had recently moved to a new district. Finally she bought a long-awaited one-room apartment. After the communal apartment in which she grew up, a one-room apartment seemed like a real home. The only thing that confused her in this situation was the change of work. But there was no other way out, the woman simply would not have time to get to her old job at eight o’clock in the morning.
– Amanda, why aren’t you packing your bag?” – Ida was distracted from her thoughts, paying attention to her strange student.
Amanda was a very reserved and quiet child. While her classmates were running around the corridors during breaks, the girl was sitting at the desk and staring out the window.
– Ida, is it really good to be a bird? – asked Amanda suddenly.
– I don’t know … Maybe … But I think it’s better to be a person, – the teacher answered.
– And I would gladly turn into a beautiful swallow and fly around the world. After all, it is so wonderful, if you are tired of sitting in one place, you just need to flap your wings and fly, – the girl reasoned.
– To some extent you are right, – Ida smiled, – Gather your books, I have to close the office.
Amanda sighed heavily and began to pack. Ida was already packed and waiting for the student at the door. The girl folded her notebooks very slowly, as if deliberately stalling for time.
– I don’t want to go home! – the girl suddenly said and burst into tears.
– My dear, what’s wrong with you? – the teacher was frightened and rushed to Amanda. – Please calm down and tell me what happened to you!
– You are very similar to my grandmother. Can I live with you?” the child asked naively.
– Amanda, explain what happened. I need to know! – Ida was alarmed.
The girl looked at her with devoted eyes like a little puppy that was thrown out on the street.
– I used to live with my grandmother. My parents divorced long ago and never visited us. Six months ago, my grandmother passed away. My mother took me to her place.
– Does she drink? Does she put her hand on you?” the teacher asked.
– No, she doesn’t. She just doesn’t like me at all. Recently I overheard her and my stepfather talking. My mother wanted to give me to a shelter, and he said that I would be useful to them in the household. Like, I can clean the house, and look after the twin brothers.
– What a horror… – the woman whispered.
– And yesterday he tried to molest me – the girl cried again.
– How? What was he doing?” – the woman was breathless.
– Bill offered me to take off my clothes and he would take a picture of me. I was lucky that my mother came home and he left my room.
– I had to tell my mother right away! You can’t hide something like that!
– I told her. She did not believe me. On the contrary, she scolded me and told me not to leave the room.
I had to sit alone all day.
The teacher thought for a long time what to do. And decided to consult with the school principal.
– You stay here, I’ll be right back! – Ida said and ran out of the classroom.
John listened carefully to the story. After some time of silence, the man said:
– Are you sure she is not lying? Once I have already faced a similar situation. I alerted the police, all the teachers … Then, as it turned out, the child just made up everything. The girl wanted to draw attention to herself in this way.
– Amanda does not make things up. I have noticed before that the girl is very withdrawn. She is not like other children.
– I do not know what to say … In general, observe her family for now. Talk to the mother. There is nothing more we can do. Everything that Amanda said is impossible to prove. These are just the words of a child, which no one will take seriously …
Ida left with nothing. She did not know what to do next, but she could not leave her student in such a state.
– Well? – Amanda asked with hope in her eyes. – Will it help?
– You see, everything is not so simple … Tell me, where are your parents now? Are they at home?
– My stepfather is at home. And my mom is at work. She comes home late.
– What about your stepfather? Doesn’t he work?
– No, he doesn’t. He can’t get a good job.
– Let’s go to my place. I’ll come home with you tonight. I’ll try to talk to your mother!
Ida and Amanda had lunch. Then the girl sat down to watch cartoons, and the woman took out a worn notebook. She had not called her old friend Sam for several years. Once, a long time ago, he chased after Ida and even proposed. Ida refused the young suitor and since then they never crossed paths. The woman knew from her friends that he worked in the police and seemed to have a good position. She needed to consult with someone about her student.
– Hello! – a man said in a stern voice.
– Hello, Sam. Recognize me? – the woman smiled involuntarily.
– Ida! Of course I recognized you. How are you? Did something happen? – dsy was worried.
– Everything is fine with me. One of my students is in trouble. I need your help. I don’t know what to do in this situation.
– I understand. I can come by in an hour if it’s convenient or we can meet on neutral territory.
– Text me the address. I have the girl right now, she’ll tell you everything.
Forty minutes later, the man was standing at Ida’s door.
– Wow, he hasn’t changed at all! – the woman smiled. – Only gray hairs appeared on his temples.
– You’ll say the same! You haven’t changed at all, you’ve only improved over the years! Okay, let’s get down to business. What happened?
He listened carefully to Amanda. Then he asked a few questions and frowned.
– Go, child, watch cartoons, and we will drink tea with Ida, – the man said and nodded to the teacher.
Ida brewed fragrant tea, put sweets and cookies on the table.
– What do you think?” – the woman asked.
– The situation is not easy. It is impossible to prove the guilt. Don’t go to Amanda’s mother yet. You’ll only scare the stepfather. We’ll do it the hard way. I will give Amanda a small recorder, and she should try to record conversations with her mother and stepfather. Based on their conversations, we will draw conclusions and, if necessary, take action.
Sam finished his tea and went down to the car to get the recorder. The device was small, the size of a matchbox. The man taught the girl how to use the device and explained how to call her mother for a necessary dialogue.
Ida walked the student home. The woman gave Amanda a piece of paper with her number and asked her to call in case of emergency.
Amanda went into the apartment and immediately turned on the recorder.
– Hi, mom!
– Oh, you are such an idiot! Where have you been climbing until now? The apartment is not cleaned, there is no one to play with my brothers!
– I’m sorry, I was playing with my friends. Mommy, give me something to eat. I’m really hungry, – asked Amanda.
– Do you deserve dinner? What did you do useful today in the house? – Bill was angry. – For not doing your job, you are punished. Today will have to be without dinner, – smiled stepfather.
– What are you staring at? Didn’t you hear what Bill said? Get dressed and go play with the children!” the mother added.
Amanda left the kitchen and turned off the recorder. The girl was pleased with herself, she managed to do as Sam taught. She was not hungry, because the teacher fed her. After playing with the kids, Amanda went to her mother again.
– “Mom, why don’t you love me?” she asked directly.
– I’ll tell you more. I just hate you, from the moment you were born. Nothing, when the children grow up a little, you will fly out of here like a darling! Just like your stupid grandmother!
Amanda recorded this conversation and went to sleep. In the morning the girl waited until her mother went to work and immediately went to her stepfather, having previously turned on the recorder.
– Uncle Bill, remember you wanted to take a picture of me without clothes?
– Yes, I remember. And what? – he asked cautiously.
– I agree.
– Will you complain to your mother again? In case you didn’t know, she doesn’t give a damn about you. It’s just a woman’s jealousy,” Bill said sarcastically.
– No. I won’t complain.
– Good. Come home from school and we’ll do a photo shoot!” he winked rubbing his hands.
Amanda left the room and started to get ready for school. All the conversations that Sam talked about were recorded. First of all, the girl went to Ida’s class and held out the recorder.
– I think I coped with the task!
– You are a smart girl! Run to class, and after class come to me. I will be waiting for you, – the teacher smiled.
Ida listened to the recording and immediately called Sam… After class, Amanda came to the teacher.
– Well? – she asked hopefully.
– Everything will be fine! Sam will personally deal with this case. Now let’s go to my place and wait for the results.
Sam appeared late in the evening. The man looked tired, but satisfied:
– In a nutshell, everything went perfectly. The dictaphone recording plus the testimony of neighbors who testified against the mother. In general, the board of trustees and the police took care of this couple.
– And what will happen to Amanda? Can she stay with me? I would arrange custody … – Ida asked quietly.
– Actually, it is not possible yet. She should be taken to the shelter now, but I will try to negotiate.
– Sam, please help me with this issue!
– I will. I promise!
Amanda came out of the room. The child looked at her defenders with devotion and love.
– Won’t they take me home? – the girl asked Sam.
– No, my dear. You will not go home.
– Yay! – Amanda shouted with joy and hugged her teacher.
– Girls, choose where to go tomorrow: to the zoo or to a picnic? – Sam smiled.
– To the zoo for sure, – suggested Ida.
– Let’s go on a picnic! I’ve never gone before, – asked Amanda.
– Well, let’s go on a picnic! – the man winked. – I’m waiting for you at 10-00 at the entrance. The uniform is sportswear.
– Yes, sir! – Amanda laughed.
Do you think the teacher made the right decision to listen to the girl’s problem?
