Fighting for Peace

This last few days have been so challenging. On Thursday night, Maria Rapha told me that she was moving out. I called her grandmother and she told me that she could not move back in with her, but that she would call her mom to pick her up. She also said that she would talk with Maria Rapha the next day at school.

On Friday, I saw little of Maria Rapha. However, I did hear that she was taken to the dentist to have her tooth pulled. She was back by the end of the school day. I didn't see her grandmother so had no opportunity to speak with her. After school, Maria Rapha is usually waiting in my classroom for me to return after shepherding my kids onto their buses. On Friday, she was not there. Around 4:00, she pops into my room and informs me (not asks) that she is spending the night with her grandmother but would be back on Saturday since her grandmother had plans. I was a bit shocked so made no reply before she dashed away. I later was very upset as no one had asked me my opinion on this or told me what time she would be back on Saturday. I called her grandmother, but her grandkid said she was in the bath, but she would have her call me. I waited several hours. She never called.

I woke up Saturday in a rather foul mood. I needed to go to Rapid for supplies, but had no idea when Maria Rapha would be coming. I waited until 3:00 before I finally just left and went to work in my classroom. Maria Rapha never came that day and I never received a phone call.

Today, I went to church as usual. I had a really good time and was really blessed by some college students visiting the reservation. I lingered longer than most as a friend and I planned on going to Rapid together and I was waiting for him to pick me up. However, he experienced some car trouble so I walked home and have been waiting for him here.

About ten minutes ago, I got a knock on the door. I ran over, expecting it to be my friend. You guessed it--it was Maria Rapha. She and her cousins were at my front door like it was the most normal thing in the world. Maria Rapha tried to rush in to show her cousin her room. I pulled her back outside and asked her what in blazes was going on. She nonchalantly told me that she was moving back in. I was speechless. She went on to explain that her grandmother (my principal) told her that she had better stay as she wouldn't become a better reader if she kept moving around. I really didn't know what to say. I admit that I was pretty angry at the ridiculousness of the situation. Not only had she changed her mind--again, but no one bothered to tell me about it or ask me if I would take her back. Furthermore, they just drop her at my door, without calling beforehand. I then explained to Maria Rapha that I was going to Rapid and that she simply could not come. One of her cousins ran down to tell her grandmother while Maria went and got some clothes. Part of me (a big part) just wanted to avoid confronting her grandmother about what had transpired. But, a bigger part of me knew that it was time for me to grow up. I followed Maria Rapha down to the car and spoke with her grandmother.

When I got to her grandmother's car, I asked her what was going on. She told me that Maria Rapha had decided to stay. I was incredulous. I stated, quite firmly, that I would take her this last time, but if she moved back in with me, she had to stay the rest of the year--there could be no option of leaving. I think she was kind of taken aback. She agreed and said that Maria Rapha needed to get her butt in gear. Having said my piece and firmly stated my conditions, I said goodbye to everyone and told Maria Rapha I would see her on Monday.

If anyone has any idea what God is up to, please let me know, though I am fighting for my peace.

B