Teach Me How To Love

Part 4 ~ Sugar to the Rescue

NEXT DAY . . .

Denise's susprise visit last night was just about the most awkward thing ever. My question is, why did she still have a key? I remember it getting thrown at my face when we broke up that day . . . and my second question is . . . what does she mean? . . why would I regret my decision? . . I don't regret anything.

Denise and I are not meant to be . . I know . . she knows . . what the heck does she want from me? . . she did me wrong . . god, she did me SO WRONG . . I have no love left for her . . not one bit. It's written in the stars . . . Denise and I are not a match. . and we never will be. She hurt me too much . . . . I will certainly never regret my decision. She better not hold her breath if she thinks I'm gonna come back to her . . .
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New day, new adventure. I'm at school, going through the student's homework and hopefully soon I'll be leaving here. I can't wait to go to the restaurant. Destiny's smile sure lights up a room. About half an hour later I pack my briefcase and put on my coat . . . but it looks like I can't leave yet . . . one of my students, Brenda Baker, just walked up to my desk.

"What are you doing back here, Brenda? did you forget something?"

"No . . I have a favor to ask, Mr.Jackson. . ."

"Ok . . . what is it?"

"Umm . . could you please call my home and tell my mom that I have to stay late?"

"But you don't have to stay late . . why do you want me to tell her that?"

"Because . . . well . . I can't go home right now . . ."

"Why not? . . ."

"Because . . . because I just can't . . . please, Mr.Jackson . . ."

"Brenda . . . can you please tell me what's going on? I sense a little trouble in your little world . . please feel free to sit down . . I'm listening to you"

"I can't tell you, Mr.Jackson . . . I really can't . . . "

A single tear suddenly rolls down her left cheek. I'm stopping in my stracks. I take off my coat again and put it on my desk. I sit back down and ask Brenda to please tell me what's going on at home. There must be something going on . . . why doesn't she wanna go home?

"Brenda . . . please tell me what's going on, I'm interested . . and I'm here to help"

She starts crying . . . I take a deep breath, putting my hand on her shoulder. I can't let her walk out of here without knowing what's going on. I wanna help her . . . the best I can. We're sitting here in silence . . the only sound I hear is her sobbing. About 4 minutes later she breaks the silence. . slowly and quietly she starts talking about her issue at home. .

"It's Steve . . . my mom's new boyfriend . . . he's . . not very nice . ."

"Brenda . . I need to know why . . please tell me everything . . ok?"

"He . . . Steve is very violent . . . he's . . he's a monster when he's drunk . . . he beats my mom constantly . . . and sometimes when I'm in bad luck, he beats me too. . . ."

My heart breaks instantly. I take her in my arms, trying to come up with something to do that could help her. I can't let this girl go back home . . this is a difficult situation I never had to deal with before . . with none of my students . . . this is my first class, my first run at being a teacher . . and I gotta admit that I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I wanna do the right thing . . . . I need to help her.

"Brenda . . first of all we have to call the police . . . ."

"NOOO!! . . Mr.Jackson please . . . I can't do that . . Steve will get so upset . . ."