Saved by Silence

Chapter 3

                                                                                            Kaley

                                                                                 Two weeks later

    I take a deep breath and stare at Arabella’s desk in front of me. Luckily, my third graders were in gym class and then they would go straight to lunch. Arabella hasn’t said one word since school started, she was extremely skinny, she doesn’t interact with any of the other students, and within one week I have noticed her clothes don’t seem like they have been properly cleaned in a while. I have tried talking to her, I have called her mother’s phone and no answer. I even sent a note home and I haven’t heard anything. Friday I had the school counselor see her. The counselor told me she sat with her head down not saying one word or even making eye contact with her.

    I went to her second grade teacher on Friday and she told me last year Arabella was outgoing and an all around good kid. Last year there were no signs of any issues. Lost in thought I miss my best friend Sam walking in with her lunch. 

    She pulls up the spare chair I have and sits across from me with her salad. I grab my bag with my yogurt and fruit and go to sit back across from her.“Second week of school is so much easier than the first” I tell my best friend Sam while we eat lunch in my classroom. “How is Everly behaving in your class? I was worried when she got placed in your class because of how close we are”.

    “She is doing good so far, she slipped up last week calling me Auntie Sam when she needed to go to the bathroom, but otherwise she is getting used to calling me Mrs. Jacobs in class” Sam tells me as she takes a bite from her salad. 

    I kept stirring my yogurt, “That’s good, I was nervous she would actually try to take advantage of you. Yet again it’s only week two and we both know how she can get when she wants something”. I grab the watermelon from my bag and offer it to Sam. She grabs a few pieces as we go back to eating in silence. “Hey, do you know Arabella Stone at all?” 

    “I mean there aren’t that many kids in this school so I know who she is, but I don’t know her”, Sam tells me as I ponder how to broach my concerns. 

    I start to explain to Sam my concerns for her about her not speaking and the extreme withdrawal. I want    my best friend and fellow teachers advice on how to handle this with my main concern being Arabella’s mental and physical well being. 

    “K, I think you know the next step, but you also know the toll it could take on Arabella if something this bad is wrong”, Sam says to me and as she says it I know she is right. 

    Putting my face in my hands I groan knowing my next step and hate that it has come to this, but Arabella is my main concern. I have been so worried about her since last week, that I have found myself distracted. Before I could lose my nerve I hop up and tell Sam I am going to talk to the counselor before the kids return from lunch. 

    I knock on Mrs. Fairway’s door, “Come in”, I hear from the other side and open the door. As I enter, she puts her finger up to minute telling me to wait a minute seeing as she is on the phone. “Yes”, pause, “I understand, I actually have her teacher here right now and will explain the situation”, she says to the other person on the line. “Thank you for giving me the heads up and I will see you at the end of the day”, she hangs up the phone and looks at me with concern. 

    “What’s going on?” I ask Mrs. Fairway getting more concerned the longer I don’t know what’s going on. 

    “I suggest we grab the principle and get someone to cover your class until you can return, this is going to be a bit of a long conversation”, she states as he gets up from her desks and heads out into the hallway to Principal Crawford’s office. 

    My brain starts going to a million different places, could it be about Everly or my parents. As I start to panic both the Principal and Mrs. Fairway walk in. “Is everything ok?...Everly?”, I ask with a bit of panic in my voice. 

    “Everly is fine” and i let out a huge breathe as Mrs. Fairway continues, “This is actually about Arabella Stone. Principal Crawford has already asked Mrs. Jacobs to cover your class since hers is in art.” I look back and forth and both of them, relieved that it is not my family, but another type of concern and worry for one of my students takes over. “I just got off the phone with social services. They wanted to give me a heads up they would be here at the end of the day to take Arabella with them. They thought it would be best to let her finish out the last few hours of school, while they get everything into place.” Mrs. Fairway stops and motions for both Principal Crawford and I to take a seat. 

    “I know you and I had concerns about Arabella’s home life” she states as she motions toward me with her hand. “The fire department was called to Arabella’s home today. A neighbor called saying they saw smoke and some flames coming from the house. When the fire department got there, they found the fire had started in the living room due to a lit cigarette.” I stare at Mrs. Fairway nervous about where this is going as she continues, “They pulled Mrs. Stone out of the house, but she was already dead. The paramedics on scene think it was from a drug overdose. Which Mrs. Sansoni would possibly explain some of Arabella’s behavior at the start of this year”. 

    The room is silent as we all take in what just happened. Principal Crawford is the first to speak “This is sad, but our main concern needs to be Arabella. Can you two catch me up on what happened the first week of school to have you both concerned about her?”. Mrs. Fairway and I both go on to explain her behavior displayed, along with her appearance. “Wow, okay, so the hope I am guessing would be to keep her in this school system and she will absolutely need more counseling. Mrs. Fairway I figure you are on top of this?” as Mrs. Fairway nods her head in approval. 

    “Okay, so now that we have some idea of what is to happen, should I be the one to tell Arabella at the end of the day what is going on?” I ask, knowing I have had the most interaction with her and she may be the most comfortable with me. 

    “I think that is for the best, but hold her at the end of the day and you can explain with social services there and they will fill in the blanks” Mrs. Fairway explains. “This is going to be a group effort and I will talk to her other teachers to explain some of what’s going on and to keep a close eye on her”. 

    I stand and let them know I need to get back to my class, still shocked at what I just learned. I get back to my class with about 10 minutes to spare before Sam’s class comes back. I peak in and see my students all doing a math worksheet I had planned for them. “Hey class, I am going to be right outside this door talking to Mrs. Jacobs quickly. Everyone good and if you need anything come get me.” I state as I motion for Sam to join me in the hallway. 

    “What’s going on?” she asks the second the door to my room is closed. 

    “It’s a long story. Short version it actually involves Arabella and I was wondering if you could take Everly to my parents after school? I don’t know how long I will be here.” I ask and I know Sam can see the stress on my face.

    “Yeah whatever you need, but I better get a phone call later explaining why I had to cover for you”, Sam explains as I nod in confirmation. Placing my hand on the handle to my door, I take a deep breath bracing myself for the rest of today. Also knowing I need to text my mom a heads up.    

    Walking back into class, I see they are all hard at work and take the moment to text my mom quickly letting her know Sam is going to drop Everly off at her place after school. Within seconds, my mom replies with a thumbs up emoji. 

                                                                                             2:00 pm

    “Okay everyone, time to pack up for the day. Grab your stuff from you cubbies and don’t forget your english work books for tonight”, I explain as I walk around the room double checking the kids don’t forget their stuff. When I get to Arabella, I squat down at her desk and quietly tell her to hang with me after class. Sadly I get no response and she just keeps her head down. 

    As I usher the last kid out of my classroom, I look back to see Arabella sitting in the same spot I left her. Before I go to enter the classroom Everly comes running into me giving me a big hug. God I needed this and I didn’t even know. I squat down and wrap my baby girl up in my arms just breathing her in. “Mommy I can’t breathe” my eight year old says with a giggle. 

    “Sorry baby girl, just missed you” I explain as I kiss her cheek and stand up. “Where is Auntie Sammie?” 

    “She’s coming, she said I could come see you before we leave”, she says while bouncing up and down, not being able to stand still. A few seconds later Sam walks out of her classroom with her bags.

    “Okay, Ev’s Auntie Sam is ready and mom has some stuff to take care of so I will pick you up at Mema and Papi’s later” I explain then look up at Sam “Thanks again for taking her”.

    “No problem, talk to you later. Come on Ev let's go see if Mema has some good snacks to feed us” she says as they both turn to head down the hall. Bracing myself I turn back toward my classroom and walk over to Arabella. 

    “Hey sweetie why don’t you come up and sit at the chair by my desk and we can talk”, she stares down at her desk and doesn’t move right away. I wait patiently and soon she gets up and makes her way to the chair by my desk. 

    As Arabella places her stuff on the ground next to the chair, Mrs. Fairway and a woman I assume is from social services walk in. Mrs. Fairway introduces Claire Zaines from social services to me and to Arabella. Once introductions are made Mrs. Fairway nods at me to take the lead. 

    I squat down in front of Arabella trying to get eye level with her. “Arabella, there is something that we have to tell you and you may not understand everything that is going on. So please ask lots of questions and stop me if you need”, I finish talking looking into Arabella’s eyes and my heart breaks. She just sits there with her hands clasped not showing any emotion. I decide to just go for it. I start by explaining to her that something happened at her home today and gradual work into explaining that she will have to go with Mrs. Zaines. I couldn’t get the nerve to tell her about her mother and throughout my explanation Arabella didn’t show us any emotion. I look to Mrs. Fairway and Mrs. Zaines for one of them to continue. 

    Thankfully Mrs. Zaines steps in and explains once they get to her office that she will explain the rest to Arabella. I was grateful that I didn’t have to be the one to tell the poor girl that her mom was gone, but at the same time my motherly instincts kicked in and I just wanted to wrap her up in my arms. Mrs. Zaines looks at me and motions her head to the side. I get up and walk toward the door with her. “This isn’t a normal circumstance, nothing ever is, but I can tell you we are working to place her in a home with people who may be able to help her. We have a couple in mind and are working to get this done quickly. There was a lot found at her home to suggest she has a lot to work through and a stable secure place is what she needs” she finishes and looks over my shoulder at Arabella. 

    We both walk back to her and I explain that it is time for her to go with Mrs. Zaines. I watch as Arabella stands and won’t let Mrs. Zaines take her hand, and at that moment I feel my heart shatter for this little girl. As they disappear out the door, I sit in my desk chair and just breath. My anxiety is now through the roof and I know before picking Everly up I need to get it under control.