Courageous Connie

Courageous Connie

 From the tender years of 8 years old, Connie suffered from Epilepsy, and was taking her medication 3 times a day, for Petit- mal seizures as the Doctor prescribed. Once in awhile, Connie would experience a Grand Mal convulsion and she tried to stay active despite kids in the neighborhood mocking and sneering at her when she experienced a seizure attack. Connie brushed off the mean kids that shouted horrible names at her and called her a misfit.

 Now a blooming teenager, Connie looked forward to this fresh adventure…High School. There was so many new faces to see and friends to make. Freshman year would be the start of an interesting chapter in her life.  Stenography was a interesting subject to explore, Connie decided this would be helpful in her endeavors to becoming a secretary, she dreamed of this often. Connie looked at  the world, with a fresh perspective.

 It was 8:00am- Monday morning, Connie eagerly rushed to her desk to prepare for Stenography class. A handful of girls sat in the classroom. A tall elderly woman, Miss Thomas entered into the classroom from the narrow side door. Already 12:00pm, Connie raised her hand.

“Yes, Connie, what is it?” asked Miss Thomas.

“I need to go to the nurse’s office,” Connie said.

“Why?” questioned Miss Thomas.

“Need to take my medication,” Connie answered.

 Miss Thomas reluctantly waved her hand, her wrinkled creased brow perched upwards. During lunch break, Miss Thomas strolled down to the nurse’s station located on the first floor next to the Principal’s office.

“Mrs. Clark, could you tell me why my student, Connie, is taking medication?” questioned Miss Thomas.

“Yes, Miss Thomas, Connie takes medication for seizures,” answered Mrs. Clark.

 Connie went home with school books and diligently studied that evening, skipping into the dark-paneled den, she told her parents about her classes, and how she especially like Stenography, giggled over the way she could make a long word into a short word. Connie said goodnight to her parents and fell peacefully asleep.

 Tuesday morning dawned quickly, Connie was eager to get to school, she gulped her orange juice, and munched down her scrambled eggs,  snatched her white hat and red jacket and ran out the door. She then waited for the bright yellow School bus.

 Connie proceeded down the hallway to attend Stenography class and was met at the classroom door, by Miss Thomas.

“Connie, you’re no longer in my Stenography class,”said Miss Thomas.

“Why….Miss Thomas?” asked Connie.

 Miss Thomas handed Connie a folded slip of white paper and closed the heavy wooden door in Connie’s face. Warm tears streamed from Connie’s large brown eyes, as she ran to the Principal’s office. Connie called her mother.

 That Tuesday, late afternoon, Connie’s dad furiously drove down to her school in the attempt to state his case to the Principal and teacher on this wrong doing. Miss Thomas told Connie’s dad that she was afraid of Connie, that’s why she dismissed her permanently from Stenography class. Connie’s dad, shook his head, and walked away, he was livid.

  Connie could see how upset her dad was when he arrived home, she put her arms around him, gave him a kiss on the cheek and said, ” Don’t worry dad, I’ll be alright, I’m strong, and a very special-happy person.”

Courageous Connie

©CopyrightLisaMarieMottert-2012

For information and support contact: www.epilepsyfoundation.com