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Show Nettie, Page 75 quested that Nettie answer a question and that she stand to answer. He waited frostily for her, looking coldly on her struggle to push upright. Embarassment and frustration slewed Nettie's efforts even more and Mr. May spat out in exasperation, "People who have cripples should not send them to school." The classroom gasped as one body and Nettie's eyes stung with tears at the cruel remark. When school was finally over, she wept tears of relief and bitterness. Later at home, Papa noticed her red-rimmed eyes and questioned her. "Are you hurting tonight, Nettie-girl?" "No, Papa, I'm tired, but I'm not really hurting," Nettie replied quietly. "You've been crying. Can you tell me about it?", he probed gently. "It's nothing, Papa, I'm all right, really," Nettie winced even to think about the incident. "What's bothering you, girl? Out with it. I want to know," Papa was kind, but insistent. Yielding at last to his persuasion, Nettie felt her eyes fill again as she told her father of the teacher's coldness and sarcasm. "He hates me, Papa, because I can't seem to catch up, and I can't do what he wants." Papa's eyes had pinpoints of ice in them as he heard Nettie's explanation. "Today he said people shouldn't send cripples to school," Nettie sobbed. |
