Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt7)

I sat at the kitchen table with my hands folded. The head of the house sat across from me. We were waiting on my teacher, Ms. Dawson. She said she wanted to speak to me and the head of the house immediately. Something about some news she wanted to deliver in person. My stomach was churning like butter and my palms were wetter than the Mississippi River.

 What news was so important she had to deliver it in person? Had I done something? Were they putting me out? I held in a sigh. I liked school. The teachers were nice and friendly. I learned something everyday and school opened my eyes to the world. Before I went to school I had only heard of places like Paris, Rome and India. In my mind they were dreams, far away places I could never reach, but going to school Ms. Dawson taught me that they weren't as far way as I thought. They were just in my reaching distance all I had to do is work hard to get there. I pictured myself sitting by the Eiffel Tower. A beauty and a beast.

 "Ms. Lewis," my teacher came through the door. She greeted the head of house and then turned to me with a smile, "Hello, Ginger. How are you?"
 "Fine," I replied simply. Ms. Lewis offered her a seat and she accepted. After being seated she shined her sparkling white teeth at me. " I have some good new to tell you."
"She ain't flunk out, did she?" Ms. Lewis questioned me with a weary eye.
 My teacher looked surprised. She shook her head, "No! The complete opposite actually. Ginger is doing fantastic. Haven't you've seen any of her report cards?"
 Ms. Lewis starred at the floor, " I think I may have misplaced them."
 Dawson nodded with a solemn face. She didn't believe a word the woman said. She turned back to me, " Ginger,do you remember the test you took about a month ago?" I nodded.
 She continued, " Well, we just got your scores back."
 "She failed." Lewis interjected.
 My teacher gave her a disapproving side glance, " You received a perfect score."
I could nearly see the delight oozing out of her. I just stared at her, " I guess that's good then?"
"Ginger, thats more than good. It's amazing! Do you know how many colleges you can get into now! They'll nearly be begging for you even if you come from a colored school. Just think from high school to college and from there to India, Paris, Rome and anywhere else you want to go!"
 Little tingles crawled up my toes to my legs and shot out across my body. Before I knew what I was doing, I had my arms wrapped around Ms. Dawson and we were both screaming and jumping around like the world was coming to an end. But we weren't scared. We were ecstatic.
 ":How she gonna pay for it?" the head of house rained on our parade. I could feel myself get soaked.
 My teacher turned to her, "There are scholarships and schools wouldn't mind paying for such a bright young girl."
 "And my Daddy can help too!" I said trying to dry off.
Ms. Lewis took a cigarette from her pocket and lit it. "Ya Daddy ain't got no college money."
She walked out of the kitchen,leaving me alone with Ms. Dawson. I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. Ms. Dawson looked down at me, " See, thats the problem with folks. If they down they want to drag everyone down with them. Ginger, you're going to college. I don't care if you're rich or poor. You're going because you worked hard for it and deserve it."

I spoke to my Father later that night. I told him everything my teacher had said. He just have me a few "Uh huhs" and "Rights". When I was done  I asked him, "So what do you think, Dad?" For a minute he was silent and I thought he was thinking I was a fool, but then he cleared his throat and said, " I told you you was smart like ya Mama. I'm going to send my baby girl to college." No sweeter words had ever been spoken.