God's Kiss To you this birthmark looks so big, but it’s only the size of a quarter. by Margaret Sarkozi |
| Sally was a second grader in Mrs. Smith’s class. Today for her was just like every other day. She came in and sat in the back of the class next to Bobby McGee, the meanest boy in the second grade, who proceeded to laugh and say, “ Hey Sally. You got a smudge on your face.” The bell rang and the day began. Mrs. Smith tried to start class, but half of the kids wouldn’t sit down. The other half of the students carried on very noisy conversations with those who were standing. Then the morning announcements came. As the principle began to talk, Mrs. Smith’s daily ritual began. “Class, please be quiet,” she said. “Sit down class. Sit down now!” Most of the class ignored Mrs. Smith. Sally didn’t. “Alright, if I have to repeat myself one more time, NO RECESS!” Everyone then obeyed. Sally already had. After the principal finished talking over the intercom and the class said the Pledge of Allegiance, Mrs. Smith attempted to begin to teach reading. “Tommy Thomas, would you read the next paragraph for us, please?” asked Mrs. Smith. Tommy stood next to his desk. He took a deep breath and began read aloud. “DDDDid that bbbboat….. go up tttttthe river?” he stuttered. As he tried his best to read correctly, Bobby McGee and his friends copied his talking and everyone laughed, except Sally. She was so glad when reading was over. The next subject to be taught was math. That usually meant a math quiz. “Okay, Class, I am going to put a few problems on the board for you to solve. Take out a few sheets of paper and begin to solve these problems.” It seemed to Sally and a few others that everyone was cheating off those who knew how to do the math problems. The bell rang. Sally and the class handed in their papers and off they went to recess! Recess was supposed to be fun but to Sally it wasn’t. Bobby McGee and his buddies sought out those who were smaller and weaker and picked on them. Jonathan, Miguel, and Sally were playing “Simon Says” when Bobby and his gang came up to them. “We want to play,” Bobby said. “I’m Simon. Simon says, ‘push anyone with a dirty face.’ ” Bobby’s friends began pushing Sally back and forth until she fell in the dirt. The bell rang. Recess ended none to soon for Sally. After recess came English, lunch, spelling, P.E. and finally home. Sally hated school. When the bus finally dropped her off in front of her home, she let out a big sigh of relief. She yelled as she rushed through the front door, “Mommy, I’m home!” “How was your day, Sweetpea?” her mom asked as she wiped her hands on her apron. She then reached for her daughter and hugged her tightly. “School was horrible. Bobby and his friends made fun of me again. They called me Smudge, Dirt Face and Defect Girl. I hate them. I hate school.” Tears streamed down Sally’s face. “Baby,” her mother said, “ They just don’t know any better.” Then getting on her knees and looking straight into Sally’s blue eyes, she said, “Sally don’t you know that you are soooo special! To you this birthmark looks so big, but it’s only the size of a quarter. When you look at it, remember that’s where God kissed you when you were born. God loved you so very much, He left His kiss upon your face.” Sally smiled and instantly felt better. She then asked, “What is there to eat? I’m hungry.” Kissed by God It was the start of another school day for Sally. Today though, she didn’t dread it because she knew what she would say to Bobby or anyone else. As she went to her seat in the classroom, Bobby McGee and his friends came up to her desk. “Hey Smudge Face,” said Bobby. “Morning, Dirty Face,” said Tom. “Hi, Guys,” replied Sally. “Hey Sally, how come you aren’t getting red in the face or crying or mad this time?” asked Bobby. Sally smiled and replied as she sat down at her desk, “That’s because I’m special. Mama told me I was kissed by God.” Carol, the little girl who sat in front of Sally turned around and asked, “Sally, what happened to your face?” “Oh I was kissed by God.” Sally answered. Then the teacher came in. Once again, half of the class sat and the other half stood. Half of the class tried to listen to the announcements, but the other half did not. “Okay, everyone, if I have to tell you all one more time …” Mrs. Smith suddenly stopped. “Sally, please come up to my desk.” Mrs. Smith requested. Sally made her way to the front of the class and said, “Yes, Mrs. Smith.” “Sally, what is the matter with your face?” “I am special Mrs. Smith. I was kissed by God,” answered Sally. “Please come with me to the principal’s office-now.” So, down the hall they went hand in hand to Mr. Thomas’s office. Mrs. Smith knocked on Mr. Thomas’s door and he said, “Come in.” “Look at Sally please,” was all Mrs. Smith asked. To Nurse Jones's Office Mr. Thomas put on his glasses, and exclaimed, “Sally, what is wrong with your face!” “Mr. Thomas,” Sally began, “I’m special. I was kissed by God.” Then Mr. Thomas took Sally’s hand and spoke, “Sally, come with me to Nurse Jones’s office.” Down the hallway they went to the door marked “Nurse.” They knocked on the glass, and Nurse Jones opened her door and gasped, “Sally let me look at your face. What happened?” “I am special. I was kissed by God.” Nurse Jones put Sally on the examination table and quietly said, “Just lie down, Sally.” She turned to the principal and shook her head up and down. He quickly left her office. Ten minutes later, which seemed to Sally forever, Sally’s mother came into the nurse’s room. The nurse whispered to her and left. “Come on, Baby, let’s go home.” Sally started to cry. “What’s wrong, Honey?” Sally’s mom asked. “I told everyone I was special. I was kissed by God and now I am being sent home!” “Sally, no one is sending you home because of your birthmark. You have chicken pox!” Sally’s mother exclaimed. Everything was different Four weeks passed. Everyone in Mrs. Smith’s second grade class had returned from their own bouts with chicken pox. But everything was different. When Sally came to take her seat, Bobby and his friends smiled and said, “Hi, Sally. Morning, Sally.” When the bell rang, everyone sat patiently in their chairs and waited for Mrs. Smith. No one talked when morning announcements were made. Everyone listened. When Tommy read, the class all said, “Good job, Tommy.” Math came and no one copied off of anyone. Recess came. No one was mean and everyone played with one another. Finally, Mrs. Smith could not stand it one more minute and had to ask, “Class, what has come over all of you? Would someone please tell me?” Bobby McGee, the meanest, toughest boy in second grade stood up and replied, “Sally ain’t the only one who has been kissed by God.” |
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