School Troubles

Sisters Chapter 4

The first day of school went pretty well. My teacher was really nice and the kids were pretty nice, too. I hadn't really made any friends yet, but it wasn't like nobody talked to me all day. Over the summer, I had been learning to read so I would be all ready for school, but whenever I started reading the letters didn't look right at all. I didn't know what to do about it. I didn't want to tell anyone, not even Annie, because I was so afraid I would be made fun of. I just thought I would have to work harder on my reading. I felt bad about it. Mommy, Daddy, and Annie tried helping me with my reading but it just looked so wrong to me. My teacher called Mommy and Daddy in for a conference a few weeks into school and I was afraid they would be mad at me when they came home. My teacher had been trying to help me with my reading, so I knew that's what the conference must've been about.

"Molly, sweetie, Daddy and I want to talk to you about the meeting we had with Mrs. Richards today." Mommy said when they got home.

"Am I in trouble?" I asked nervously.

"Of course not, sweetheart. Mrs. Richards just told us that you've been having a lot of trouble with your reading and writing and she's concerned about you."

"I'm sorry, Mommy," I said, starting to cry.

Mommy pulled me into her arms and hugged me tightly. "Don't be sorry, baby girl. Mrs. Richards also told us that you have dyslexia, which explains why you've been having such a hard time. It's a disorder that makes you see the letters all jumbled up, making it hard for you to read and write. It's not your fault sweetheart."

"Oh." I said.

"Daddy, Annie, and I will always be here to help you, baby. Mrs. Richards, too. We all want to help you get better at your reading and writing, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay, Mama."

"Good," Mommy kissed my forehead and I went upstairs. I went into Annie's room to talk to her about all of this.

"Hey, Molly. What's up?" Annie asked.

"Mommy and Daddy just told me that I have dyslexia."

Annie nodded. "They told me, too. How are you feeling about all of this?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't want Mommy and Daddy to be mad at me because I can't read."

Annie pulled me into her lap. "They aren't mad, Molly. They love you and they want to help you."

I nodded. "What if the kids at school start teasing me because I can't read as well as they can?"

"Then you just ignore them. They have no right to make you feel bad about yourself. You're very smart, Molly. Just because you have dyslexia doesn't mean you're dumb,"

I nodded.

"Why are you so afraid that they will make fun of you?"

"At my old school, I was bullied a lot. I don't have any friends and everyone was mean to me," I said, bursting into tears.

Annie rubbed my back. "Molly, things are a lot different now. You have me and I'll always stick up for you. If things get bad, then come to Mom or Daddy. Or stick up for yourself. Nobody can make you feel a certain way, just ignore them. You'll make friends, Molly, I promise you."

I nodded. "Thanks, Annie. I love you."

"I love you, too, Molly." Annie said, kissing the top of my head.

After I talked to Annie, I felt a whole lot better about everything. Mommy, Daddy, and Annie helped me a lot with my reading and I got better at it. School got easier, but it was still hard sometimes. I was just so glad I had Mommy, Daddy, and Annie by my side to help me. I loved them more than anything in the entire world.