Chapter 11: Clara's Insight

The next couple of weeks passed quickly. Krista was fairly quiet, which made Hermione happy, but also worry it was the calm before the storm.

Hermione's classes were going well. She was done with Personal Management and Life Skills, which gave her more free time to read books in the library. She had finally started learning contracted braille in braille class, which Marsha told her it was unusual to be ready for that level of braille that quickly, but that because Karen helped her study, it made the process go quicker.

As Hermione sat in the library on a Sunday night, reading a book called Little House On The Prairie, the door opened.

"Hello?" Krista's voice asked.

"Hello Krista," said Hermione. "How are you this evening?"

"I am fine, thank you very much," said Krista as she took the seat next to Hermione.

"What are you reading?"

"Little House On The Prairie," said Hermione.

"Give me the book," said Krista. She took the book before Hermione could reply. She threw it onto the floor before going to the shelves and throwing books onto the ground.

"Stop!" said Hermione.

"No more library for you, disgusting book-lover!" said Krista. "You seem to only like the library. I'm sure you only agreed to come here because you could read books."

"I came here to learn!" said Hermione. "I love books, but that's not the only thing I care about! My classes are very important to me! Now, pick these books up before I go tell staff!"

"No," said Krista. "You can pick them up yourself!"

"Have you not learned anything from talking to Scott about your behavior here?" Hermione asked angrily.

Krista snorted. "Hermione, what that counselor and I talk about is none of your business! And to answer your question, I can do whatever I want as long as I don't get caught!"

"Well, you're going to get caught now!" Hermione said. "Because I will tell the Support staff who threw these books!"

"This place would be 100% better without you here," said Krista.

Hermione left the library, feeling hurt and upset. She went to the Support Room. Clara was in there that night.

"Hello," said Hermione. "It's Hermione." She had learned to say who she was to all of the staff and students who were blind.

"Hello Hermione," said Clara. "How can I help you?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Hermione asked. She wouldn't be surprised if Clara said to make it quick. After all, what she had to say wouldn't just take a minute. The support staff was always busy, and didn't have a lot of time to just talk.

"Of course you can talk to me!" said Clara. "Just close the door and take a seat."

Hermione did so, and said, "I'll try to be quick."

"Don't worry Hermione, you don't need to rush," said Clara. "I'm here to listen. Take as long as you need."

"Well, Krista's really making me mad," said Hermione. "She obviously hates me. She keeps saying that I shouldn't be here. And now, she's teasing me for loving books."

"How so?" Clara asked.

"She came into the library as I was reading Little House On The Prairie, and she took the book and threw it onto the floor, then started doing that for all the other books. Then she told me that I had to pick them all up, and called me a disgusting book-lover. I know that she was given a warning about her behavior, but when I brought it up to her, she just told me not to get into her business."

"I've read in your notes file that you and Krista don't get along, at all," said Clara. "Though Scott was very vague about it in the notes file."

"Yes, she and I don't get along at all," said Hermione. "Even from day one, she was very mean to me. I don't know what I did to make her hate me."

"Hermione, I was once a student here too," said Clara. "I had students on my case just because I liked a staff member's personality. The students made it a bigger deal than it was. I had to keep going to my counselor about the teasing, and even though the counselor was able to stop some of the teasing, it's hard to stop it completely. What I'm trying to point out here is that no matter where you are, there are students who will tease you for the silliest reasons. It might be because you lost your vision, it could be because you love books, it could be because you're black instead of white; you name it."

"I guess you're right," said Hermione thoughtfully. "How can I deal with Krista?"

"You have many options such as ignoring them, defending yourself when they make you angry, or do what I do, which is say something in response that they're not expecting. If you do that, it will catch them by surprise, and if you keep doing that, they won't tease you as often, because you don't say what they expect you to say. And of course, go to your counselor about any teasing."

"Wow! Thanks Clara!" Hermione exclaimed. "This really helped!"

"Hold on, before you go," said Clara quickly. "Also remember, when you get upset, do some yoga, like Scott suggested, and practice what you learn in yoga classes with Kim. Because the calmer and more relaxed you are when things are going wrong, the better it can be handled. There is nothing wrong with loving books and reading. It is a hobby that I adore too."

"Ok, thank you," said Hermione.

"You're welcome! Have a great night, and always feel free to come talk with me when I'm here!"