Dealing With The Diagnosis
Meet The Farrells Chapter 3
Notes: Revising several chapters from Overcoming Obstacles and changing them so they apply to this story. Rose, Catherine and Anna Farrell are my original characters. I own no rights to any Annie characters.
Grace Warbucks was still in shock by the news of Molly's dyslexia diagnosis. She knew that getting a tutor would be the best way to go but wasn't ready at this point to do that.
She called her mother on the phone in Boston the day she found out the news.
"Oh, Mama. I don't know how Oliver and I are going to get through this. We already told Molly about her dyslexia and I know how frustrated she has been with learning how to read."
Rose could tell her daughter was close to becoming hysterical.
"Grace, first of all calm down a little bit. I understand this news is shocking but you have to be there for Molly to help her through this."
"I promised her that Oliver Annie and I would always be there to help her… but Mama I just don't want to see my baby struggle."
"I know you don't want to see her struggle Gracie but not everything about life is easy."
Grace dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "I suppose you're right."
"Gracie, I promise you your sisters and I will help Molly through her struggles."
Grace smiled. "I think Molly would really appreciate all the help she can get."
Grace heard the door creek open, Molly peeked in the room.
"Hi, baby, I'm on the phone with Grandma Rose. I'll be there to help you with your reading in just a second."
Molly saw her mother crying. "Mommy, why are you sad?"
"Mama, I need to go now. Molly just came in the room."
"Okay Gracie, remember be strong for your daughter. I love you."
"I love you too."
Grace hung up the phone and patted a spot beside her on the bed; Molly jumped up and snuggled into her mother's side immediately.
"Why are you sad Mommy?" she repeated.
"Well, I was telling Aunt Jen about the meeting Daddy and I had with your teacher today about your dyslexia. How are you handling the news sweetheart?"
Molly looked at the bedspread.
"Mommy, I'm sorry for making you sad."
Grace hugged her daughter. "Oh baby girl, I'm not sad… just worried about you. I just want to be sure you're going to be okay."
Molly was quiet for five minutes then Grace noticed that she was crying.
"What's the matter sweetheart?"
"Some kids in my class make fun of me because I can't read as well as them."
Grace's heart broke and she gathered her daughter in her arms rocking her back and forth.
"What do they say?"
"They say I read too slow and that my writing and that I don't write some of my letters right."
"Do they call you names?"
"No, not really…. They just say those really mean things."
Grace hated to hear that Molly was being teased by her classmates.
"Do you want me to talk to your teacher about this sweetheart?"
Molly nodded burying her face into her mother's neck letting out gut-wrenching sobs.
"Shhh. Molly, don't cry baby girl." Grace continued to rock her daughter back and forth until her sobs quieted.
"I love you Mommy."
"We all love you too Molly. Very much. We are going to help you in any way we can okay?"
Molly nodded. "Okay. Did Grandma say she was going to help me too?"
"Yes and Aunt Cathy and Aunt Anna will too."
Grace dried her daughter's tears and took her by the hand. "Come on, sweetheart. Let me go help you with your reading and then we can go check on dinner."
"Okay Mommy."
Grace promised herself to set up a meeting with Molly's teacher as soon as possible about the teasing.
Mrs. Pugh noticed that Grace looked a bit distracted all through dinner; after the table was all cleared she patted her on the shoulder.
"Come darling, we'll go to my room and have a talk."
Grace nodded and followed Mrs. Pugh up to her bedroom.
Once they got into the room and closed the door Grace collapsed on the bed and burst into tears.
Mrs. Pugh sat down on the bed rubbed Grace's back comfortingly.
"Gracie Liz." She whispered, wrapping Grace in a hug that made her feel safe.
Grace continued to sob.
"What's the matter sweetheart?"
Mrs. Pugh waited until Grace's tears slowed, reaching for a handkerchief in her pocket to dry them. Once Grace composed herself a little bit, she spoke still taking comfort in the warmth of the older woman's embrace.
"Oh Helen, I'm just so worried about Molly."
"Her dyslexia diagnosis has you all tied up in knots doesn't it?"
Grace nodded and fresh tears started to fall.
"She told me that some kids in her class have been teasing her because of her dyslexia."
Mrs. Pugh nodded sympathetically. "Some children are just so cruel."
"I want her to be happy in school Mama. I don't want to her feel alone or like an outcast because of her disability."
"I'm sure her teacher must be aware that the teasing is going on and is doing something to control it."
"I would hope so… I hope there are some kids in her class that will be willing to try to help with her reading."
"How many kids are in Molly's class?"
"Probably about 24."
"I'm sure for every one child that makes fun of her there must be one or two that would be willing to help her with her reading."
Grace buried her face into Mrs. Pugh's chest as her tears continued to fall, she felt the older woman's hand move up and down her back.
"Shh, darling, things will be alright."
Grace's eyes met Mrs. Pugh's.
"I know I have to be strong for Molly but when she told me she was being teased my heart just broke in half."
"Well hopefully since you found out about the disability in the earlier stages you'll be able to get the right kind of treatment so that way it will be easier for her to deal with later in life."
"That's another thing I'm confused about. What kind of treatments would there be?"
Mrs. Pugh shrugged. "I don't really know. Have you and Oliver considered homeschooling her?"
Grace was shocked at this suggestion. "The thought never crossed our minds. We certainly don't want to isolate her."
"You won't be. I'm sure she'll make friends in school eventually. She's a sweet girl. If you decide to homeschool her she can still have her friends over her for play dates and parties."
"Alright, I'll discuss this with Oliver and see what he says… he might not like the idea."
"Are you going to meet with Molly's teacher about the teasing?"
"Yes, sometime later this week I'm hoping."
That Thursday Grace set up a private meeting with Molly's teacher to talk about the teasing.
"Mrs. Warbucks, I assure you we are doing the best we can to make sure that Molly are happy in our classroom."
Grace was crying again. "Mrs. Richards, you don't understand how much this has been upsetting Molly. She is worried none of the kids will like her."
Molly's teacher reached out and took Grace's hand in hers. "Mrs. Warbucks, there are only 3 or 4 children who have been making fun of your daughter and I'm doing my best to get them to stop. A few other students have stepped up and offered to help Molly with her reading and writing."
Grace smiled through her tears. "Well that's certainly comforting to know. You also said you have a few reading specialists helping her too, correct?"
Mrs. Richards nodded her head. "Yes, I have two learning specialists helping Molly every day."
"Has she showed any progress?"
"Not very much but she's very bright so I'm sure she will be up to speed with the rest of her classmates soon."
"Do you suppose homeschooling her would be a good idea?"
The teacher looked at her thoughtfully. "It's only the fourth week of school Mrs. Warbucks. If she doesn't show much progress by before the Thanksgiving holiday then homeschooling might be something you and Mr. Warbucks may want to consider. In the meanwhile continue doing what you're doing at home."
"My husband has also suggested hiring a tutor. Do you think that will help?"
Mrs. Richards smiled. "I most certainly do!"
Grace stood up. "Thank you for meeting with me Mrs. Richards. I feel better now knowing that my daughter is getting the help that she needs to be successful in your classroom."
Mrs. Richards reached out and shook Grace's hand. "If you have any more concerns we can always set up another meeting."
Grace walked out of the school feeling a lot better than she had going into the meeting.
When Grace arrived home from the meeting she found Oliver in the kitchen having lunch. Something that very rarely happened since he was always so overwhelmed with work. Mrs. Pugh usually put something aside for him and bought something up for him.
He kissed his wife on the cheek. "How was your meeting with Molly's teacher darling?"
"Very well, thanks for asking. She said that she would talk to the children that have been teasing Molly so I am hoping that will be over sooner rather than later."
"Any notes on her progress?"
"Well, Mrs. Richards said that she has been improving slowly. The learning specialists are helping her every day and some of her classmates are even helping her too."
Oliver smiled widely. "Wonderful! That's so good to hear. Perhaps Molly will have some friends to invite over soon."
"That would be lovely."
"Did you happen to mention my suggestion about getting a tutor to Molly's teacher?"
Grace nodded. "Yes, she thinks it's an excellent idea. Have you started to look for people yet?"
"I've got a few people in mind."
"I think the sooner we get a tutor for her the better. She needs all the help she can get, Oliver."
Oliver pulled his wife on to his lap and kissed her cheek tenderly. "I know darling. "The tutor, her teachers and learning specialists and us. We'll be with her every step of the way."
Grace returned her husband's kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too Grace."
That weekend Grace's sister Catherine took the train In from Boston to spend some time with her sister and nieces. She figured Grace and Molly could both use some cheering up. She arrived at the mansion around 1:30pm on Friday. She had taken a long weekend off from work and would be staying in New York until midafternoon on Monday.
When her aunt arrived Annie threw herself at her excitedly.
"Aunt Cathy! We're going to have such a fun weekend!
Catherine kissed Annie on the forehead softly. "Yes we are sweetheart. Where are your mom and sister?"
"Helping Mrs. Pugh prepare lunch."
Catherine followed Annie down the hallway to the kitchen. Preparations for lunch were just finishing up.
Grace smiled warmly at her younger sister. "Cathy, I'm so glad you could spend the weekend with us."
"Anything for you Grace. What did you guys want to do this weekend?"
Molly looked at her aunt "Can we go to the zoo?"
Catherine scooped her youngest niece up and kissed her forehead. "Of course we can darling. How would you like to go the movies at the Roxy too? You can pick the movie if you want."
"Hooray! Thank you Aunt Cathy."
The four girls sat down to a lunch of tuna fish sandwiches, pasta salad and carrot sticks.
That night Catherine helped Molly with her reading. She could understand Grace's concern about how much her youngest child was struggling and helped her niece wherever she could. She didn't like seeing Molly struggling so much.
Once Annie and Molly were asleep Catherine and Grace sat in the kitchen sipping tea.
" How have you been Gracie?" Catherine asked her sister.
" As good as can I be given the circumstances. The news of this diagnosis hit me like a Mack Truck. " Grace said.
Catherine reached out and squeezed her sister's hand tightly. "I was helping Molly with her reading before bed and I can tell where she gets really frustrated. Has it been really hard for her at school?"
Tears formed at the edges of Grace's eyes.
"Oh Cathy, it's been so horrible. Kids in her class have been making fun of her because of her dyslexia. My heart broke when Molly told me that."
"Some children are just so inconsiderate and blind to people's differences. Does she have any friends?"
"She finds it too difficult to make friends because she wants people to like her and is worried that kids won't like her because of her disability."
"Sounds like she is having some issues with her self-esteem. All the kids in her class can't possibly be making fun of her."
Grace shook her head. "No, just 3 or 4 kids are making fun of her. A few kids have stepped forward to help her though and I hope more kids continue to do the same thing. Molly could really use a friend. I hate knowing she is so lonely."
"Just keep thinking positive Gracie. Things will improve."
Tears were flowing down Grace's cheeks. Her sister stood up, pulled her to her feet and pulled her into a warm embrace, They stood there for about 10 minutes. Catherine rubbed her hand up and down her sister's back comfortingly.
"I love you Cathy." Grace whispered.
"I love you too Gracie."