a stitch in time

It was the last class of the day. And really, it was the only class Ellie was looking forward too. Something in textiles. She was starting a sewing class. It would be good to be doing something with her hands. A creative endeavor. She'd always wanted to learn to sew, but somehow never got around to it. And they were finally going to have class on sewing. Something useful. OK, maybe some people wouldn't find it useful, but at least those who signed up would want to be there, wouldn't they? Unlike art or choir, expecting an easy grade. Neither was really easy.

But the last person she ever expected was waiting for her in classroom 233, her mother.

"You're not, Miss Cassler?" Ellie pulled a face, looking up from her schedule.

"It was a last minute thing, " her mother said. "I'm taking over for Miss Cassler, she had an illness in her family. It looks like everyone is stuck with me this semester." She smiled.

"What do you mean?" Ellie pulled away. She didn't want to be here if her mother was teaching the class. "How can you do this?"

"I do have a degree in home economics, you know," her mother nodded. "I'll be taking care of all the prenatal and child development classes this year."

"You!" Ellie winced. "Why would they want you! Teaching child development classes! God! You! You! Who'd just a soon give a kid to a total stranger or take some to get an abortion!"

Ellie swallowed back the flem in her mouth. She'd been yelling. She was shaking. She couldn't be here. She couldn't. She didn't want to stay. She had to leave. Now.

As she left the school grounds, she heard nothing. Ellie just had to keep walking. Had to keep looking ahead. She didn't even have her back pack. Just her sewing book. She'd have to cancel that class. No way could she take that class if her mother was teaching it.

She closed her eyes, thinking how humiliating it all was. But her heart kept racing and she was still too steamed to even cry. She did her best to take a deep breath.

"Hey," Eric touched her arm then. He was in his running gear, going at the slowest stride possible. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, no.

"What happened?" He was concerned.

"I can't." She kept shaking her head, no.

"Did somebody-" He reached for her then and she pushed him away.

"Don't touch me!"

"What did I do?"

"I can't handle this right now. Just leave me alone!" Was that too much to ask for? She ran from him then. Didn't look back. Thankfully, he didn't run after her. She needed this time to herself.