Grace Atkinson, began work at the old mill when she was eighteen. She worked there for thirty years until the mill closed. Grace had grown up in the small town of Walley’s and had never been out of the county. The population in Walley’s was just over five hundred, and she knew everyone.
The closing of the mill brought a new challenge to Grace. At forty-eight, she was still single and had no clue what to do next in her life. A visit to the local library came the new lease on life for her. A sign called for substitute teachers. But there was the fact she had never gone to college. The librarian told her there was a class that was being held to train teacher aides, maybe she could look into that class.
Grace wanted to be more than a teacher’s aide, so for a year, she took classes online working towards an associate degree. Walley’s had one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. The rural location made it hard for the schools to get new teachers. For most people, an associate degree took two years, but Grace worked one-year full time on her classes.
Mary Stinson, the elementary school principal, heard that Grace was studying to be a substitute teacher. With the other two principals, they worked together to get Grace certified. At fifty, Grace began her new career. Between the three schools, she worked full time. Being available meant the teachers did not have to worry about being ill or having an emergency.
Ten years passed and Grace decided it was time to retire. She had dreamed of traveling since she was a child. There was a world outside of Walley’s, and Grace wanted to see some of it before she died. She hand wrote a letter to the three principals thanking them for having faith in her and to let them know at the end of the school year, she would be retiring.
She was rarely needed the last day of school, so Grace was surprised to get the call. As she pulled into the parking lot, she noticed there were few parking spaces available. Maybe there was an assembly Grace thought as she entered the building. At the front office, Grace checked in as she had done for the past ten years. The school secretary, Anna Wills, smiled as Grace walked in.
“So glad to see you, Grace,” Anna said. “Good to be here, even though it does feel bittersweet. Do you know which class I will be in today?”
“Oh, I think the art class.”
“Well, that should be fun, since there is not much to do today.”
Grace started down the hall and paused as she heard her name, over and over again. Looking up she saw the students from all three schools lining the hallway. One student who had been in one of the first classes she had ever substituted came forward with a bouquet of roses. He then escorted her to the auditorium. The students filled in behind her.
On the stage was a big banner thanking Grace for her ten years as a substitute teacher. One person representing each of the ten years spoke about her and what they had learned from her in their class.
Finally, a first grader came forth and said, “You always made me feel good about myself.” That was the greatest gift, Grace received that day. She would be remembered long after she was gone.
© 2019 Ivy Jade
