[00:04.35]It was my first day as a newcomer to the school.
[00:09.47]Past “newcomer” experiences had been difficult, so I was very anxious to fit in.
[00:16.22]Being introduced to the class, I bravely put on a smile and took my seat, expecting to be shunned.
[00:23.74]Lunchtime was a pleasant surprise when the girls all crowded around my table.
[00:29.18]Their chatter was friendly, so I began to relax.
[00:33.65]It wasn’t long before the class nerd was pointed out to me: Mary Lou.
[00:38.55]Actually she called herself Mary Louise, a prim, prissy young girl with dark eyes, brown skin,a stern visage and old-fashioned clothing.
[00:51.50]The girls’ whispers and giggles got louder and louder.
[00:54.88]Mary Lou directly strode past our table, chin held high with iron determination. She ate alone.
[01:02.71]After school, the girls invited me to join them in front of the school.
[01:07.40]For what, I didn’t yet know.
[01:10.20]Oh, how I wish I had gone home, but I had a lesson to learn.
[01:15.10]Then, Mary Lou came down the school steps. The taunting began.
[01:21.09]I paused, then joined right in.
[01:24.47]My momentum began to pick up as I approached her.
[01:27.74]Nasty, mean remarks fell unabated from my lips.
[01:32.20]No one could tell I’d never done this before.
[01:35.47]The other girls stepped back and became my cheerleaders.
[01:39.28]Emboldened, I yanked the strap of her backpack and then pushed her.
[01:44.29]The strap broke, Mary Lou fell and I backed off.
[01:50.06]Everyone was laughing and patting me.
[01:53.54]I was not proud. Something inside me hurt.
[01:59.20]If you’ve ever picked a wing off a butterfly, you know how I felt.
[02:04.65]Mary Lou got up, gathered her books and – without a tear shed or retort given – off she went.
[02:14.34]She held her head high as a small trickle of blood ran down from her bruised knee.
[02:20.54]I watched her limp away down the street.
[02:23.71]I noticed a man standing beside his car.
[02:28.02]His brown skin, dark hair and handsome features told me this was her father.
[02:33.36]Respectful of Mary Lou’s proud spirit, he remained still and watched the lonely girl walk toward him.
[02:40.55]Only his eyes — shining with both grief and pride — followed.
[02:46.43]As I passed, he looked at me in silence with burning tears that spoke to my shame and scalded my heart.
[02:55.59]He didn’t speak a word.
[02:58.11]No scolding from a teacher or preaching from a parent could linger
[03:03.03]as much as that hurt in my heart from the day a father’s eyes taught me kindness and strength and dignity.
[03:11.23]I never again hurt someone for my own gain.
