Kate
Throughout my life there will always be one challenge that from the moment I wake up each morning, I will be destined to face. Six pounds and twelve ounces, I was unaware that I came attached with a vicious, over taking monster consuming my immune system and attacking my pride, spirit, self-confidence, and faith, one hair at a time. Not only does Alopecia Areata affect ones emotions, it causes your body to reject its’ own hair causing patchy or entire hair loss. It comes and goes like ocean tides creeping up and dragging you down by the feet before you are even aware of its mischievous plan… before you can catch it. Sitting in my brown, wooden, creaky, first-grade desk, I was never aware that my blue and white Old Navy bandana would be such a subject of discussion and controversy. Going to a strict Catholic school with uniform enforcement comparable to Mexicans crossing the border, almost all forms of hairstyling broke the holy rulebook. Blue and white bandanas were no exception. A red shoebox with a slit on the top contained all thoughts, questions and complaints that any miniature person at the age of six could come up with. On that Wednesday afternoon on the second floor of Monte Cassino Elementary School, one of the crumbled and ripped pieces of large-ruled notebook paper contained words scribbled in No. 2 pencil similar to “ar bananbas ok?” The teacher felt that she couldn’t lie. Sitting outside the classroom on the cold tiled floor knees bent, heads in hands, tears running down my face, kids continued to repeat to each other when walking by, “Tara. Take off your bandana. You heard the teacher”. “NO! I don’t have to, I’m allowed to wear it!”, I replied trying to sound tough and holding back the tears. Ten minutes later, the squeaky noise of small black and white KEDS Saddle Oxfords shuffled by. They belonged to a short, blonde-headed girl that I barely knew. She was dressed in our blue and white jumper with white knee-highs, her hair was done up with ribbons and braids. Not only was this girl somewhat rebellious when it came to hairstyle rules, but while the rest of us were dressed in little summer dresses that our mothers picked out, she always wore the most unusual bright layered and crazy clothes for free-dress days. Her name was Kate; she was friends with most people in our class, always was talking and frequently was sent to the principal’s office for stating her thoughts on each and every topic. I had talked to her on occasion, but was quite shy around those I did not know particularly well. As she began to walk into the classroom, she turned around, stopped and looked down. She proceeded to ask with such compassion and true interest, what I was so upset about. I didn’t feel comfortable sharing what had happened earlier in my class out of fear that she might too make fun of me like the kids crowded around one another’s desks whispering, laughing and talking about how I wouldn’t take off my headscarf. “Oh nothing, I’m just not having a great day,” I replied. With a sincere look in her blue, small, squinty eyes, she proceeded to squat down, place one small hand on my shoulder, and look into my eyes, “well if you need anything or want to talk, I’ll be in the classroom, ok? I hope your day gets better.” With a kind hug, she then stood back up and walked into the classroom. One brown haired girl approached Kate as she walked in, “did you hear what happened in …” she trailed off. As others started to gather around, I heard from outside the door a fervid voice, “You guys are SO MEAN! Stop talking about it!” Kate stood up for me. She could have joined in their fun, she could have snickered with the others and she could have even added her own two cents worth about our conversation outside, yet she chose not to. She stood up for the girl she hardly knew, the girl who was afraid, shy, and somewhat broken inside. She stood up for me. Although I doubt Kate even remembers that day in the classroom, it has and always will stick with me. Having a stranger stand up for me in one of my hardest times, truly showed me that God sometimes sends angels in unexpected ways.