Chapter 2 - Train Tracks

When you live in a hot train, an air-conditioned library can feel good. Tiana could not read, but she still took her kids to the library. I admired her for making that choice!

Tiana told me that she needed my help. "I can't get a decent job or help my kids with homework," she said. "People make me feel dumb and I'm tired of it." My heart ached. I wanted to help Tiana.

We walked in the library and I said, "Let's make a plan. We'll start with a list of goals and then we will work toward them in small steps." Tiana smiled. That day she made her first list:

1) Set aside two hours each week to read.

2) Try to read newspapers.

3) Get help with job application forms.

4) Practice sounding out words.

"Will Jasper and Cassandra help you to learn to read better?" I asked Tiana.

"Yes," she said. "But sometimes they say things to hurt me, like I'm dumb because I cannot read. I've been bullied all my life. Growing up, people said mean things about me because I could not read." I don't know why people bully others. Is it because they lack confidence? Tears welled in Tiana's eyes. She had courage but little to show for it—just Goldie, her beautiful children and a hard life. My respect for this young mother grew because she wanted to read to better herself.

And she was taking the necessary steps to do it. That is a very powerful thing to do. Many people think about taking action, but don't make a plan and follow through.

When a person pushes past their fear to dare to do something new, they grow and get better results.

I could see that the kids loved her and respected her. She wanted them to be proud of her. She was determined to push through her fears and needed someone-- to believe in her -- maybe it was me?

Chapter Questions:

1) How do you start to make a plan?

2) Why do you think some people bully others?

3) What can you do if someone bullies you?