​Sally cried and cried. No mom, I don't want to go. Please don't make me. I just can't go she pleaded. You are going and that's it, I said. On and on it went. Every day for a week straight Sally and I fought about her returning to school. This wasn't Sally cried and cried. No mom, I don't want to go. Please don't make me. I just can't go she pleaded. You are going and that's it, I said. On and on it went. Every day for a week straight Sally and I fought about her returning to school. This wasn't about the Corona Virus, it was about Sally's hair being gone. She was embarrassed that all the kids in school would laugh and make fun of her. It was the middle of September and school was in full swing. Sally had not yet started, due to her chemo treatments. But the Doctor said if she feels up to it, she should go back. Yes she has cancer. The doctors found it a year ago.
       Bill and I, Bill is my husband, Sally's dad, were devistated when we first found out. If you have ever been diagnosed with, or have had a loved one who was, you understand the heartache and pain that comes along with it. But thank God for Sally, and us, the treatments are working and she is in remission.
     Sally has distanced herself. Not so much from Bill and me, but from her friends. She says she feels like a freak. Her friend Ginny came over again the other day after school, but Sally wouldn't even come out of her room. I sat in the kitchen with Ginny for a little while, and tried to explained to her just what Sally was going through and feeling. Ginny understood right away. Mrs. Reed she said, it is like going to school with no clothes on. I wouldn't want to go either, this isn't first grade you know. The kids in fourth can be really mean and insensitive sometimes she added. I looked into the eyes of this young girl and was amazed at the depth of understanding she had. I mean, I know children are smart, but the level of consciousness and compassion she had, seemed to be far beyond her age. Ginny looked up at me and told me not to worry, that everything would work out just fine. My eyes welled with tears, and she put her arms around me and just held me for a minute. Here I was a grown woman, being consoled by a nine year old kid.
      After Ginny left, I went upstairs to Sally's room. I sat on her bed and we talked. We discussed her being in remission and having to keep moving forward in life. I told her she had to be stronger than ever and face anything life brings her way. Yes I know she said, but look mom, look at my head. I'm naked.
     I was stunned to hear those words from her. It was the same analogy that Ginny used. It was then that I realized just how traumatized she was with her baldness.
    I began showing her pictures of bald women in magazines trying to change her perception of being hairless. She wouldn't budge. I suggested scarves and hats to cover her head.  We looked on Amazon at hats of every kind to no avail. Just when I was going to close the page, Sally yelled that one. She pointed to a young girl that looked like her, with the cutest hat ever. That one mom, that one. Alright I said lets order it right now and we did. A sense of calm came over me and I felt it was going to be okay.
     A few days passed and the hat came. Sally put it on immediately. It's perfect mom. Thank you. She stood in front of her mirror for hours. She tried on all her clothes, making different outfits to go along with her hat. She even called Ginny to come over and hang out with her. I was elated. Her spirit was lifted higher than it had been fo a long time. Ginny even stayed for dinner. The two girls had a great rime that day, especially my Sally. She said she was ready to go back to school again. Seeing her smiling and happy, well you know how that made me feel.  Are you sure you are ready I asked her? Sally looked at Ginny with a look of despair. It will be fine said Ginny, I promise. Sally looked up at me and said yes mom, I am ready. I am glad I said and gave her the biggest hug ever. 
     When Bill got home, I drove Ginny home. Thank you Ginny I said. For what Mrs. Reed, I didn't do a thing. For just being yourself I told her, you are a very good friend. Oh stop Mrs. Reed, Sally is my best friend and I love her. I know you do I replied. I pulled in front of her house and she got out. It will be okay Mrs. Reed, I promise.
         A few days past and it was Monday of the following week. Sally came walking slowly down the stairs. She was the cutest thing I have ever seen. "Whadda ya think", she blurted out? You look wonderful I said smiling ear to ear. You are gonna knock them all out. I am so proud of you Sal. I gave her a great big hug and then breakfast. I'm not really hungry she said, I am kind of nervous. I understand Sally, but you have to have something in your stomach. Doctors rules. Yea, okay mom, I know. She ate a little bit and off we went. Sally grabbed her knapsack and lunch, and I grabbed my keys and a road cup of coffee.
       Sally said she would ride the bus next week, but this first few days wanted to go in the car. I guess she was still frightened a little inside. We talked as we drove and the closer we got to the school, the more nervous Sally became. A few blocks away, she started to have second thoughts. Her fear and anxiety was taking over. By the last block, she was ducking down in the seat hiding, and then she began begging me to turn around and go home. I pull in front of the schoolyard, and put the car into park.
    Sally was squeezed hard down to the seat in fear, I was staring at the schoolyard in awe. My heart was gripped tight with an overwhelming feeling. I started to cry uncontrollably. My tears were pouring out and falling on Sally. She looked at me and asked what was wrong. All I could do was nod in the direction of the schoolyard. Sally slowly lifted her head up the side door toward the window. When her eyes reached the glass, she was completely silent. The suddenly she burst out in laughter and opened her door and jumped excitedly out. She reached up on her head and grabbed her hat and threw it to me. I don't need this anymore mom. I'll see you later she said as she bolted into the schoolyard and joined her friends. All I could see through my tears, was a schoolyard filled with bald headed kids. Ginny had convinced the entire third, fourth, and fifth grades, to shave their heads, to honor kids with cancer. the Corona Virus, it was about Sally's hair being gone. She was embarrassed that all the kids in school would laugh and make fun of her. It was the middle of September and school was in full swing. Sally had not yet started, due to her chemo treatments. But the Doctor said if she feels up to it, she should go back. Yes she has cancer. The doctors found it a year ago.
       Bill and I, Bill is my husband, Sally's dad, were devistated when we first found out. If you have ever been diagnosed with, or have had a loved one who was, you understand the heartache and pain that comes along with it. But thank God for Sally, and us, the treatments are working and she is in remission.
     Sally has distanced herself. Not so much from Bill and me, but from her friends. She says she feels like a freak. Her friend Ginny came over again the other day after school, but Sally wouldn't even come out of her room. I sat in the kitchen with Ginny for a little while, and tried to explained to her just what Sally was going through and feeling. Ginny understood right away. Mrs. Reed she said, it is like going to school with no clothes on. I wouldn't want to go either, this isn't first grade you know. The kids in fourth can be really mean and insensitive sometimes she added. I looked into the eyes of this young girl and was amazed at the depth of understanding she had. I mean, I know children are smart, but the level of consciousness and compassion she had, seemed to be far beyond her age. Ginny looked up at me and told me not to worry, that everything would work out just fine. My eyes welled with tears, and she put her arms around me and just held me for a minute. Here I was a grown woman, being consoled by a nine year old kid.
      After Ginny left, I went upstairs to Sally's room. I sat on her bed and we talked. We discussed her being in remission and having to keep moving forward in life. I told her she had to be stronger than ever and face anything life brings her way. Yes I know she said, but look mom, look at my head. I'm naked.
     I was stunned to hear those words from her. It was the same analogy that Ginny used. It was then that I realized just how traumatized she was with her baldness.
    I began showing her pictures of bald women in magazines trying to change her perception of being hairless. She wouldn't budge. I suggested scarves and hats to cover her head.  We looked on Amazon at hats of every kind to no avail. Just when I was going to close the page, Sally yelled that one. She pointed to a young girl that looked like her, with the cutest hat ever. That one mom, that one. Alright I said lets order it right now and we did. A sense of calm came over me and I felt it was going to be okay.
     A few days passed and the hat came. Sally put it on immediately. It's perfect mom. Thank you. She stood in front of her mirror for hours. She tried on all her clothes, making different outfits to go along with her hat. She even called Ginny to come over and hang out with her. I was elated. Her spirit was lifted higher than it had been fo a long time. Ginny even stayed for dinner. The two girls had a great rime that day, especially my Sally. She said she was ready to go back to school again. Seeing her smiling and happy, well you know how that made me feel.  Are you sure you are ready I asked her? Sally looked at Ginny with a look of despair. It will be fine said Ginny, I promise. Sally looked up at me and said yes mom, I am ready. I am glad I said and gave her the biggest hug ever. 
     When Bill got home, I drove Ginny home. Thank you Ginny I said. For what Mrs. Reed, I didn't do a thing. For just being yourself I told her, you are a very good friend. Oh stop Mrs. Reed, Sally is my best friend and I love her. I know you do I replied. I pulled in front of her house and she got out. It will be okay Mrs. Reed, I promise.
         A few days past and it was Monday of the following week. Sally came walking slowly down the stairs. She was the cutest thing I have ever seen. "Whadda ya think", she blurted out? You look wonderful I said smiling ear to ear. You are gonna knock them all out. I am so proud of you Sal. I gave her a great big hug and then breakfast. I'm not really hungry she said, I am kind of nervous. I understand Sally, but you have to have something in your stomach. Doctors rules. Yea, okay mom, I know. She ate a little bit and off we went. Sally grabbed her knapsack and lunch, and I grabbed my keys and a road cup of coffee.
       Sally said she would ride the bus next week, but this first few days wanted to go in the car. I guess she was still frightened a little inside. We talked as we drove and the closer we got to the school, the more nervous Sally became. A few blocks away, she started to have second thoughts. Her fear and anxiety was taking over. By the last block, she was ducking down in the seat hiding, and then she began begging me to turn around and go home. I pull in front of the schoolyard, and put the car into park.
    Sally was squeezed hard down to the seat in fear, I was staring at the schoolyard in awe. My heart was gripped tight with an overwhelming feeling. I started to cry uncontrollably. My tears were pouring out and falling on Sally. She looked at me and asked what was wrong. All I could do was nod in the direction of the schoolyard. Sally slowly lifted her head up the side door toward the window. When her eyes reached the glass, she was completely silent. The suddenly she burst out in laughter and opened her door and jumped excitedly out. She reached up on her head and grabbed her hat and threw it to me. I don't need this anymore mom. I'll see you later she said as she bolted into the schoolyard and joined her friends. All I could see through my tears, was a schoolyard filled with bald headed kids. Ginny had convinced the entire third, fourth, and fifth grades, to shave their heads, to honor kids with cancer.