Just Claire by Jean Ann Williams

nothing to change their circumstances. Now, what ClaireLee wanted more was her mother here with them. She folded her hands and said, “Let’s pray for Mama, you guys.”

6
    YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
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    T he next morning , the principal allowed Lolly another day at school. An hour into class time, someone knocked on the door of ClaireLee’s classroom. Liam stepped inside. He said to Mrs. Reed, “I need my sister, ClaireLee.”
    It’s Lolly.
    Motioning ClaireLee over, Mrs. Reed said, “Step outside to talk, Claire.”
    With the door shut behind her, ClaireLee said, “Lolly’s crying, isn’t she?”
    â€œShe won’t stop either.” Liam stuffed hands in his pockets. “Making herself good and sick, too.” He pulled out a hand and waved it frantically. “Mrs. White says she’s disrupting the students.”
    ClaireLee nibbled on her lip. “She needs me.”
    Removing the other hand from his pocket, Liam fluttered it about as he spoke. “Yeah, and she wants Mama and Daddy, too.”
    Thinking, she tapped her shoe on the cement floor of the outdoor hallway. “I’ll see if Mrs. Reed will let Lolly stay with me. If not, I’ll take her back to the cabin.”
    Leaving her brother, ClaireLee prayed the whole way to Mrs. Reed’s desk. Please, Lord, let the teacher say no. I’d rather be at home waiting for Mama. She stood, silent, until Mrs. Reed glimpsed up from her papers. “My little sister Lolly won’t stop crying. Do you think she could come into our class?”
    Mrs. Reed locked eyes with ClaireLee, not saying anything for a moment. “Go get her, Claire.”
    If only the teacher would have said no. ClaireLee bowed her head and went to Liam, unable to muster the courage and leave the school. Surely, Daddy would understand and not be angry with me. Shegrabbed Liam’s arm. “Come on.” But Daddy wouldn’t like it.
    Entering his room, ClaireLee walked toward the sound of Lolly’s sobbing. She had her forehead on her crossed arms, and her shoulders heaved. The teacher, Mrs. White, and Grayson stood next to Lolly. Expressions on the faces of the students were as sad as Lolly sounded.
    Hurrying to Lolly’s side, ClaireLee said, “Baby, I’m here.” Lolly threw herself against ClaireLee, her body trembling. ClaireLee said to Mrs. White, “Mrs. Reed told me I could take her to our classroom.”
    â€œIt would be best.” Mrs. White’s dark-eyed gaze pinned ClaireLee’s. “I did what I could to calm her.” She stroked Lolly’s head. “Poor little thing.”
    Something about the words poor and little and thing didn’t sit well with ClaireLee. Pathetic. Pity. We don’t need it. Her stare stayed glued on the teacher. “Let’s go, Lolly.”
    When ClaireLee led Lolly into her own class, Mrs. Reed helped to settle them at a table in the back of the room. The students’ eyes were on her, and her neck grew warm from the attention. Lolly was hiccupping leftover sobs, and ClaireLee whispered in her ear, “You’re okay, baby. You’re with me now.”
    Lolly scrubbed at her tears and snorted a drawn-out snuffle. I should take her to the cabin. ClaireLee pulled Lolly to her and covered her with firm arms. “Shh, shh, sweetheart.” She kissed her forehead, rocking back and forth, and tried to think of what to say next. I’ll convince Daddy it was the only thing to do.
    Right then, Mrs. Reed rapped a ruler on her desk. “Class, stop what you’re doing.” ClaireLee lifted her chin from where it rested on Lolly’s head. “We’ll practice, once again, the under-your-desk drill, which we did last week.”
    Jiminy Crickets, a drill?
    â€œYou’re to begin on my count of three. One, two, three.”
    Everyone scrambled underneath their desks and tucked their heads. ClaireLee pulled Lolly