I first saw Ellen on the playground of the two room school house that we
attended, in 1954. Ellen was laying on the ground, writhing and jerking. It was
terrifying to this little eight year old girl, but I was more horrified by the
chanting crowd of children who surrounded Ellen.
“Witch…witch…witch…witch….” I’ll never forget it.
“She’s having a fit!!” Someone shrieked.
“She’s possessed by the devil!” Someone else hollered.
Ms. Allen, our second grade teacher, streaked toward the mob from across the
playground. When Ms. Allen arrived, I was already on the ground hovering over
Ellen and screaming at the kids to leave her alone. Ms. Allen dismissed Ellen’s
tormentors with a withering look. By this time, Ellen had stopped her jerking,
and she was in a deep sleep.
Ms. Allen scooped her up, and she carried her into the school and down the hall,
where she laid Ellen upon a small cot. Ms. Allen, tenderly brushed Ellen’s hair
back, and she asked me to stay with her until she woke up. That was when Ms.
Allen explained to me about Ellen’s epilepsy, and that she had just suffered a
“grand mal” seizure.
“When Ellen wakes up, don’t upset her,” Ms. Allen admonished. Then she left the
little room, and I sat with Ellen, who soon awakened.
“I had a seizure, didn’t I,” She stated, with a smile. I nodded, as I took her
hand.
“Did the kids all gather ‘round, again?” She asked. Trying not to upset her, I
could think of nothing to say except the truth.
“Yes.” I said.
“They think I’m demon possessed, you know,” Ellen stated, simply. I nodded
again, not fully understanding the cruelty I had witnessed.
Soon Ellen’s mother came for her and took her home. I then followed Ms. Allen
down the hall to our classroom, where all the children sat with there heads down
on their desks. Ms. Allen told them to sit up straight, and she laced into them,
immediately. She must have talked for over an hour, explaining about epilepsy
and superstition to a bunch of ignorant kids who had been programmed their
entire lives.
From that moment both Ellen and I were ostracized, but I didn’t care, because I
felt called to protect Ellen, and she became my first real friend. Ellen and I
were total opposites. She was gentle. I was willing to initiate a fight at the
first sign of trouble. She was a “lady.” I was an original “tom-boy.” She
forgave all her tormentors. I was hunting them down, just aching for an
opportunity. To me, Ellen was an angel of grace, and I became her guardian
angel. And guard her I did, from the other kids.
I hated Ellen’s disease, because I saw how vulnerable it made her to a bunch of
cruel and ignorant school yard bullies. What really upset me the most was
knowing that the other children’s words and actions were a reflection of the
ignorance of their parents.
Protecting Ellen, in the face of bigotry changed the course of my life. I had
once been cruel and ignorant, just like the other kids, picking on others less
able to defend themselves. I began to hate my own cruelty, and in time I
rejected it entirely. Although I could not control the thoughts and actions of
others, I could change myself. I began to choke the monster within myself, until
it finally died.
Ellen and her parents moved that same year, and so did we. I’ve never seen nor
heard from her in fifty years, but still she remains one of the most important
persons in my life. Befriending Ellen taught me that I didn’t need to be a part
of a crowd or a mob. Life has been lonely at times, but at the end of the day,
when I take that last look at my face in the mirror, I know that I can live with
the person who is looking back at me. And most of all, I can believe that I have
the strength to stand alone, in kindness.
Jaye Lewis jlewis@smyth.net
Jaye Lewis is a born again Christian and award winning writer, who lives and
writes in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, USA. Jaye is completing her
first book, entitled Entertaining Angels. Jaye says: "Entertaining Angels
celebrates the spiritual and even the miraculous events in my life, and the
angels who have blessed me along the way."
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.