Only Human: An Addendum to 'The Gatekeeper'

This morning I found a note in my mailbox from Brandi asking me to call her on her cell phone.

I waited until noon—how late do high school students sleep?—and dialed her up. She said she was heading over to school and that she would stop by my room to talk to me.

About fifteen minutes later, Brandi walked through the door. She's an attractive young lady: about 5'8", slender, always dressed in the latest fashions—sure jailbait for some unsuspecting guy in a bar. Once she sat down next to me, however, I saw the facade starting to crack. Her arms were mottled green and purple and she was trying her utmost not to cry in front of me.

When asked why she hadn't come talk to me sooner—this whole mess could have been avoided with some communication—she said through runny mascara that she was embarrassed, that she had to be a certain person for her peers, and she didn't want to let anyone know what was going on.

I soon realized that yesterday's judgment was premature as I had greatly underestimated the problems Brandi had at home. She said she had all of the work done, but her mother has had it in her possession; "Now," she said, "Mom's home and clean, so I can get to my backpack and give you my work."

I found myself telling Brandi that she could bring me the work on Tuesday, and I could grade it while she was still here so she would know her new grade right away.

Through tears she thanked me profusely, told me she loved me, and scurried out of the room.

My first reflection on this is one of self-loathing: I folded faster than superman on laundry day. Over a few tears. I'm the Gatekeeper, and I caved...just like that.

After speaking about this with a beloved colleague, my father, and finally my husband, I know now that if Brandi fails, it will actually be a detriment to the rest of her life. With a high school diploma, she will be able to register for classes at the Community College in the fall; from there she can finish the coursework to become an RN. Without a high school diploma, she will be unable to break free of the abusive lifestyle with which she has had to live for sometime now.

On Tuesday Brandi will bring me her missing work, and she will pass and graduate.


See Dénouement