LOVE, MILLIE by Michael and Donna Chapman

LOVE, MILLIE by Michael and Donna Chapman

In the land where trees grow tall and children are small lived a tiny girl with a big name. Millicent Elizabeth Spencer.

The girl had trouble making friends at school. School made Millicent unhappy and she cried most every day. She kept her head bent so her dark curly hair hung over her face to hide the tears in her large dark eyes.

One day, Millicent was sent to a different school. Her new teacher, Miss Carolyn, smoothed the curls from Millicent’s tender face. Then she lovingly introduced her to the class.

On that day, Miss Carolyn’s love and warmth pierced through the veil of Millicent’s tears. With her brown eyes shining and no longer hidden behind her curls, Millicent looked up at her new teacher and classmates and said, “My name is Millicent, but you can call me Millie.”

Later when the children went out to play, Millie asked Miss Carolyn if she could hold her hand. Walking hand in hand with her teacher as the autumn leaves swirled about their feet the trees didn’t look so tall and the child didn’t feel so small.

“Look!” cried Millie as she stooped to the ground. “A red heart just for you!”

Miss Carolyn hugged Millie and tucked the precious gift in her dress pocket. “Thank you, Millie. Your joy makes my heart as light and bright as this heart shaped leaf.”

In the course of time, as small children do, Millie grew up and moved away from the tiny town and the school where Miss Carolyn taught. She grew strong and no longer felt small or that the trees were so tall, but she never forgot Miss Carolyn.

Many years later, Millie returned and went to find Miss Carolyn at her old school. The principal was sad to tell Millie that Miss Carolyn was sick and unable to care for herself. Her family had moved her to a nursing facility.

Millie went quickly to visit her teacher.

As Millie came into view, holding a card and wearing a big smile, Miss Carolyn recognized Millie’s long dark curls and shining brown eyes.

Through her veil of tears, Miss Carolyn cried, “Millie, you came to see me!”

Millie bent over her white-haired teacher and slipped the gift in her soft paper-thin skinned hands.

To Miss Carolyn’s delight, a small red heart shaped leaf dropped out from inside the card simply signed To Miss Carolyn, Love Millie.

A more beautiful sight had never been seen by the nursing staff as the young woman with the dark curly hair tenderly brushed the older woman’s snow-white hair from her face.

Millie whispered, “Miss Carolyn, I have moved back to stay, and will visit you every day. I’ve become a teacher just like you. I will always love you.”

Miss Carolyn looked at Millie with tear-stained cheeks and whispered, “I love you too, Millie.”

Michael and Donna Chapman are husband-and-wife writing team who live in Port Royal, South Carolina.

Michael is a native-born son of Lowcountry. Born and raised in Beaufort, Michael is the youngest of four brothers, and is a veteran first responder. He retired December, 2019.

Donna was born at Camp Pendleton, California. She moved with her military family to Parris Island, South Carolina, at the age of 12. She chose a career in early childhood education from which she retired in June, 2019 after 30 years of teaching. They are the parents of two grown sons and have three beautiful granddaughters.

A note from the author: Michael and I want to dedicate Love, Millie to the memory of Pat Conroy. His first love was teaching, and this the 50th anniversary of The Water is Wide.