“Just leave me alone, Mrs. Adler,” I said. “I don’t want your help.” I swallowed a sob and walked out

When I spotted her, I knew I needed to do something. I realized at once what she was trying to hide. I couldn’t let this happen.

She is still young, innocent, and hopeful. School might be a cocoon for her, where she is safe and happy and accommodated; but the minute she goes out into the world she’ll be completely lost, and who knows what will happen to her? I cannot let that happen; I have to help her in every way I can.

Shulamis must read. I will make sure of that. She has to be successful.

The next day I came to school with a pit in my stomach. It turned out I had every reason to be nervous.

Mrs. Adler launched her battle during the very first lesson of the day; she called on me to read. I obviously refused. I sat there, silent, slowly turning bright red, my lips sealed, looking at my shoes. The whole class was staring.

Chaya, my seat mate, tried to save the day and started to read, but Mrs. Adler held a hand up.

“Is your name Shulamis?” she asked coldly. Chaya’s voice faded away, and her face turned its own, gentle shade of pink. I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

Somehow, the lesson continued, but from that day onward, things went in a sharp downward spiral. Every day, every lesson, turned into a bloody battlefield.

She tried to make me read in every way she could. I kept my lips shut. She gave my parents phone numbers of specialists to call. I refused to go. Mrs. Adler became my nightmare. I used to wake up at night, with visions of her dancing in front of me waving a gigantic book, saying that I will not be allowed out of class until I read the whole book. The first time I dreamed that dream I was just laughing hysterically for the rest of the night, but the next day I faked stomach pain and didn’t go to school. I knew running away was not the answer, but I just had to avoid that teacher.

I should have known better. The day after that, when I did go to school, Mrs. Adler called me over.