Dale Walker: A Short Story

Dale Walker was a blessed man, he had a wife that adored him, a community that admired him and children that loved him. Dale had recently started his dream job of teaching math and science in the local elementary school. He was having the time of his life, but this was about to end. What he was about to experience would change his life forever. Dale was about to see how injustice can ruin an individual and hurt a family.
It all started one day while he was dismissing his third-grade math class. After everyone had left, Dale was about to leave when he heard a small whimper. Searching the room he noticed a little girl, head resting on her desk, sobbing. “That’s Grace Ashburn” Dale thought to himself, “I can’t imagine what’s wrong with her, she’s a great kid”. On that note he gathered his things together and left.
A week later Dale was walking through the cafeteria when he happened to glance out the window. There siting on the school steps was Grace all by herself. Dale was doubting weather he should go see if something was wrong but shrugged of the thought. “She’s ok, kids do that all the time,” he thought to himself. Many times throughout that semester Dale had similar encounters
The headlines read, “Mayor Ashburn under investigation for child Abuse”. The article went on to say, “Mayor Ashburn was arrested by police, Tuesday and is being charged with child abuse. Sheriff Shaman in a press meeting earlier today reported that the victim of abuse was Ashburn’s own daughter, Grace Ashburn.” That last sentence hit Dale right in the heart. Nothing could have cut deeper, just the thought of the little delicate Gracie being hurt was almost to much to bare. “Why, Why, Why,” Dale shouted. “Why didn’t I help her, I knew something was wrong. Now I’ll probably never see her