Maddie's Way to Success

Maddie's Way to Success

Sijithra Sibu

Maddie was a girl who was a geek in every subject. She was a girl who was crazy about Maths. Maddie had the sums right every time she does one even without anyone teaching her. 

Her schoolmates found it very unhappy to have her. So they started calling names like Mathy, Geek–ddie and Math Robo. Maddie always got upset her started to call those names. She got into the habit of crying whenever she got teased.

One day when she was reading a book during the recess at school, some students of lower classes called her ‘MAD MATHS’. The obsessed child burst into tears. Seeing this all the children started laughing at her. 

That evening she went to her parents and said; “Mom, dad! I hate school. I always get teased by everyone. They call me named like Math Robo, Mathy and Geek-ddie”. 

“What’s new in this? You usually get into situations like these almost every single day.” Replied her mother chuckling. 

“But it’s not the problem now. Today some kids of lower classes called me ‘MAD MATHS’.” Screamed Maddie with tears trickling down her cheeks. 

“So what?”asked her father. 

“That means everyone in the school knows all those names my classmates, old and new, calls me. Please change my school!” Begged Maddie. 

“Or else I won’t go to school anymore.” said the fierce girl. 

“Whoa! Calm down sweetie.” said the mother trying to comfort her daughter. 

“But Maddie you can’t change school now. What about next year?” asked her father. 

“Does that mean that I have to tolerate this for the entire year? How can I?" Enquired Maddie with an upset face. 

“Yes darling. You have to. After all it’s just a matter of 2 months. Look here, all you have to do is to avoid them. It’s not that easy. But for a girl like you, it comes easy for you.” Replied her mother hoping that, someday her daughter will become a wonderful personality. 

“Just control your feelings.” added father.

She did it well and finally it was summer vacation. She spent all those days plotting her new character to use when she got to her new school. She got her school changed. She was afraid that she might get teased there too. So she changed her behaviour. She transformed from Miss. Perfect to Miss. Disaster!!!

Finally, she was at her new school. She entered the classroom and she bullied everyone. She did very badly in her academics. She colored her beautiful black hair red here and there. Maddie’s parents were called to the Principal’s room every now and then.

One day she applied some glue on her Maths teacher’s chair, in the staff-room. When he got to his seat after taking class, he sat on it to take some rest. Then when he got up, the chair got up with him. Maddie filmed the entire freak show and posted it in the school’s blog. The furious Principal called her to his office along with her parents. 

“What is wrong with your child? You said she was a well behaved and was good at studies and see what your dear daughter is doing. This cannot be accepted. Here you go.” said the angry Principal giving an envelope.

It was a letter saying that Maddie can no longer continue at that school. When they reached home her parents were very cross at her. 

“Look! You’ve got a certificate! This is for being a very nice girl.” Said mom. 

“Don’t be sarcastic. Just chillax! The world is not gonna end now, is it?” Replied Maddie without bothering much. 

“What’s wrong with you child? Where is the good old Maddie?” Asked dad. 

“What? Good old Maddie…….! She doesn’t exist anymore. She’s dead. If you want her back then…..oh! Wait. You will never get her back.” said Maddie with a crooked smile.

The next day her helpless parents took her to one of her maternal aunts, Ms. Helen. She was a Psychologist. 

“Hello Maddie! You’ve grown up so fast! Do you remember me?” asked Helen. 

“No! Who is this ugly woman mom?” This was Maddie’s response. 

As Mrs. Rooney has already mentioned about her daughter to Helen, she did not seemed to mind it at all.

Helen took her to a room with dark purple walls. This was the room for her patients. 

“Just sit back and relax. Now, whatever I’m gonna do to you is for your own good.” Said Helen. 

“I don’t care.” Said Maddie mocking at Helen. 

She hypnotized Maddie and asked her all about her past and present and got a clear picture of how Maddie changed. Helen thought it was very interesting one. She tucked Maddie in bed and let the room. She approached Mr. and Mrs. Rooney and told about their daughter’s evolution from good to bad. 

“We can fix her with a little counseling.” Said Helen. 

“What about tomorrow?” Asked Mrs. Rooney. 

“Well, it is approved.” Replied Helen.

The next day Maddie was taken to the same room. Helen, after a lot of struggling a lot somehow managed to fix Maddie. 

“Look here Maddie. Now just go back to your old school with a fresh mind. Just spend more time with them. Don’t be a bookworm. I’m sure you will get a good result.” Said Helen. 

“Yes aunt Helen.” This time Maddie replied politely.

She got admission at her old school. All of the children called her all those humiliating names yet, she did not react. They were amazed to see her in a new way. Of course it was not her hair. She washed it. It was her friendliness. She learnt the greatest lesson of her life:  

"WE CANNOT CHANGE THE SOCIETY WE CAN CHANGE OURSELVES."