Monday's Child

About the Book

Ella Walker is the handicapped children’s assistant in the cognitively disabled classroom at Carter Elementary School in Melbourne, Wisconsin.  She witnesses the teacher, Jennifer Reinhart, abuse eight-year-old Bryce Monday.

Ella reports the abuse to the principal, Robert Clayborn, and he agrees to investigate.

Weeks pass and Ella hears nothing from Mr. Clayborn, but because Jennifer has not abused Bryce, Ella assumes everything is okay.

Ella learns from Galen Small, assistant librarian, and Agnes Harris, third grade teacher, that they recently witnessed Jennifer’s abuse of Bryce.  Angered, Ella revisits Mr. Clayborn.

Mr. Clayborn tells Ella he spoke with Jennifer and is confident with her explanation and abuse had not occurred.  Ella is furious and demands that he contact Bryce’s mother.  Mr. Clayborn refuses and tells Ella to drop it because Bryce will be going to a different school in fall.  Mr. Clayborn has reverse discrimination grievances filed against him by Galen Small and Agnes Harris and doesn’t want more trouble.  He warns Ella her job will be in jeopardy if she persists with her allegations.

Ella receives a poor evaluation from Jennifer Reinhart and Mr. Clayborn.  Ella files a grievance with the teacher’s union representative.

Ella Walker, Galen Small and Agnes Harris submit written statements to the representative describing Jennifer’s physical abuse of Bryce Monday.

Jeffrey Garrison, the representative, informs Bryce’s mother, Beverly Monday, of these statements.

Beverly takes the statements to Attorney Inez Connors and charges are filed against the entire school system.

While at Inez’s office, Beverly sees for the first time in eight years, her first love and coincidentally Inez’s law partner, Martin Townsend.

Attorney Douglas Pratt is retained by Melbourne Public School System.  Attorney Pratt assures Mora Abernathy, Director, Special Education Division, that with no medical evidence, abuse will be impossible to prove.  

Mora informs Attorney Pratt that she hired Jennifer Reinhart knowing she was not qualified.

After a six-year absence, Beverly receives a call from Bryce’s alcoholic father, Willie Flinn.  Willie threatens to expose Beverly’s past as a child abuser if she doesn’t agree to split whatever settlement, if any, she receives from the trial.  Beverly refuses.

Martin and Beverly rekindle their relationship.

Attorney Pratt visits Inez in an effort to settle out of court.  Inez refuses.

Mr. Clayborn is afraid of perjury charges and wants no further part in the cover up.  He is compelled to keep quiet because of Mora’s threat to expose their affair.

Inez and her paralegal, Joey Miles, learn that Jennifer Reinhart never received certification or additional formal training required by the State of Wisconsin to teach cognitively disabled children.      

The trial begins and corruption, prejudice, perjury and blackmail are exposed.

Inez’s case against Melbourne Public School System is still difficult to prove because Ella waited months before reporting the abuse.  Mr. Clayborn claims Ella never reported the abuse to him.  Mr. Clayborn and Jennifer claim Ella is only trying to get back at them because of her unfavorable performance review.  Mr. Clayborn also contends that Galen Small and Agnes Harris is retaliating against him because of their grievance filed against him.

Bryce can’t testify because of the severity of his disability.  Bryce was never taken to the doctor and the police were never notified of the abuse.  

Mora claims even though Jennifer never received state certification, her teaching degree qualifies her.  

Inez is obsessed with winning the case because her

husband and daughter were killed by a drunk driver.  She

confesses to Joey that her child was born with

disabilities.  Inez feels obligated to hel

About the Author

Brenda Beamon-Isabell has been writing for the past decade. Her poem, entitled, IMAGINE, was published in the 1997 National Library of Poetry – Days Gone By. Her love for literature grew over the years and in 1997, she began working on her first novel, MONDAY’S CHILD. Brenda writes fiction because, “It’s a temporary escape from the real world.” Brenda states, “I wanted to write about abused handicapped children because I feel many times these children’s capabilities are so limited, their cries may go unheard. After months of research I found there were books about child abuse, but not many that specifically addressed handicapped children.” Brenda is a sponsor for the Christian Children’s Fund and a member of NAFE (National Association of Female Executives). Currently, she is working on her second novel, provisionally titled, WAKE-UP CALL, which promises to be an eye opener.