Page 4 of Leo

“Maybe we rethink the last one,” he smirked. “You will be all those things, little one. I fear that with a knife in your hands, you may become too scary for everyone. Why don’t we start with some self-defense classes? Your father, me, Rory, and the others will teach you.”

“Really?!” she asked excitedly.

“Really. As long as your parents say it’s okay,” he chuckled. She hugged his neck, running toward the cafeteria.

“Did you just promise to teach that little girl how to defend herself?” asked Zulu.

“Yep.”

“She’s scary enough. That kid tried to take down Alec the other day. I’m not sure she needs your help,” he smirked.

“She is the fiercest little girl I have ever met. I saw her grab a water moccasin by the head the other day and release him into the bayou. I had to discuss why she shouldn’t do that with that particular type of snake.”

“Damn. I bet her mama doesn’t know that,” grinned Zulu.

Her ferocity didn’t wane as she grew. In fact, it became stronger and more evident. No one bulled Tillie Sung. No one. She didn’t tolerate name calling, she didn’t tolerate pushing or shoving, and she definitely didn’t tolerate boys being mean to girls or smaller boys.

Of course, most kids wouldn’t have bothered her anyway with her brother-like friends of Mav, Brax, Pax, Saint, CJ, and Garr. A girl couldn’t have asked for a better brother line-up.

But even with them by her side, her classmates knew that you didn’t mess with Tillie. She inherited her mother’s flaming red hair and her father’s almond-shaped eyes that had a peculiar blend of brown and green color. With the combination of her parents’ determination, fearlessness, and bravery, she was turning into a one-man army, always fighting for the underdog.

“Tillie, are you sure you want to go so far away?” asked her mother, wringing her hands.

“Mom, I have my master’s degree in hand. Now, I’d like some real-world experience. I want to help girls and women in the Middle East learn to read and write. I want them to know that they can fight for their rights and obtain them. I want to make a difference in the world.”

“Tillie, I love that you want to help these women. God knows they need a champion. But you’re not going to changethousands of years of belief that women are not worthy of an education overnight.” Her father pulled her in for a hug. “I think you’re biting off more than you can chew, and I say that believing that my daughter can do anything she sets her mind to.”

“I have to try, Dad. We have security with our group, and we’ll be visiting schools that were already established by the American and British military. Hopefully, we won’t experience any issues.”

Tillie’s dreams of a future for the young women were dashed nearly immediately upon her arrival. Only in country nine days and the school was attacked, burned to the ground, and the young girls beaten, raped, and returned to their parents in shame.

Tillie and the others in her group were forced to watch the brutality and then sent home with a message.

“Do not come back here. Do not attempt to bring your ways to our country, or the same fate awaits you.”

As much as she wanted to stay and fight, she knew that her father was right. This was a battle she could not win. Worse, it was a battle that wouldn’t help those poor young girls any longer.

Forced to stay at the base for a few days, Tillie’s first call was to her father.

“It was horrible, Dad. They made us watch as they raped those children, those little girls. Their own families won’t want them now. They’ll be turned away or worse, sold to some man who will abuse them further.”

“I’m sorry, honey. I know how terrible that must have been for you. But they were sending you a message. If you return, they will do the same to you.”

“That’s what the colonel at the base said. We’re on a plane to come home tomorrow.”

That was the original plan anyway. Instead, the agency who sent them, Hope Together, asked if they would detour to Botswana to work with a group of women and children there. Although afraid of what awaited them, the entire group agreed to the detour, hoping for a more positive outcome.

For Tillie, it was the best decision she’d ever made. Almost ten years of teaching young girls to read, write, and how to make a living for themselves and, one day, their families.

“Miss Tillie,” said the little girl running toward her as she clipped the shirt to the clothesline outside her hut.

“Yes, Ngonga.”

“There is a very handsome man here who wishes to speak with you.”

“A handsome man? For me?” The little girl nodded, smiling at her.

Tillie set the clothing basket aside and followed her toward the center of the village. Standing in the big circle were five men, four of whom she recognized immediately and one she didn’t. The children were circling them, smiling up at them, amazed at their size.

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