New School

“Shona, GET UP! I won’t tell you again, you don’t want to be late for your first day of school.”

My day starts with the loud scream of my mum to wake me up. Please, just let me be, it is only school, I think to myself. This is the first day of going to yet another school, this time in the city of Dehradun. It will be my ninth school. I used to get irritated by the constant changing of cities and schools, but I am getting used to it now. The hard part is always leaving behind my friends and when you get the hang of how things work; it is time to move on again. Feeling a little anxious, I drag myself up onto my elbows, look in the mirror, hair everywhere, and smudged racoon eyes. What a sight, enough to scare anybody! Body heavy, I finally get out of bed and put on a brave face to start the day. I wonder what these kids will do to me.

I got into the car with Mum still harassing me. The CD player was blasting with One Direction - my favourite band. I reached the school, but the tall blue-black gates were closed. I got out of the car and stood staring at the gates. They made me feel small and inferior in front of them, as they towered above me. The old grey building reflected that its financial status was tight. The garden was run down to the water fountain base the only thing left standing. Finding the door, I walked the stairs to the office, which seemed endless. I reached the office window “What do you want?” I looked inside only to see a big, fat, deskbound lady typing and eating at the same time with sticky fingers pushing the keys on the keyboard. While drinking her coffee and cake that was half eaten by now. “I am Shona. I’m new.” I was given a look of distain and it was at that point I realized this school was going to be h...

... middle of paper ...

... find me crying on my bed and asked, “What’s the matter?”

I said, “I am alone”.

As my mother heard the story of my school happening, and realized the pain, I was going through.

She said, “It’s alright, there, there, it’s going to be ok, and I’ll sort those girls out”.

I replied, “Thank you mum, you make me feel safe, warm, and happy when I’m with you”.

The next day, school felt like a new start. I decided not to be afraid of anything that comes in my way and be the way I am. During lunch, I came in the cafeteria again after 2weeks since I skipped lunch a lot. I was standing at the entrance of the cafeteria with my food tray and eying an empty spot to sit. As I made my way in the cafeteria, one of the girls from my science waved and called me sit with her. I did not know what made them change their minds about me but I guess I knew my mum’s magic was behind it.