The Change
By Iftekhar, Year 8
It’s been like this since primary school. I was like an old broken chair that sat in the corner of the classroom that no one wanted or ever went near, year after year.
“Don’t worry! High school will be different,” my mum always said, and I naively believe her. I knew I didn’t have much longer till I had to go to high school after all, five weeks isn’t a long period. Throughout the holiday my mum kept saying, “In high school you’ll be with kids who have similar taste.”
What if I have to spend my whole life like this! Maybe I should listen to mum and at least try to introduce myself. I hope no one at my new school knows my secret. No one would ever want to hang out or talk to me if they found out. I don’t even know if I would talk to myself.
One positive of the new school is the uniform. My primary school uniform was really rough on my skin. I had to apply moisturising cream everyday at least three times to stop my skin from getting flaky.
How should I introduce myself to everyone? Should I be straight up and tell them my interest or slowly tell the people who I think have similar interests. All this thinking is giving me a headache. Mum told me to “never overthink and try to block out the noises around me so I don’t scare the other children”. I wish I could somehow block out all the noises and things I don’t want to hear. My mum told me I was special and what I was given made me unique and it was more of a gift than a setback. This was one thing that made me want to pursue my endeavours.
“Goodbye Thomas! I hope you have a lovely time and make some new friends,” my mum always knew what to say to make me feel better.
I checked my phone, “Math! What sinister beast would give new students math as their first class at their new school!” I grudgingly walked towards my class thinking of all the things I could have done at home.
Oh well my lego utopia can wait six hours! I hope the bandits don’t cause any raucous while I’m gone. Not to worry, the police officers are now on their ‘A’ game. As soon as I get home I’m going to make sure none of my lego buildings, artworks and video games have been touched. If they have been moved the only culprit could be my younger sister Molly.
The mathematics teacher said something along the lines of, “I’m your mathematics teacher this year.”
Shoot I forgot my teacher’s name. I can’t be forgetting things like this! I should try and use the techniques mum taught me.
My new teacher looked like Miss Honey from ‘Matilda’, she had the circular glasses, sweet face and it seemed joy was tucked away behind her sealed lips.
“Everyone open up your textbooks and head to page one hundred and twenty four.”
Oh shoot I forgot my textbooks! I thought we would be doing something fun on our first day. What should I tell her, I have ruined my chance. Everyone will now think I’m a forgetful klutz. I’m going to have to tell her eventually, I should tell her now or else the consequences might increase.
“Miss I have forgotten my textbook at home as I didn’t think we would be doing work out our textbooks on the first day.”
“Remember to bring your textbook next time. Share with the person next to you.”
“Hi I’m Thomas, pleased to meet you.”
“Hello my name is Adrian, nice to meet you too.”
He seems like quite a friendly person. I wonder if he will be my friend? He ties his shoes the exact same way as I do! I should try to do the math to the best of my ability to show him I didn’t get here by chance. This is the change I have always wanted. Mum always said it would change every month but it never did. Was this the first time it would come true?
