Chapter 5 Unrecognisable

I watched it happened and flaunt as if nobody else breathes except her until it was time for me to start school and do my first grade. It almost cost me when she pledged an application at the last minute and bought everything late to prepare. I remember when she first dropped me on my first day at school, a few minutes away from home. She parked her car closer by the gate to make sure I was very safe but not the opposite. Lovely full bricks of the buildings, tight security I could sight by the strict green expensive fences was restricted. Grace Ambassador Primary school, mom's final decision.

I stared through the window glass, noting how the sun blazed inside on the green grass, so peaceful with harmony like a fairytale trying to make a conversation with a human. Witnessing kids playing indoors with such bliss and joy while the sun shined brighter till the end. For the first time, I thought I have finally seen normal, but it never moved me to cheer, I do not know why, but it never did. I am still watching as she touched my shoulder, slightly sinking her fingers on my sleeve, fixing my blazer. I turned my head to her to look at her as she just pulled that groomed smile and said:

"I know you will love it here. Just don't overthink, okay?"

I went out of the car, and we said our goodbyes, but I am left with my instincts calling, I do not know anyone, I don't know the country.

I walked through the gate, and I had a feeling everyone was staring at me, but no, it was just my nerves playing me. The bell rang, and every child left the field, and we all walked to our classes. There was a young lady who waited to direct us at the corner of the passage to our classes.

I got humored by the garden that curved around the corner before the doors of the classes were viewed lining up. The second class at the first row was pointed to be mine. I entered just when everyone had hardly settled, others formed into a small group of circles moping with whoever they knew. Others still finding their seats or waving at someone they already knew, if you did not have any, it was uncomfortable for everyone to notice. I looked at the desks and chose to sit in the front row, eased my bag, and sat quietly at this brown wooden desk that was a solo student seat.

There was this girl, which was next to my desk that I could not help but notice that she was staring at me ever since I walked in. I looked at the other right side on my desk and caught her, still staring. She did not even pretend not to. Instead, she freely continued to stare.

Her wide eyes blinked flawlessly with her rounded brown skin face, her black tied hair that had beads around the knot of her ponytail, and the dimple creased in her face as she smiled "Hi, I like your blonde hair." She said. I situated myself in a chair, found it creepy the way she stared with her wide eyes. I was silenced, touching my pencil while the potion of my blonde hair blown apart by the wind sneaking from an open window right opposite my desk. I stole a gaze at her again, remembering what she just said, she had finally looked away. The door chuckled as the Teacher came in, and everybody immediately settled down.

She confidently walked in looking occasionally dressed and seemingly strict and narrow, placed her crocodile navy bag on a table, and introduced herself as Mrs. Fischer. She taught us how to open our desks to keep our books and showed us the locks. She then spoke shortly about the class rules and the school rules until she announced before we could start class, she would like for us to introduce ourselves. She right away called out the boy at the front desk. "And it will go on from there on just like our desks are organized," she declared.

I pinched the cover of my exercise book, lowering my eyeballs as my beady eyes wondered in one place pondering. I still do not remember the names that were called out.

"Somebody is daydreaming, I just pointed to your desk, Sir." She mimicked.

I lifted my eyes, looking at her. "Yes, you, what is your name?"

"Thomas," I uttered. She smiled warmly and told me to please introduce myself to the class. I first stalled glared at my desk, and eventually stood up, surveyed everyone around while I kept lowering my eyes.

"My name is Thomas Cooper, and I'm seven years old." I then muted after. The class chuckled, and I lowered my eyes, touching my book again. "Class Quiet!" The Teacher uttered. "We don't laugh at others, that is another rule of this class, it's rude."