A Place to Call Mine

CONNECTEDNESS AND ISOLATION 2

Riyah was in her favourite class, English.

It was the only class she enjoyed because it was taught by her favourite teacher, Mr. Adam Kenneth, and it was the only time that she got to be herself and she didn’t feel out of place. Mr. Kenneth was the only friendly person in the whole school and always encouraged her to speak up for herself. In addition, he was the only person other than her mum who enjoyed the stories that she wrote. He was also the reason why she had a friend in this cruel place, who additionally made her life here a little more bearable, even if it was for a short time.

It was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays and Riyah was in class. Today in class they were learning about female authors and their work(s).

[“I” is only a convenient term for somebody who has no real being. Lies will flow from my lips, but there may perhaps be some truth mixed up with them; it is for you to seek out this truth and to decide whether any part of it is worth keeping”.]

“Can anyone please explain to me what this section of Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” means; anyone... Isaiah, what about you. What do you think Miss Woolf is trying to say?” Mr. Kenneth asked.

“Well... she is saying that...that she is lying, so we shouldn’t believe her” Isaiah answered, visibly unsure of the accuracy of his answer.

“Not quite, but close. Anyone else” Mr. Kenneth responded. “Yes, Riyah, do you want to give it a try?”

“Virginia Woolf uses the I as a method of shifting responsibility off of herself, just in case anything she says is controversial. She is also making the narrator unimportant, so that the message they put across is easier to comprehend, because the truths she provides about women in fiction, are clearer to see or realise” Riyah answered confidently.

“Very good Riyah, that is exactly it” Mr. Kenneth said applauding Riyah’s contribution to the class discussion.

“Nerd” Isaiah muttered under his breath, which caused everyone else in the class to laugh loudly at Riyah. Riyah, who had been sitting upright, assured in herself, began to shrink down in her seat, as her cheeks reddened from embarrassment.

“Isaiah, pack up your stuff and get out of my class” Mr. Kenneth stated angrily as he slammed his book down on his desk.

“What...are you serious...no, I didn’t do anything wrong Mr. K” Isaiah replied shocked at Mr. Kenneth’s reaction to his seemingly harmless clownery.

“Yes, you did. You are mocking another student who was able to provide an answer to a question that you were clueless about. Now take all your things and get out of my classroom” Mr. Kenneth demanded.

“You can't do this, it’s not fair” Isaiah whined.

“Well, actually I can because this is what happens when you interrupt a lesson with your foolishness, you get punished...” Mr. Kenneth replied.

“But I never get punished. Everyone knows that” Isaiah asserted in a whiny voice.

“Isaiah that may be unfortunately true, and although you may be king on the rugby pitch, in this classroom, I am make the rules, now get out of my class” Mr. Kenneth responded as his voice grew more irritated with every word that came out of Isaiah’s mouth.

Mr. Kenneth walked up to Isaiah’s seat and packed up his stuff, before opening the classroom door and tossing his bag outside. He then signaled Isaiah to leave immediately.

“This is all your fault Thompson” Isaiah said, glaring at Riyah as he walked towards the door and out of the classroom.

“Isaiah, please do not blame other people for your incompetence and goodbye” Mr. Kenneth said before slamming the door in Isaiah's face, and without addressing what had just happened, he carried on with the class as normal.

After the class had ended, Mr. Kenneth asked Riyah to stay back for a little while, so that they could have a chat. He started off the conversation with a brief but sincere apology and then explained why he had asked her to stay back for a moment.

“We have a new student joining the school in January, and their first lesson will be our Monday English class” Mr. Kenneth began.

“Okay, so...” Riyah said with uncertainty.

“And I was wondering if you would be okay with them sitting next to you in class...”

“Yeah, that’s no problem Mr. Kenneth. Is that all” Riyah asked.

“Well, not quite” Mr. Kenneth replied as he adjusted his glasses. “I was also wondering if it would be possible for you to show them around, and possibly... be a buddy to them” he continued.

“No, absolutely not” Riyah exclaimed. Riyah refused because she knew what happened to new students; They were picked off as soon as they set foot on the school grounds. “I can’t” Riyah continued.

“You can and you will, because I already agreed on your behalf” Mr. Kenneth replied.

“Mr. Kenneth” Riyah yelled, annoyed. “Why would you do that, you know what happens to the new kid(s) here, and plus everyone already hates me. Why put a bigger target on my back or on the new student’s back?” Riyah whined.

“Riyah, you are an excellent student and an even better person. I believe you will be the change this school needs” Mr. Kenneth said reassuringly as he pat Riyah’s shoulder.

“Okay, fine” Riyah replied as she turned to open the classroom door, ready to leave and go home.

“Oh, and Riyah... don’t worry about Isaiah. Making fun of others is the only way his brain knows how to express the feeling of discomfort about not being the best. Okay?” Mr. Kenneth added as she began walking out the door.

“I know, don’t worry Mr. Kenneth. He won’t stop me from being the best student in this class” Riyah replied smiling, and then she turned around and left the school.

The holidays had ended, and Monday had come. It was the day that the new student was arriving at the school, and Riyah would have to show them around. Riyah began getting ready for another depressing day at school, but when she opened her curtains, there was something strange outside. The sky was blue and clear, not a single cloud in sight, and the sun was shining, its warmth seeping through her window. It was really weird, suspicious even. Why was the weather good, especially in early January?

As her mum and her drove to her school, the sunlight passed through the ancient branches of the trees that lined the road. Riyah never really noticed the trees before because they were always so gloomy and bare, but now, they appeared beautiful and golden. Looking out her window, Riyah wasn't sure if what she was seeing was real or a mirage. She didn't trust this sudden new change, and she wouldn't let it fool her. She knew the truth about this town. It was a grey and damp place. It didn't have bright skies and golden sunlight. It was a town engulfed by terror and produced a chill that permeated the body and froze your bones, until frost consumed your soul and your will to live; And she wanted to live.

Once Riyah had escaped her hypnosis, she noticed a boy on his motorcycle. It looked new and was a glowing red, and was actually quite flashy. That would get him into trouble. He didn't look like he belonged in a town like this, he was too noticeable, that was bad. It was like he wanted trouble to find him. Most people in this town faded into the background, but not him. They both stopped at a pedestrian crossing. He looked back and their eyes met, causing Riyah to look down quickly. But, as she raised her head up, he was still looking at her, and then he turned away smiling and rode off.

Riyah had no idea what just happened or what was to come next, but it would be a very interesting day.