15th September 2001
Amani held my hands throughout the assembly session on her first day in school.
"Why is your hair not plaited?" One of the new prefects in primary 6, appointed that very morning asked her "She's a new student! Leave her alone" I snapped. The senior girl eyed me and left.
Parents listen to your children
We're the leaders of tomorrow
Try and pay our school fees
And give us sound education.
We sang and matched to our new classes. I was taken to primary 2C, Amani 2A and Ramadan 2B. But she started crying before break time saying she wants to go to my class. It was difficult looking for me because she kept chanting Manal and I was known in school as Khadijah. Finally, they came to my class and she ran to my seat pushing my seat me away to sit between us.
"Gana
