Back to school

Chapter 2

Calm down. Calm down.

Alexander was on the metro. After having spent one hour and a half frantically walking around his flat, he had finally gained the courage to step into the outside world.

His hands were shaking uncontrollably. His face kept twitching. He was beginning to have trouble focusing his gaze on anything. How on earth was he going to be able to talk to anybody at the new school?

"Monsieur?"

Five seconds went by before Alexander realised that somebody was trying to talk to him. He looked up.

It was a little boy, no more than eleven years old, addressing him in French. After a minute, the boy came to the conclusion that Alexander had no notion of the French language. He closed his eyes, sighed and took a deep breath.

"Sir, are you okay? You don't look very well."

While there was still a look of concern in his sapphire blue eyes, the boy looked proud of himself for having been able to ask a question in a foreign language. Alexander could not help
but smile. Children were the same everywhere.

"I'm fine," Alexander answered. "Thank you for asking."

"You're welcome."

A few minutes went by before the boy spoke again.

"Are you from England?"

"Yes, London."

"Is that why you're not feeling well? You miss your country?"

"Well, not exactly. I'm a teacher and I'm starting at a new school today."

"Me too! I am starting at a new school!"

The boy beamed. Alexander's smile grew slightly wider.

"It's nice to see another new kid in town," Alexander said gently.

"Yes, it's very nice. I'm from Montpellier. I am in Paris because of my parents' work. I was sad to leave my friends but now I really love Paris. It's such a big city!"

Alexander envied the boy's enthusiasm. If only he could have the same approach to life.

"This is my stop!"

The boy leaped to his feet as the train slowed down. Alexander did the same; it was his stop too.

The boy looked at him with surprise and a little amusement.

"Maybe we were talking about the same school!"

He was right.