FOREIGN TEENAGER

Monotia

'Bienvenue en France' a huge sign read. I was so excited to experience the new French life. After leaving the airport, my mum hailed a cab for us. We were driven from the airport all the way to Toulouse where my stepfather lived. It was very exciting.

Mom rang the door bell and Alain opened. He was so excited to see us here. He gave my mum a big hug and a peck on the cheek. He was 1.9 metres tall with snow white skin, short chestnut brown straight back hair and sky blue eyes. He seemed ecstatic to see us all. He gave me a big hug and attempted to give Rich one, too but he refused. Alain ignored that and quickly invited us in. Rich seemed reluctant but mum convinced him. The place was big & comfy. At that moment, Louis walked in. He was 17 years old and 1.7metres tall, with white skin and short but straight back black hair. He had dark blue eyes. Below his chin a young moustache. His eyes now glistened with happiness. He and Rich had gotten on so well back in Pretoria during the wedding's preparation so they carried on. Louis first greeted I and mum and then led Rich up to his room. They both had a lot to catch up on in the one month they were apart.

I was a bit sad that Alain didn't have a daughter. I'd always wanted a sister to chat along with but hey at least I had my mum. Mum and Alain started chatting. She narrated the whole flight and they caught up on the on the one month apart. Their conversation was so boring that I slept. I was woken up by my mum's voice. "Sofie! Sofie! It's dinner time". I opened my eyes and went to the bathroom to rinse my face with water before I took my place at the dinner table.

I was sitted on the right of the table opposite to mum and Alain was sitted beside me and opposite to Rich who was sitted next to Louis. Over dinner, Alain told us that I and Rich would be starting college in a week. Turns out he'd immediately started working on our applications the moment mum had told him our documents were ready. "College?" I asked. "But I'm only twelve". Alain gave me a confused look, then he giggled and said, "oh yes, I forgot to tell you. In France school ends at age 10 and then starts college from 11 to 15 years." That sounded interesting and I couldn't wait to get there. "Louis, have you packed your bags?" asked Alain. Louis confirmed he had.

Yep, turn out Louis goes to a private college in Paris. Back in Pretoria, during the wedding preparation, I overheard him confess to Rich that he only did this because he was lonely in Toulouse as Alain worked a lot and when he got home, was too tired to have a proper conversation with him. This left Louis lonely and he wanted to spend more time with friends so when he turned 15 and left Toulouse Private College for his secondary college, he chose one in Paris so he'd be with his friends. But now, he seemed pretty reluctant to go back, I knew he wanted to be with Rich. And honestly, it made me happy seeing the 2 of them happy together especially Rich.

The following week was tedious. I couldn't wait to get to college, Toulouse Private College. But soon the big day came...