Changing tides

part four

4

I went into school the next day with a large black eye and a smile on my face. Which was soon wiped off by a group of Katie’s friends. They gathered around me like an audience to a street performer and began their rampage of awful words and nasty insults.

“Go back to where your from freak !” one of them cried . “ Leave this country and take your dirty family with you!” shouted an other. I couldn’t believe this was happening! What had I done to deserve this ? Eventually they knocked my bag out of my hands and left but only because the bell had rang. The yard quickly empties and I am left alone. Only the ground were my books lay and yesterdays crisp packets for company. I gathered up my books in panic and ran to class.

“ I will not tolerate lateness” barked my teacher.

“ But sir..”

“ No buts!” the class sniggered “Take your seat Nadia !”

“NADA!” I retorted

“ do not talk back to me ! Get to your seat or this discussion may continue during lunch!” I took my seat and ignored all the sniggering behind me and got out my books.

I walked out of class and saw Katie outside. Waiting for me. I tried to walk past her but she noticed me straight away “Hey Nadia! Where do you think you’re going? Not trying to get away from me are you?”

“yes Katie I thinks she was!” said Abbey with a grin on her face. “ Tut tut ! Now we don’t do that!” and then with an almighty shove she pushed me right against a wall and then blackness.

“Nada, Nada honey are you okay ?” said a fuzzy but familiar voice. “hmmm? What happened? Where am I?”

“Nada its dad are you alright ?”

“ yes, yes I think so. Please where am I ?”

“ the hopital!” said Toma

I laughed at his dodgy way of saying things and gave him a pat on the head. I tried to sit up but the whole room started to spin.

A doctor appeared from what seemed like nowhere and it made me jump. He began to whisper to my father who had a look of relief on his face. He stood up took Toma and Franjo’s hand and lead the rest of my brothers out of the room. Meanwhile the doctor began speaking to me “ Nada you need to tell us the truth. Did someone do this to you on purpose ?” I was just about to nod my head when an image of Katie popped up. She looked angry and I think she was sitting outside the head teachers office. But somehow it didn’t stop me . I wanted this sorted I mean I could always move school it wasn’t like anyone would miss me. “ yes” I said “ I girl in my 2F class, Katie.”

“ And does his Katie have a second name ?”

“ Gillen”

“Thanks for being honest” and with that he left the room. My dad came back in and sat on the edge of my bed not saying a word just looking at me. Sympathetically . The same doctor came in and told us we could leave so I got up. I wobbled slightly but caught my balance before anyone noticed. For the whole car journey I felt sick. I didn’t know if it was my head making me feel sick or the thought of what Katie would do to me when she found out I snitched on her. I tried to put it out of my mind and fell fast asleep. I woke up to one of Toma’s crazy programmes. “bob the builder can he fix it ?” I laughed at the crazy theme tune and my brothers’ crazy dancing.

“are you alright to go back into school for lunch?” asked my father. “I think so” I said

“right get your coat then!” I stood up from the couch and collected my jacket. Although I seemed tough about the whole Katie thing on the outside, I was shaking on the inside.