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Box I - Part I

"Shujaaca! Have you seen it again?" All the other children follow Mutakabir to the table I sit at, their eyes waiting impatiently. I nod. They cheer.
"Did you see how it looked like this time?"
"Did it try and eat you?"
"I'm telling Miss Amik you're lying."
"Aren't you scared?"
They all bombard me with questions and I just sit there very still, not answering any. Bint notices, and hushes everyone. She looks at me with calculating eyes, and asks all their questions, one by one.
"So you saw it, then. Do you see it every night?"
I nod.
"How does it looks like?"
I think for a second, trying to recall the memory. But no. It's still the same. Nothing has changed. "Last time you said that it was a bit tall, like Yahmii, but that it was too dark to see any of its features. Did you see it well this time?"
I shake my head. All the other kids groan. Most them won't admit it, but they think I'm lying. Making things up for attention.
There are those like Bint who, while I'm still not sure where she stands in her beliefs, are still curious enough to ask me questions, but with careful attentiveness. Then there's Yahmii who is one of the oldest in the home, and doesn't believe a word I say, or rather the silent words I make with my gestures. His sister, Haloo, is the complete opposite, believing and latching onto anything I mention about the monster. That's why he hates me. His sister doesn't stop talking about it throughout the day, enthusiastically. But at bed time, there hasn't been a night where she hasn't slept by his side for fear of the monster coming to get her. And then there's Mutakabir, who associates himself to anything and everything to seem relevant and to boost his ever-growing ego.
"Me and Shujaaca are gonna kill the monster guys, don't you worry. It's a difficult man's job, but we're strong. Isn't that right, Shujaaca?" He says proudly, his arm tight around my shoulders. There are pockets of giggles around the room. I'd like him to help. It would certainly make killing the monster much easier. But looking at him, I can see he's only saying this to show off. He's absolutely no help at all. If I had to ask someone for help, perhaps I would go for someone like Bint. Someone smart and quick. But girls aren't allowed in the boys' rooms, and the monster isn't giving me the liberty to chose where our encounters are.
"Sorry," I say, "But I think I'm going to go at it alone." Immediately his arm falls off me. The young ones look at me in awe.
"You're full of crap, Shujaaca. You know that?" Yahmii spits. He walks closer, closing the gap between us.
"Don't say that!" Haloo comes between me and her brother. She's ridiculously small next to him, and he could easily shove her to the side. But just because he could, doesn't mean he would. He looks at her with loving, sympathetic eyes; eyes that are normally cold and ruthless. "Maybe he telling the truth. You don't know if he lying or not." She scolds him. Embarrassed, he mutters, "You don't know that either, Haloo." She takes a step closer to him and hugs his leg.
"I trust him." She says. The room is filled with uneasy silence, until someone yells.
"Miss Amik is coming!" The room which was once filled with easy-going chatter, then silence, is now filled with panic as everyone barges whoever to quickly get to their seat. The Upper Years sit at the far back, Yahmii being one of them. He holds his sister by her waist and sits her down at her seat, then sprints for his own - she might get hurt being pushed around by the others. Middle Years like me, Mutakabir and Bint sit in the middle, and the Lower Years like Haloo are right at the front, in view of the harsh Miss Amik.
Miss Amik is no doubt a good teacher. No one can deny that their grades improved ever since she took our classes for English, maths and science. Miss Daif who was our previous teacher could not control the class. The Upper Years especially took every opportunity to mess with her, with the exception of Yahmii. What kind of example would that be for his sister? Now, Miss Amik stands there, her small, pretty face in an awkward smile.
"Class. Today we have the honour of welcoming a new student into our classroom, and home." She looks to her left towards the door, and beckons a young, tall boy into the room. "Introduce yourself." She instructs when he stands in front of the class.
"My name is Hazaa. I'm 13, and my parents are sole traders." Amik nods approvingly.
"Sit next to Shujaaca. He'll guide you for the first week." She points at the middle row at the empty seat next to me. Hazaa comes towards me. His face is blank; completely unreadable. He has short brown hair and a long face most would consider handsome. Miss Amik, satisfied with her placement, begins her class.
"U.Ys open to page 23 in your English books and finish the exercises. M.Ys finish you handwriting practise by finishing copying the last chapter of Our Last Dream. Lower Years, look at the board. We're going to be learning how to use literary devices now." She turns around to the blackboard, one hand writing the words alliteration, assonance and hyperbole, the other sitting behind her back.
It is quiet.
Everyone gets to work.