This is it

chapter 2

When we finally turned up, I breathed a heavy sigh. The lady helped out of the jeep and took my bag which was conveniently packed.  She seemed to know that I was thinking this because she suddenly said,

" We packed it when you were sleeping in the jeep. I even brought this," In her hand she held up a small notebook.

I suddenly snatched it out of her hand and held it close to my heart. " Yes..." I muttered underneath my breath.

Grand-papa had given this to me when I was younger, Grand-papa was so sweet and gentle. Whereas mama and papa were brutal. When I broke a plate, mama would scold me and then beat me hard, but when Grand-papa found me sleeping outside, he would sneak me some food.

And then, when I was given a gold star on my maths test for getting a good mark, Mama and papa said I would get too wise and pulled me out of school. I cried every day so mama and papa would beat me with a stick. Then they hit me hard on the head 10 times, because that is how old I was and then mama said, " Now you don't remember anything."

That day, grand-papa gave me a red notebook, he said that one day he will be gone. And I should never forget all the good things I was taught. So he said for me to learn about life and write down what I had learnt in school, so that I would never forget anything at all.

Tears began to fall down my cheeks and I rubbed them hard. The lady put her arm around me and led me through a space where a lot of girls and boys were. They all looked at me and smiled. Some even waved and I waved back.

They were different form me, the had very short hair and very dark skin. I had long hair in braids with beads hanging off them. Then I also had wooden bracelets on and an orange dress.

" This.. Is my new home forever? With all these girls and boys?" The woman smiled.

" No, you're very lucky Nemdi. We filed a report on you and all the people are looking at your pictures."

I nodded politley and fiddled with my beads until one fell off and rolled onto the floor. A baby picked it up, looked at it with his big, brown eyes. And stuffed it in his mouth.

I wasn't sure how much I liked the school, but things would work at hopefully.