I was waiting at the front door for my mums’ friend I couldn’t
wait to play with my best friend Harry, her son. He
was my best friend only because I didn’t have many friends, only two,
Harry and my favourite toy lion Brandon.
I’m 14 and I don’t go to school
because of my medical deformity. When I was born wrong, I had a
deformed face. Bits of my face are like someone scrunched it, my
mouth is where the top of my chin should be and my chin is flat like
I don’t have one. I’ve learned to live with it and I know how to read, write,
speak and eat. I heard a knock at the door, and quickly opened it
and greeted Harrys’ parents, and Harry.
We
ran to play games, but we usually end up just talking. Harry always thinks
games are childish because in school in his
year they don’t play trains or cars but I’ve never been to school so I
don’t know what they play. I’ve always known that the things I do, others don’t
usually do.
They don’t have a toy lion as a friend. They don’t play cars and
trains. They don’t eat fairy bread. They don’t colour in. But I’ve always just
done that; I’ve never had enough friends to just ‘hang out’. I always thought I
was cool when Harry came over because I got to be older.
“Hey, Jack, can I have some water?” said Harry. “Umm... sure let
me go get some” I said. I went to walk into the kitchen and I heard
Harry’s mum, Fiona, and my mum talking very seriously, I stood just
around the corner and listened. “It’ll be good for him; he’ll be able to make
friends, get education so you’d don’t have to teach and be in the real world
for a bit.” said Fiona.
“Yeah I suppose, Steve’s been
talking about it but I’m not sure, I don’t think he’s ready” said mum. “Listen,
he’ll have to go sometime, just think about it.” When Harrys mum said that, I
just wanted her to think that I walked in as if I had heard nothing. “Hey, just
came to get some water for Harry and I.” As I was getting the water I felt
there eyes just staring at me from behind.
I walked back to my room and said
“Here Harry, here’s your water” feeling a bit down. “What’s wrong mate, why are
you upset?” “Well when I went to get water I overheard our mums talking about
me going to school.” “WOW, that’s great we’ll get to go to classes together,
hang out and even have the same friends! Why are you so upset?”. “Yeah I know, but my mum doesn’t
think I’m ready, she kept on saying “I’m not sure if he’s ready.” “Oh
well, just wait and maybe she’ll change her mind”, “Yeah I guess” I said
wishing she would just say yes. Harry and his parents left half an hour later
and it was already 10 o’clock.
I was about to go to bed but I just couldn’t
wait. “Mum when do I get to go to school”, “Why you asking, sweetie”, “Well
Harry was telling me about all the fun things he does at school, and I want to
go.” She looked at me and thought for a minute or so and she finally said
“We’ll see, but for now how about a good night’s rest”.“Yeah good night mum”
“Good Night, Jack.” I wish I could have a good night’s rest, but all I could
think about was mum’s words, sounding not sure like it was on replay in my head.
Great story, Hannah. It reminds me of the book 'Wonder'.
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