«Loneliness usually scares most people, but to me it brought a strange curiosity. I thought being alone couldn't be so bad, that maybe it was my chance to be self-sufficient. What I wouldn't expect was that, in the darkest moment, a new presence would appear to show me that friendship can also spring up where you least expect it».
MONDAY
YO: Oh no! I'm already late.
XIOMARA: I'll walk with you, I'm late too.
YO: I didn't see you, when did you get here?
XIOMARA: Just a little bit ago.
YO: Well, we made it to the classroom.
(A kid approaches us)
KID: Hello... Good morning.
US: Good morning!
KID: Um... A question...
YO: Yeah.
KID: Um, do you know where Room A is?
XIOMARA: Yeah, we're heading there. Come with us.
YO: Yep, come on. It's that green door over there.
KID: Yeah, thank you so much.
WE ENTER
US: (Knock, knock, knock).
MISS (opens the door): Yes, who is it?... Oh, it's you guys. Come in and take a seat.
US: Excuse us.
MISS: Very well, children, we are going to start the class, but not before introducing your new classmate... Step up front and introduce yourself.
KID: Good morning... Ah.
MISS: Come on, say your name and age.
KID: My name is... CAIRO. I'm 5 years old and about to turn 6, I hope we all get along.
(After introducing himself, the teacher left and brought an extra table for him, since there were no more in the classroom).
MISS: Cairo, where would you like to sit?
(The teacher asked because some kids used to have bad eyesight).
CAIRO: Um... Teacher, I'd like to sit in the back with those two.
(They look at us)
YO: Seriously, there was a HUGE TURD in your cat's sandbox?... Hahaha.
XIOMARA: Yeah... I'm starting to suspect my cat didn't do that (serious voice).
MISS: Children, don't say those things here.
XIOMARA: Sorry, teacher.
XIOMARA: Next time I'll say it softly (whisper).
MISS: Did you say something?
XIOMARA: No, teacher.
YO: Haha, priceless.
MISS: Are you sure you want to sit with them and not in the front row?
CAIRO: Yes, teacher, besides, I have good eyesight.
MISS: Alright then, I'll place your table over there.
CAIRO: Thank you, teacher.
(After that, he sat in front of us and well...)
YO (THINKING): Cairo, Cairo, Dairo, Dairon... They sound almost the same and his first last name is the same as Dairon's. Could they be related?
XIOMARA: Wow, your name sounds like Dairon's, I think... That's his name, right, Ángelo?
CAIRO: Dairon? (slight concern).
YO: Yep.
YO (THINKING): That expression was barely noticeable. Does he know him?
YO: What, do you know him?... He's in the second row up front.
CAIRO: No (turns around).
YO: And you arrived late today, right? Because you got here at the same time as us.
CAIRO: No, actually I arrived early, but...
FLASHBACK / MEMORY:
CAIRO: Ah, my mom dropped me off, but where is my classroom?... Oh no, the school is huge.
(Looks around)
CAIRO: Ah, it has 2 floors, I just noticed. Plus there are several classrooms to the left, right, and center, and all of them have 2 floors... Oh no, what do I do now?
(After a few minutes)
CAIRO: Oh, right, I'll talk to those kids.
CAIRO: Hello, good morning, excuse me...
GIRL: Ah, who are you?... I'm outta here! (runs away).
CAIRO: What happened to her? Why did she run? How weird.
CAIRO: Ah, where could Room A be?... I'm too shy to ask a teacher.
(After more attempts I was about to give up, then I saw you guys come in and asked you).
XIOMARA: Ah, no wonder you were a bit shy... But why were they running away from you?
YO: Yeah, why?
CAIRO: Ah, I didn't show you, I actually just noticed today too, look (lifts part of his hair).
YO: Oh... Wow... How did you get that big scar?
CAIRO (covers it): Yeah, I know, it's a bit gross.
XIOMARA: No, not at all, it's just that we've never seen something like that before. But how did you get it?
CAIRO: Well...
FLASHBACK / MEMORY:
HIS MOTHER: Cairo, I'm going out for a moment.
CAIRO: Okay, mom.
(Minutes later)
CAIRO: I think mom left cookies on the shelf.
CAIRO: Oh, it's really high up, I'll bring a chair.
CAIRO: Ah, almost there... If I stand on tiptoes I'll reach it.
CAIRO: Ahh, I got it!
(The chair leg breaks)
CAIRO: Ahh, ahhhhh, I'm falling!
(Hits a pot of boiling water)
CAIRO: Ahhh, it burns, mommy, ahhh!
HIS MOTHER: I'm back... Cairo, what happened to you?
CAIRO: Mom, it hurts a lot.
HIS MOTHER: Calm down, you'll be fine.
CAIRO: After that they took me to the hospital.
YO: OH!
XIOMARA: Sorry for asking, it must have been tough.
CAIRO: That's in the past now, besides, only a little bit hit my forehead and I protected myself with my hands. In fact, look.
US: Ah, that must have been painful.
CAIRO: It was. Ever since then I don't go near the kitchen.
YO: Cairo, why did you transfer to this school... since you weren't here before?
XIOMARA: Yeah, what was the reason?
CAIRO: Well, the reality is a bit complicated, but what happened was that at my other school nobody wanted to be my friend because of the scar on my forehead. Some kids used to bully me and I felt bad, so I asked my mom for help, she let me grow my hair out and transferred me.
XIOMARA: Oh wow, I wouldn't have imagined... But would you like to be friends with us?
CAIRO: Really? (cheerful voice).
XIOMARA: Yes.
YO: The more, the merrier... It'll be fun.
(And so the days passed. We ate together, played together, and did homework together —of course, when we forgot to do it the day before—, and we started making more friends from other classrooms. The days flew by until I realized a month had passed... A month without talking to my former friends. Of course, they didn't approach me either, but I still had a small glimmer of hope that we would talk again and go back to how things used to be. To me, the more people, the better... More fun. But one day something unexpected would happen to me and my two friends).
MISS: Very well, children, today we are going to do something new: everyone will form groups for an activity. Today's activity will consist of a game of Tutti Frutti. The game works like this: I will give you a letter and you will write down different items; for example, with the letter R: an animal, first name, last name, fruit, and country with that letter. For this, you will form five groups of 4; among those four you will help each other to win, and the winner will take home a special prize.
YO (THINKING): Four people... There are 3 of us... What are we going to do?
XIOMARA: What now?
CAIRO: What do we do?
YO: Alright, whoever is left without a team at the end, we'll bring that person into ours.
XIOMARA AND CAIRO: Okay.
NEXT CHAP: GROUP GAME AND RETURNS