As I was making my way back home, I didn't notice that my shoelaces were untied. I didn't care either. I tripped and fell. Just then, someone helped me up and asked, "Are wewe all right?" I said, "Yeah. Why do wewe care?" He said, "I was just making sure wewe weren't hurt. That's all." I said, "Sure. You'll act like wewe care, and then, you'll go waltzing to Louise just like everybody else!" He said, "I'm sorry. Who's Louise?" I looked at him, and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize wewe were new here." He said, "There's no hard feelings." He spoke in an English accent. He appeared to be about twelve years old. He had long, brown hair that whipped in the wind. His eyes appeared to be changing color. They kept changing from green to light brown and back again. He appeared to be concerned about me. I said, "I guess I'll be going." He noticed the blood stain appearing on my pants leg. He said, "You're hurt." I said, "I'll be fine." He said, "But you're bleeding." He urged me to follow him to his house. He asked, "What's your name?" I said, "My name's Quinn. What's yours?" He said, "Gavin." I asked, "What part of England are wewe from?" He said, "I lived in the English countryside for most of my life, but I was born in Liverpool." I said, "Cool!" His parents were so nice. His mother even helped me wash my wounds. She asked, "Are wewe hungry, Quinn?" I said, "Yes, I am. I haven't eaten since breakfast." Gavin's father looked at me curiously. "What about lunch?" I said, "Some bullies took my lunch money from me. They threatened to beat me if I didn't hand it over." Gavin said, "That's awful." I said, "I know. If that isn't bad enough, my sister beats me when my parents aren't around." He was deeply touched. After dinner, he asked, "Would wewe like me to walk wewe home?" I said, "No. I know what I'll be coming nyumbani to, because my parents are gone for the night." His mother said, "All right. wewe can stay." I soon fell asleep on the couch. They covered me with a blanket so that I could stay warm. I could hear Gavin saying, "She seems sad, like she needs a friend." His mother said, "I think wewe could be that friend."
When I had entered the fifth grade, I was dreading it. I had heard rumors that the teacher was really mean. When I met her before school started, she seemed really nice. On the first siku of school, I was wearing one of my Beatles t-shirts. She noticed it, and she said, "Darling, I upendo wewe already!" I said, "Okay, then." She would take up for me all the time. The other kids often called me glasses. She heard them and said, "She has a name, guys. Her name is not glasses. It's Winter." There was one siku when another girl kept picking on me. I finally had enough and said, "I might look sweet and innocent, but that shit is for suckers, and I'm no lollipop." I looked at the teacher. She winked and said, "I heard nothing." I would have had her for the sixth grade, too, but unfortunately, I moved to Tennessee as soon as the school mwaka was over. We both cried. We promised to keep in touch with each other, and we've kept in touch to this day.
September 8, 2011
I am feeling much better today. I don't feel great, but I feel much better than I did a few days ago. I was able to go to school today. Michael, Sabrina, and Bridget helped me get caught up in my classes. I'm lucky to have such good friends. Of course, I did feel a bit tired after finishing my homework. I took a nap for a while. When I woke up, it was almost 6:00 pm. I didn't realize I had slept that long. When chajio, chakula cha jioni time came, I ate really well. I didn't feel like eating much for the past couple of days. My appetite has returned. I think I will go to kitanda early tonight. I'm feeling pretty tired right now. I'm not completely better, but I'm close to it.
I am feeling much better today. I don't feel great, but I feel much better than I did a few days ago. I was able to go to school today. Michael, Sabrina, and Bridget helped me get caught up in my classes. I'm lucky to have such good friends. Of course, I did feel a bit tired after finishing my homework. I took a nap for a while. When I woke up, it was almost 6:00 pm. I didn't realize I had slept that long. When chajio, chakula cha jioni time came, I ate really well. I didn't feel like eating much for the past couple of days. My appetite has returned. I think I will go to kitanda early tonight. I'm feeling pretty tired right now. I'm not completely better, but I'm close to it.