12 April 2022
"Good morning" Jayden's mom said while preparing breakfast.
"Did you sleep well? It's almost time for school. Don't forget to invite your friends from school to your birthday ok? Well celebrate it this Saturday so you still have 3 days to invite them."
"I don't have a lot of friends mom and I already invited Simon. He's my best friend so that's good enough for me" he replied.
As a child of a white mother and black father Jayden was having a hard time making friends in his mostly white school. Being shy did not help with making friends either.
"If you don't invite anyone else I'll ask your brother and sister to invite some of their friends! So think about it ok. I need to know who will be coming by tomorrow to complete the reservations."
" You haven't reserved our karting time yet mom? What if they don't have any time slots left for us? I don't want to go laser gaming like last year again!"
"Stop worrying you karting nut I'm sure the will have a spot for us this time. I don't understand why you like karting this much anyway. You and you're dad go there at least twice a week. Also, explain to me what happened last time? Dad looked like he lost his soul and would not speak to me all night!"
"Nothing much he replied. He got a bit closer to my lap record so I went a bit faster too. My fastest time is now a 48.0 while he is still at a 49.8."
"A bit you say? You improved your time by 3 tenths in one go no wonder he's shocked! He was bragging about finally beating you but I guess it's time for him to give up. Anyway hurry up and eat your breakfast you'll be late for school! Lyssa and Damian already left".
Well, they both go to a different school now so that's not strange he thought.
After eating his breakfast he quickly got ready and went off to school. Arriving at school just in time Jayden went into class taking his seat next to Simon.
"Are we still karting for your birthday?" he asked.
"You bet!" Jayden replied. "Mom told me the reservations won't be an issue".
"Great… so who are you inviting?"
"I invited you right. Who else should I invite?" said Jayden.
"You know you're a hard kid to get along with. If you invited some of them you might make more friends" Simon sighed.
"Just ask the teacher to do your invitation. That way you won't have to ask anyone yourself."
"Simon that's not a bad idea! I'll do just have the teacher do it" Jayden replied and promptly went over to the teacher's desk.
"Can I help you Jayden? Class starts in just a minute!"
The teacher, a young man is his 20ties who is liked by everyone seemed to be in an ok mood so Jayden asked him right away. "Teacher could you please ask the class if they would like to join me for my birthday in 3 days? It will be held at the karting track and we will also have dinner there."
"Are you sure you want to invite everyone?" the teacher asked? "You can just invite a few of your friends, right?"
"Mom told me I had to invite more kids. Simon is my only friend and I don't know how to ask the other kids here because I don't speak with them a lot."
"Ok, I will ask them before class ends today. Go back to your seat now please I have to start class." The teacher knew Jayden wasn't very outspoken and a bit shy so he agreed to help him out.
"What did he say?" Simon asked Jayden when he got back to his seat.
"He told me he would ask everyone before class ends so I guess I we just have to wait".
Class went by in a heartbeat and before they knew it the teacher stood up and announced that Jayden was inviting his classmates to join him for his birthday in 3 days.
This was met with a lukewarm response by the class. Jayden was not the most sociable kid in class and the result of this was very visible now.
"What are you doing for your birthday?" a chubby kid in the front of class asked Jayden after turning around.
"Karting!", Jayden responded will trying to make himself look smaller.
He thought the teacher would just tell the class everything they needed to know and he would be able to stay out of the conversation. Sadly for him after he said karting almost the whole class jumped up and bombarded him with questions.
"Karting? Sounds like fun. Will there be dinner too?"
"ahh, my nephew is coming over then. Can I bring him along?"
''I love karting. I'll be sure to beat you hehehehe"
"Isn't karting dangerous? Have you done it before?"
"Do we have to bring presents? I don't know what I should bring"
Jayden was asked so many questions that he no longer knew who to answer first or what he should say. Baffled he looked at the teacher pleading for help. The teacher shrugged and give him an 'I told you so look" and asked the class to quiet down.
After they all got back to their seats he told them to first ask their parents if they were free and to notify Jayden tomorrow. They all nodded and Jayden gave the teacher a grateful glance. After dismissing the class the teacher called Jayden to stay behind for a bit.
"You might want to inform your parents that there is a big chance that the whole class might come. Ask them if this is possible but I remind you that if it's not doable everyone will be very disappointed!"
Jayden thought about it for a bit and then nodded. He would have to convince mom and dad to let everyone come or he would be an even bigger pariah in class than before. While walking out of class the teacher said "one more thing Jayden. Ask your parents if I can come too. I'm quite good at karting, you might even learn a thing or two!"
He grinned after saying that obviously very excited to go karting as well. Jayden left the classroom and found Simon still waiting for him outside.
"I shouldn't have listened to you" Jayden said. Simon shrugged. It wasn't really his problem and replied.
"How could i know karting would be so popular!?"