Episode Forty three
The new kid
Three weeks later.
The students are back to school, they all assemble to hear the principal as it is the custom of first days.
Principal: Good morning highschoolers.
Students: Good morning sir
Principal: You are all welcome today, hope you are excited for this term as it is the promotion term.
I am equally excited but for a different reason.
Royal high is up as the top school in NYC.
(The students clap)
All owing to your performances of winning the sports competition against St Louis.
To Antoine, the first French student.
And to our new student, a Nigerian.
(The students clap in surprise)
Isn't it wonderful? Another foreign student!
But this time, the foreign student came in through a scholarship.
He is a Wiz at everything! Passed with flying colors!
Do you want to see him?
(The students shout in approval)
Brown, can you get up here?
(A handsome dark skinned boy climbs the podium, everyone stares)
You can introduce yourself boy, tell us where you came from and why
These students haven't been in touch with Africans before.
(The students murmur, An African?)
Brown: Hi everyone.
My name is Brown Adeyemi. Just call me brown, my surname will be difficult for you to pronounce.
I am a Nigerian and yes, Nigeria is Africa.
I came here to New York city to school in Royal high and to get closer to my dreams.
I hope I meet my dreams and I hope I make friends along the way.
(The students clap)
Principal: You all seem excited!
But he is joining grade 10, he is all theirs.
Why don't you go join the boys line, Brown.
(Brown goes down)
Now, I want you all to receive him with open hearts, don't swallow him up or try to keep him for yourself. He is everyone's friend.
And don't disturb him to tell you things about Africa.
Understood?
Students: Yes sir
Principal: Good.
Grade 10, hope you are ready for this term as it is your last term in Royal high.
Don't fail your exams and assessment if you want to go to college or pursue an ambition.
Grade 11, my scientists, you too.
But in the preparation and study, put your prom party at the back of your mind. If you want to be the king or Queen, don't forget what you are to do.
Have a nice day and enjoy the term.
Disperse
(The students all go to their classes)
In the class
The class is quietly staring at Brown.
Becca: He is Nigerian, just like Dad.
Do you think he will know Dad?
Lucy: Girl, Africa is a very big continent and if Nigeria is in it, it should be very big too.
I'm not sure he's going to know your Dad.
Besides, your dad's name is Steve, not even like the Nigerian surname he said.
Becca: Yeah, you are right.
Dad didn't even grow in Nigeria.
Lucy: Yeah.
(Kris enters the class, the students start to drool and girls scream happily. Kris goes to sit down)
Kris: They see me all school days and they still scream
Lucy: They love you, you should be happy
Kris: (Proudly) I am.
Becca: You saw the Nigerian boy?
Kris: Uh?
Becca: Over there (uses her eyes to point to Brown)
Kris: Wow, he is African.
His skin.
Wait, did you say Nigerian? As in Nigeria?
Becca: Yes
Kris: That country is so rich in almost everything!
Mineral resources including crude oil, iron, rubber, palm oil, groundnut and many other things that most countries use.
Lucy: Wow, I'm the only one lost here, it seems.
I don't even know anything about Nigeria. It's even my second time hearing it.
I mean, I know it's where Becca Dad was born but… Wow.
Becca: I will talk to him. (English tutor enters)
After English class.
Lucy: Okay, if you want to.
After English class
Lucy: Oh, I forgot to tell you guys, Dora and Joy said Hi.
They are moving to Mexico, and said they are going to live there with an old aunt.
Becca: Nice.
Kris: That girl was Mexican by root?
I would have dated her!
Lucy: (Chuckles) Oh common, you don't know anything about their roots.
Just because they wanna start living with an old aunt there, doesn't mean that they're from there
Kris: Yeah, you are right.
Lucy: I'm gonna miss them
Becca: Us too.
Kris: It's after English class, won't you go over to talk to the Nigerian guy?
(Antoine and his two friends can been seen going to talk to Brown)
Lucy: Looks like those guys beat you to it.
Becca: I can still talk to him if I wanna
Kris: Kk. (Put his headset on)
Antoine : Hey Brown.
Brown: Hello
Louis: You are alone.
Brown: No one expects a student at the last term of the last year, so the principal made this chair only for me.
Brian: I'm jealous, I want this.
Louis: Oh shut up!
Antoine : Well, Brown, I'm Antoine, I came from France and began this school last term.
And this is Louis, he is also partly French, partly.
His father is the man that owns Louis Vuitton handbags and shoes.
And this jealous guy is Brian, the president's son.
Brown: Nice to meet you guys
Brian: So you told him more about us and didn't tell him yours?
Antoine : I don't talk much
Louis: Let's not argue.
Brown: You guys are pretty interesting.
Louis: So are you.
Being all handsome and cool and smarty pants.
There's something off about you.
Brown: I like your straightforwardness.
But I'm just who I am.
I came to NYC to pursue my dreams
Louis: Hmm
Antoine : Stop being all skeptical Louis.
So tell us about yourself.
Brown: Well, I have said some at the assembly and I'm assuming you are asking about my parents. (No reply)
Um okay.
My Dad is dead, My Mom is the only one that takes care of me.
And I am not as rich or wealthy as you guys are, I'm not even up to the less wealthy person in the school.
I just want to be a better person to better my poor mother's life.
Brian: Awww. That's so touching
Louis: Your dressing doesn't say poor.
Brown: I'm average, more like middle class
Antoine : Apologies about your Dad
Brown: Nah, it's fine.
I didn't even spend much time with him.
Antoine : You can be friends with us, if you want to
Brown: Oh, I would love to be friends.
Brian: Good.
Antoine : Do you do sports?
Brown: Football.
Louis: You don't seem like someone who can do football.
Antoine : Or you mean Soccer, Brown?
Brown: Oh yeah, I forgot that Americans have different games of football and call football soccer.
Antoine :(Chuckles) Happened to me when I started the school
Brian: We are all soccer players, great!
We will see you in the sports class.
(They leave)
Brown: Got friends on the first day. Lovely.
Becca: Hi
Brown: Hello, nice to meet you, beautiful.
(Sports bell rings)
Brown: I gotta go.
I will talk to you later. (Winks and leaves)
Becca: He is so handsome
Lucy: And cool
Kris: Contrary to me being hot.
I don't fancy this!
Lucy: Are you scared that Royal high will love him more than you?
Kris: They will always love me
Becca: You can't be their favorite forever.
Lizzy was Royal High's favorite but now, I don't think anyone knows her.
Only the teachers and principal will.
Kris: Well, I'm famous
Lucy: Yeah, don't tell him that.
Kris will always be Royal High's favorite.
Fadeout