The Boy at the Back of the Class
Before reading What does it mean to be a refugee?
A 9-year-old pupil is curious to learn more about a new boy who has joined the class. He doesn’t speak, never smiles, and doesn’t know any English at all. Our narrator turns to Mum to find answers ...
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curious nysgjerring
kettle vannkoker refugee flyktning blurt it out plumpe ut med det stared at stirret på frown rynke (pannen) fell silent ble stille serious alvorlig
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Was “Refugee Kid” a nice thing to call him?
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I followed Mum into the kitchen and watched her get out the cocoa jar and switch on the kettle. And then before I knew it, I asked, “Mum, what’s a Refugee Kid?” I didn’t really mean to blurt it out like that, but sometimes my mouth does things my brain isn’t ready for. Mum stopped what she was doing and stared at me. “A refugee kid?” she asked, with a frown on her face. “Where did you hear those words?” “At school,” I said. “Someone called the new boy in our class a Refugee Kid.” “You’ve got a new boy in your class?” I nodded. “And Mrs Khan didn’t tell you anything about him?” I shook my head. “Only that he’s called Ahmet and he’s never been to London before. I’ve been trying to make friends with him, but he doesn’t talk to anyone so I can’t tell if he wants to be friends back ...” “I see ...” Mum fell silent. She poured milk into the milk pan, and waited for it to heat up. I knew she was thinking about something serious, because she was rubbing her chin a lot. Mum only ever rubs her chin when she is about to say something serious. “Mum?” I whispered. But Mum stayed silent which made me start to worry. Mum usually answers my questions right away. Maybe what Mr Brown had called the new boy wasn’t a nice thing to call him at all. (...)
