Becoming Faith

ons were

ains wer

grown used to was now

ly was r

ay, better opportunities. Anne, her mother, wasn't too happy about

thes carefully, packed her books in neat piles

and whispered a quiet goodbye to the stree

are her. It just

chool, New

ngs moved slower. Th

er in Harmony Primary School w

laced in

t day wa

resumed it was still

cked carefully beside her pencil case. She didn't know

quick classwork to "war

d her pen a

s. Five answe

fast, n

er's eyes

just joi

Faith rep

n smiled

eres

ass murmur

down... Pearl

me Before

whispers were

day, but wait ti

carries first

th girl g

ne on a corner bench. S

d but because she had not

be number one. She wa

me people uncomfortable

en, Pearl

later, sh

ar

e class, Faith heard her l

ushed to her, hugging her lik

cked with white clips. Her backpack was brande

wait for in

ed up to her, a

. I've heard a

maybe even confused. The

you too. Seems w

expected battle line..

irst Tes

ass had its first test

nounced, the room wa

l: 3

ing jealousy. But instea

st?Pear

h: 3

ave her a playful

o start tro

h la

ant to st

t race, not to drag each other do

Class Star

n to shift in

adjusting:Chidinma stopped playing wi

aid attention, now

s reduced not because of fear, but

arl didn't f

ork quietly, consist

g serious wasn't something to be mock

eacher sai

hing is different th

Growth,

and Anne began to

e house. Her baby brother now walking would crawl towar

ther's Igbo to English translati

ot 'shaked'...

e his hea

t even know who yo

uld reply, e

ill bec

th didn't just

ged pers

allenger. Be

dard. Beca

with her, so did her conf

hine anyone... She just