do anything. I look at Ghalia. not smiling anymore, her teeth have hidden She’s behind her lips. Mrs Tosser tells us to get our books out. maths now. only It’s I’m on the green cards but Ghalia is on the blue ones, the next level up. When I get that’s ten out of ten on the green cards then I can do the blue ones. The sums get harder until you get to the black ones but on them as they are really for the next nobody’s year up but we have them in the class just in case. Maybe Ghalia will do them one day. I hope so then I can see one and I know I do them because not ‘cos can’t I’m good at dividing and if Ghalia gets one be the only table on a black card and we’ll I’ll be really proud of her. only on green too. not as clever as Ghalia, but Madu’s We’re Madu thinks better, but he He even add one plus one. I finish the he’s ain’t. can’t first question, but always easy so I even try. Ghalia works hard. She bends it’s don’t all the way over her workbook. Her scarf is falling forward onto the page and she keeps having to move it. I kick her. are you wearing that stupid scarf? It looks ‘Why stupid.’ She look up. She likes sums. I kick her. doesn’t not cold. I even wear my jacket. It must be well ‘It’s didn’t hot.’ She looks up from her maths and kicks me under the table. I kick her back and we kick each other for a few seconds. fun and she smiles at me and I like it when It’s happy. she’s you take it off in ‘Why don’t class?’ ‘I can’t.’ not? Have you got ‘Why nits?’ She looks back at her sums and speaks really quietly. Not a whisper to stop Mrs Tosser hearing, but like done something naughty. she’s my ‘It’s birthday.’
do anything. I look at Ghalia. She’s not smiling anymore, her teeth have hidden behind her lips. Mrs Tosser tells us to get our books out. It’s maths now. I’m only on the green cards but Ghalia is on the blue ones, that’s the next level up. When I get ten out of ten on the green cards then I can do the blue ones. The sums get harder until you get to the black ones but nobody’s on them as they are really for the next year up but we have them in the class just in case. Maybe Ghalia will do them one day. I hope so ‘cos then I can see one and I know I can’t do them because I’m not good at dividing and if Ghalia gets one we’ll be the only table on a black card and I’ll be really proud of her. Madu’s only on green too. We’re not as clever as Ghalia, but Madu thinks he’s better, but he ain’t. He can’t even add one plus one. I finish the first question, but it’s always easy so I don’t even try. Ghalia works hard. She bends all the way over her workbook. Her scarf is falling forward onto the page and she keeps having to move it. I kick her. ‘Why are you wearing that stupid scarf? It looks stupid.’ She doesn’t look up. She likes sums. I kick her. ‘It’s not cold. I didn’t even wear my jacket. It must be well hot.’ She looks up from her maths and kicks me under the table. I kick her back and we kick each other for a few seconds. It’s fun and she smiles at me and I like it when she’s happy. ‘Why don’t you take it off in class?’ ‘I can’t.’ ‘Why not? Have you got nits?’ She looks back at her sums and speaks really quietly. Not a whisper to stop Mrs Tosser hearing, but like she’s done something naughty. ‘It’s my birthday.’