FINDING HIS PLACE
698 Words
The morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting long beams of light across the desks. Odeny sat in the middle row, trying to focus as Mr. Obare wrote equations on the blackboard. His thoughts, however, were elsewhere—on the upcoming school trip to the museum.
The other students buzzed with excitement, their conversations filled with speculation about what they would see. Odeny couldn’t wait to tell Baraka, his best friend, that he’d be going too.
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At lunchtime, Odeny found Baraka sitting under their favorite tree.
“You’re coming on the trip, right?” Baraka asked, grinning as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Odeny nodded, unable to hide his excitement. “Mama spoke to Mr. Obare, and he said I could go. I’ll pay the fee later.”
Baraka clapped him on the back. “That’s great! We’ll have so much fun. I heard they even have an ancient spear used by freedom fighters!”
The two boys spent the rest of lunch speculating about the exhibits, their imaginations running wild. For the first time in a while, Odeny felt like he truly belonged.
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However, school wasn’t always easy for Odeny. That afternoon, during a math lesson, Mr. Obare called him to the blackboard to solve a problem. The numbers on the board seemed to blur together, and Odeny’s palms grew sweaty as he picked up the chalk.
He tried to remember the steps Mr. Obare had taught earlier, but his mind felt like a blank slate.
“Take your time,” Mr. Obare said encouragingly.
From the back of the room, a snicker broke the silence. It was Samir, who had made it his mission to torment Odeny whenever he could.
“Do they not teach math in the village?” Samir muttered under his breath, loud enough for others to hear.
The giggles that followed stung more than Samir’s words.
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After class, Baraka found Odeny sitting alone under the same tree where they had lunch.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Baraka said, plopping down beside him.
“I just hate feeling stupid,” Odeny admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You’re not stupid,” Baraka said firmly. “Math is hard for a lot of people. And Samir? He only picks on you because he’s jealous. You’ve got something he doesn’t—heart.”
Odeny looked at his friend, unsure if he believed him, but grateful for the support.
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Determined to improve, Odeny began spending extra time on his schoolwork. In the evenings, after helping his mother clean up from dinner, he would spread his books across their small table and practice math problems until his eyes grew heavy.
Amina noticed his efforts and occasionally sat beside him, offering what little help she could.
“You’re doing well, Odeny,” she said one evening, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “I’m proud of how hard you’re trying.”
Her words fueled his determination, and slowly, the numbers began to make sense.
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A week later, during another math lesson, Mr. Obare asked Odeny to solve a problem on the blackboard. This time, Odeny walked to the front with a steady confidence. He studied the equation, took a deep breath, and began writing.
When he finished, he turned to face the class. The room was silent.
“Well done, Odeny,” Mr. Obare said, smiling. “That’s the correct answer.”
A wave of pride washed over Odeny as some of his classmates clapped. Even Baraka gave him a thumbs-up from his seat.
Samir, however, scowled and muttered something under his breath, but Odeny didn’t care. For once, he had proven to himself—and everyone else—that he could succeed.
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Later that day, as he and Baraka walked home, Odeny couldn’t help but smile.
“You showed them today,” Baraka said with a laugh.
“Yeah,” Odeny replied. “I guess I did.”
As they parted ways, Odeny felt a new sense of confidence. The road ahead would still be challenging, but he was beginning to believe that he could face it—and thrive.
- Writer
