I was scared, really scared.

MY heart pounded in my ears as the threat proceeded closer and closer, like a shark moved towards the scent of blood. I slowly turned my head, not wanting to meet the inevitable end. A looming shadow engulfed me as I finished my silent prayer. A shuffle of paper appeared on my desk as I slowly turned back, only to meet my math teachers, Mrs Spencers, raging face. James! Mrs Spencer, spat, her eyes burning coals roasting my head, you failed again! Look at your mark this time, the lowest in the whole grade by far! Mrs Spencer announced to my whole class. Here we go again, I sighed inwardly as I felt the first wave of hisses from my classes silent criticisms bombard my mind. Spastic; needs to go to special ed.; weirdo; idiot; stupid foreigner; idiot. Everyone was joining in, even the books on the shelf were full of joy at my failure. It was a party for everyone and I was the piata which everyone bashed. Each blow was another spear lunged into my heart, only softened the scrunching of my test Im not stupid or different! I would sob in my mind, Im just like you We have had three weeks on Mathematic Matrices, Mrs Spencer continued to critic at the rate youre going The bell finally rung and I was out of the class before Mrs Spencer and any others could critic me even further. I ran down the school corridors towards the oval where I chained my bike, my eyes brimming with tears. My eyes finally erupted with tears as I exited the school grounds aboard my bike. I quickly clenched my eyes shut wishing for the tears to go away. A low moo brought my eyes to snap open where a brown cow stood rushing towards me. I swerved my bike causing me to tumble off and into the soggy mud next to a creek bed. Cows everywhere, even theyre against me I murmured while still in the mud. A sharp pain suddenly reverberated from the back of my head to the depths of my brain. I moaned and turned slowly to see a cricket ball as the culprit, its stitched face seemingly grinning stupidly at me. A boiling rage suddenly engulfed me as I stood up rapidly A figure rapidly appeared to retrieve the ball as I stood with the retched ball in my hands and my head pounding with pain. I gasped when I realized that it was Sadi, the smartest kid in my math class who came running to my side. Sorry about that Sadi huffed with hands on both knees, but we didnt know that you were there He stopped the moment he realized who I was through all the mud. Oh, its you! he said with a slight sneer, Thats the only ball I have, so can I have it back?

O O Oh I stuttered nervously as I mindlessly handed the ball back to him Can I join too, I love cricket! A silent stare was his reply. After the run in with Sadi I was feeling even more miserable when I got home. Mum, as always, was standing by the door waiting to greet me, but even she with her happy disposition knew something was wrong. James, whats wrong? Everything, thats what! Take me home! I shouted, slamming the door shut to my room. [MUM WENT INTO THE ROOM AND SAID HANG OUT WITH THE BOYS AND GAVE HIM THE BAT AND SAID REMEMBER YOU USED TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT TIME PLAYING CREKITS] But James this is your home now. You just need a common interest with the boys at school, give it time it will No, it wont! fell onto my bed