Don’t even look at him
Noon at the neighborhood school. Lunch is the most valuable thing in the backpack. At home, a small and too quiet apartment: mom comes in and out
Between doorbells and headphones
It is the first quarter of ESO. The bell honks and the lights vibrate overhead. He crosses the hallway with helmets on – they protect him from the noise
When anger reaches recess
It’s noon in the courtyard. The sun streaks the painted benches. A group of girls occupy the shade, as if it were their own
Noise, earphones and respect
Senior year of high school. In English class it’s all noise: fluorescent lights sizzle, chairs shuffle, people talk loudly. He enters with
Learned silence
It’s afternoon on the playground. A group of older boys take over the basket; the floor smells of rubber and competition
Andrei brakes the silence
At the change of classes in high school, lockers clatter like dominoes and the hallway smells of wet coats and marker. At recess, Andrei
It’s just a joke!
Every day in the first weeks in another country, the classroom smells of machine coffee and books fresh from the plastic
The only one
The first bell rings and the hallway smells of wet clothes. As you walk in, everyone looks at you funny and whispers your name wrong.