‘Johanna’

I walked with my head down as I walked to school.

I had on my blazer and my hands dug into the pockets.

My heart still raced as I thought of last night.

After getting my bearings back together,we sat in the living room making small talk.

He asked Jake about his future scientist career and Amelia sat and played on his lap. He sat on dad’s favorite sofa ,sat on his chair at the head of the table and ate from his favorite dinner set.

He laughed and smiled and I just sat there.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Ignoring mom’s gaze I’d left the table and went straight to my room.

“Johanna!”

I looked up and it was then that I noticed how wet my cheeks were and quickly wiped them away.

“Hey.”

I turned around to see Ace making his way towards me.

“Hey.” I said, surprised to see him.

“I’ve been calling you for so long.” He smiled, revealing his pearly whites.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know you’ve been dealing with a lot.”

“Yeah well…” I didn’t really want to talk too much about it.” I didn’t know you lived just around the corner.”

He smiled.” I live in the street behind yours. We moved in a week ago.”

I gasped.” I had no idea. I’m a terrible community member.”

“That you are.” He chuckled just when I thought he was going to tell me otherwise.

I laughed. I knew he was a gentle giant. He was probably around six foot tall and the strongest of the group and yet he had a way of brightening up even the dullest hearts.

We walked a while in silence.

” So what’s going on between you and James?”

“James? We’re just friends…I think.”

“You think?”

“Well…I don’t know. He’s been ignoring me and I honestly have no idea what I did.”

“Well,I think he like you.”

“Then why is he ignoring me? He seems so distant,he won’t talk to me anymore.”

“James is.. dealing with a lot”

“Like what?”

“Stuff. You wouldn’t understand. It’s boy stuff.”

“Boy stuff?” I questioned with raised eyebrows.

“Why not? Girls have girl stuff.”

I decided to let it go but I could tell it wasn’t the truth. I could tell a lie a mile away.

“So how did you convince your family to move here for SOAM?”

“We were already living here when I found Tom.”

“He didn’t find you?” I asked.

He shook his head.” I’d heard rumors about SOAM and i knew what kind of man your dad was,I’d seen his a couple of times on TV. I knew if he was forming a team like that,I’d have to join.”

“Why?”

“To help my family. I can’t let them wallow in poverty forever.”

I nodded.” That’s a brave thing to do. So why did you move from your previous area then?”

“Xenophobic attackes. I’m sure you’re aware that they don’t want us here anymore.”

I shook my head.” They are simple minded people. My dad used to say it’s not about the nationality,it’s about the Africanity.”

He grinned,then pulled me into a hug and ruffled my hair. I stepped away in a huff,he’d just ruined my hair.

Looking at me,he laughed,his eyes shining.” You know, Johanna,you’re going to make a really great leader.”

I grinned.” You think so?”

” Yep. And just so you know,James is a really sensitive guy. He looks tough but he’s the second most sensitive member after Ruby. We handle them with care,they are sort of like, introverts,you know?”

I nodded.

Question: How do you feel about the xenophobic attackes happening in the country? Do you agree with Johanna.

And,you may have guessed about Ruby,but did Any of you think James was that sensitive and an introvert?