The Boy at the Back of the Class

Sometimes words hang around longer than people, even when you don’t want them to.

Turkey, Lebanon, Pakistan and Ethiopia each take care of millions of refugees, and between them, outweigh the numbers of refugees taken in by all the 50 countries of Europe combined.

Sometimes I think everyone likes to believe a lie even when they know it’s a lie because it’s more exciting than the truth.

It’s funny how you can go for long bits of time without even thinking of someone, and then suddenly feel all wrong because you realize they’re not around anymore.

That the entire world is full of hearts searching for a place to call home. But refugees are different, because they don’t just look for a home. They look for peace too. And because of that, they possess the most special hearts anyone could ever have.

Sometimes all you really need is somewhere to cry without anyone ever knowing.

I know that afternoon was one of the best afternoons I will ever have. Not because it was my birthday, but because it was an end to one of the best adventures a brand new ten-year-old could ever have, and the beginning of a whole set of new adventures that I bet even Tintin never had! And it was all thanks to a boy who came and sat at the back of the class, and who let me be his friend.

that’s exactly what he started doing. When the bell rung for first break the next morning, Mrs Khan kept her promise and let the new boy out into the playground for the very first time. Tom was put in charge of looking after him and we were all told that if he got scared or wanted to stop playing, then we were to find a teacher immediately or go and see Ms Hemsi in the staff room. I didn’t know why the new boy would be scared of being

And just like that, I didn’t mind Aunt Christina and Jacob coming at all! Because there was nothing I loved better than eating my Uncle Lenny’s roast chicken. Except playing Scrabble with him.

When the bell rang for recess the next day, Mrs. Khan kept her promise and let the new boy out onto the playground for the very first time. Tom was put in charge of looking after him and we were all told that if he got scared or wanted to stop playing, then we were to find a teacher immediately or go and see Ms. Hemsi in the staff room.