Friday Morning
On Friday morning, Mr Halpern handed out small printed sheets to every child. The sheets had Eyo's story on one side, in Eyo's first language, and the English translation on the other side.
The children looked at it curiously. They could not read the first language, but they liked seeing it. The letters looked beautiful. Different.
Eyo went up first, when it was his turn. His knees shook a little.
"This is my story," he said, in English. "It is called *The Fox Who Lost His Shadow*."
He held the paper. He breathed.
He read the story in his own language. The class listened, even though they did not understand the words. Eyo's voice was quiet but steady. The cadences were different from English — more rolling, more song-like.
When he finished the first language, Eyo looked up.
"Now in English," he said, very carefully.
He read the first paragraph. He stumbled on one word. Mr Halpern, very gently, helped him say it. He kept going.
He read the whole story in English.
When he finished, the class clapped. Not just polite-clap. Real clap. Liv even said, "That was beautiful," before realising she had spoken aloud.
Eyo's face was very red, but his eyes were shining.
He had read his story. In two languages. In front of everyone.
He sat down. The next child went up.