Indonesia
All New in the New Year
It’s true. Nicholas has been through nine new years and twice house moving. But as far as he can remember, Nicholas has never been transferred to a new school so far. The first time they moved was six years ago, he was three years old back then and didn’t go to school yet. The only farewell for him was with the dense tuft tree on the yard. Nicholas used to play under its shady leaves in the afternoon.
But this time, not only that he will come to a new house, also a new school. Nicholas doesn’t have a clue of what is the new school will like. “You will like it,” Dad assured him on their way there. Nicholas wishes the new school will be like Tomoe Gakuen, Toto-Chan’s new school in his favorite book.
This first day crawls like a slug for Nicholas. It’s only a stone fall from his house, so Nicholas can walk or ride a bicycle. There aren’t many students there, only one class for each grade. Nicholas classroom is the III grade on the second floor, next to grade IV. His house teacher Miss Cherry is the opposite of the patient and tender Miss Karen, his former house teacher. Miss Cherry even smashes her wooden ruler on the table to silence her students. That’s so scarry!
Nicholas seatmate is Radith, a small boy with squeaky voice who talks all the time. Radith likes to tell stories that are not funny at all, yet he will laugh himself up afterwards. Nicholas should be crying for bored just by talking with him. But Nicholas doesn’t forget that he used to be a boring kid a while back. Rather than strike to school, he chooses to try recognizing his new friends’ characters.
There’s Hannah who doesn’t say much, Bobby the coward (he’s even afraid of little kitten!), Wessen the bossy, the annoying Rhenald, and also Putri the sweet. It’s a shame for him to miss the opportunity to make friend with so many unique characters. Nicholas determines to try to like his new school, new friends, new house, rather than crying for the old school, old friend and old house. ..
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTOS
