I looked around at my new school, kids were swarming everywhere, and I felt a little lost. I glanced at my schedule and saw that my 1st period was Math, in Rm 15. I did not know my way about, but I had plenty of time so I decided to explore the school. I wandered around and went into a dark corridor, three kids were huddled there. They sprang up when they saw me and one of them said,”This corridor is forbidden. What are you doing here?” Oops! My first mistake already!

“Sorry, I didn’t know. What are you doing here anyway?”, I said to cover up my mistake and embarrassment. It was the wrong thing to say. “You challenging us, newbie?!”, said the same kid. “Never mind!”, I said and I ran. I looked around for Room 15 and to my surprise it was right on my left. I went in, chose a desk at the front, and sat down. The teacher was a lean man who looked nice but strict, “Welcome back to school!”, he said. ”Is anyone new?” I stood up and he said to me,” My name is Mr. Lu. Welcome to the school. I hope you will enjoy your time here. Everybody, please make him welcome. OK! Now that everyone knows each other let’s jump right into math. We will be starting off with a pretest”. He handed them out and I was surprised how easy it was. This is how it went

Question 1: Find the square root of 81
Question 2: 3x + 7 = 13. Find x.
Question 3: 29*31 = x^2 - 1. Find x.
Question 4: 2^3 =

…

I was the first one to finish and I felt a sense of pride as I gave it to the teacher. After everyone had finished the teacher read out the scores and to my surprise he said,”Congratulations!, Keshav, you have the best score. In fact, you got a 100, which is very rare.” As a reward for doing so well he gave me some candy. As I took it I became conscious of the glares of people in the back, the same people I had met in the corridor, and my neck grew hot under their scrutiny.The periods went by in no time and soon I was sitting in Rm 17, Language Arts, my 6th period. Once again, I noted nervously, the same people I had met in the corridor were there.  Here too, there was a pre-test and I did exceedingly well, and once again I felt the glares! After school, I asked them why they were glaring at me so much. They told me that it was because I had gotten a better score than them and to deal with it! They also told me I was annoying, how dare I challenge them in the corridor! I didn’t really understand what they meant.They added a few insults, and having no idea what to do I went and talked to the counselor. The counselor listened to my story, then said,”To resolve this I must call those students. Do you know their names?” Whew! I wasn’t expecting that. I definitely didn’t want them to know I had talked to the counselor. Then they might make my life miserable for the rest of the school year. In fact, I had just wanted a few helpful hints of how to deal with it or some advice.

“Well”, I began,”I don’t really--think that,er,that is a good idea..”

The counselor cut me off and said,”No. It is the only way.” I began to panic. I didn’t want them to come. However, soon he found the names and they were at the office. I was observing the counselor when he was searching for names and I noticed when he found those three names based on my description his face grew grim. However, I had no time to dwell on that thought as they soon turned up in the office. When they saw me they glared at me and one began to say,”So you cowar--!” However, the counselor cut them off and began to speak,”I hear you have been frightening and insulting this student. Why?”

“Because he stole our candy, twice, and he challenged us but he is a newbie!”

“What do you mean he stole your candy?”, said the counselor sharply.

“Well, we normally get top grades on the math test and english tests and the top person get’s candy. Normally one of us get the candy and we share. But he got it today!!!!!!”

I looked at them in disbelief. What a stupid reason!

“And what do you mean he challenged you?”
I noticed that for the first time they looked hesitant. Then one of them shot a death glare at me and I felt a shiver of fear. This counselor meeting was making the hostility worse. Then finally one kid said,”That’s not the important part. The main part was the candy!”

The counselor did not look happy with that response. He then asked me,”What do they mean you challenged them?” Now all three of them were shooting death glares at me and it sent a frisson of fear down my spine. I was scared, tongue-tied, and I didn’t know what to say. I was shivering in my shoes, literally, since the office seemed very cold then. I finally decided to tell the truth about the “challenge” as these kids would probably terrorize me anyway. “Well”, I said nervously,”When I first came to the school I decided to explore. I went into a corridor and I saw these three kids hunched there. They told me the corridor was forbidden--and well--I was embarrassed, so I asked them what they were doing in the corridor.”

I did not like something in the counselor's tone when he said almost silkily,”Very well. Go to the principal's office please. That door!” I went in. I waited there for a long time(at least it seemed to be)anxiously, wondering if I was to get in trouble. Then finally the counselor walked in.

He said,”I am happy you came to me. All is resolved! Well, the kids were doing something there they were not supposed to be doing and they have made a lot of enemies over the years. You do not need to worry. They are going to a new school tomorrow!”

“They were expelled?”, I asked, horrified. I never dreamed I would get them expelled!

“No,no. I just suggested to them and their parents maybe they would be happier at a new school where they can make a new start. They have quite a record. In fact, you helped them a lot by finding what they were doing. Now go home and don’t worry.”

However, I worried all the way home. But then I smiled suddenly! At least those kids who shot me death glares were gone.