African Voices Spring 2020 AVSPRING2020 | Page 35

INT: SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING PARIS Hey Lauren! Lauren turns around. LAUREN: P! They run to each other, give each other their special greeting. Both girls walk down the hallway. LAUREN: (CONT’D) How was your weekend? PARIS Good. Too good, I didn’t want it to end. LAUREN Tuh, say that again. PARIS You know how much I hate my class. I have no friends in there. And you know how Ms. Keaton is. LAUREN Girl, I had her last year and she is like that with all of us. I only had Sasha to talk to in my class. PARIS See! At least you have one. LAUREN They still bothering you? PARIS Yes! Everyday. It’s like I’m there but not there at the same time. The bell rings. LAUREN Ugh, time for hell. Just picture Ms. Keaton falling down some never ending stairs, that always helps me get through her lessons. The two girls laugh in the hallway. PARIS You might be onto something. I’ll see you at lunch. LAUREN Ok boo! The two girls part ways. MS. KEATON, mid-40s white woman. MS. KEATON 801 LINE UP! 801 LINE UP! Paris lines up with the rest of the class, she can hear her classmates talking. RANDOM CLASSMATE No, you ask her! I don’t want her to get mad at me again. Paris can feel that her classmates are talking about her. She turns towards them and suddenly the two lines of children stop talking. Paris turns back around and the chatter continues. SANDY, 13-years-old, red hair, white girl. SANDY Hey, Paris. PARIS Hi. african Voices 35