Quest for a Name
Carmel School Association Elsa High School , Gefen , Ella - 11
I sit at my desk with my head in my hands . I was trying to concentrate but nothing my teacher , Mr Walker , said made any sense , so I fell asleep . I ’ m 14 years-old , but I ’ m still learning simple algebra .
“ You with the black hair ,” said Mr Walker . Lots of kids have black hair , but I know that he is talking to me because all the other kids have names , I don ’ t . “ Come show us how to calculate this equation .”
“ Alright .” I try to keep my voice steady . He ’ s picking me on purpose . I write something I don ’ t understand on the board . “ It ’ s 20 ,” I conclude . “ Incorrect . Stay here after class ,” he says . I know what he ’ s going to do , and it isn ’ t going be pleasant .
“ I ’ m afraid that your grades aren ’ t improving ,” Mr Walker says after class , with a wicked grin . Before I have time to defend myself , he pulls out a ruler and starts smacking my knuckles , which are already a dark shade of blue , from all the times that they were smacked by other teachers .
I have bright green eyes and I ’ m quite tall for my age . I ’ m thin from eating so little and I have a long narrow face that rarely smiles .
It ’ s 2:30 , school ’ s out for the weekend . At home , I start working , sweeping , cooking , vacuuming , I could go on , but I won ’ t bother . These tasks were given to me by Helena , my legal guardian , ever since my parents died . She threatens that if I don ’ t get my work done , she will throw me out of the house with no possessions and nowhere to go . At first I didn ’ t believe her , but then I got a taste of what she was like and I don ’ t doubt that she would do it . When I finish I lay down . Finally , I think I get to relax . I am reading Insurgent , the second book in a series . I have an entire reading plan ; English is the only subject I ’ m interested in . And now to Insurgent . “ And then there ’ s Tobias , who switched to Dauntless to escape his father .” All of a sudden it hits me . The greatest idea in the world . My bag is almost full . I really hope my plan works , I don ’ t know anyone who ’ s ever run away from home before .
I wake up at 6:30 the next day . I ’ m really nervous for this journey . I ’ ve never been out of town let alone outside Australia . My plan is to go Boston because that ’ s where my parents used to live . Maybe I could find the place where they lived before they came on vacation to Australia and past away . I don ’ t know how I ’ ll get there . After Helena sends me out with a list of groceries , I run to the tram station . The ride ended much faster than I expected . I ’ m free ! After 14 years of torture and hard work !
Now I need to find a way to leave Australia , cross the Atlantic Ocean to Boston . I see an advertisement saying : Moving ? Overseas cargo container for only € 600 to anywhere anytime ! Just call - ( 620 ) 759132 - we ’ ll make it happen ! I know I can ’ t afford to pay but maybe I don ’ t need to ... I run behind a large container and hold my breath . Please don ’ t see me ! I think . When the coast is clear , I sneak onto the ship to Boston .
It could have been hours or days later , I may never know . I ’ m in Boston ! I wait until the guards look away and run outside . All I see is a long brown dock and a man walking towards me . There ’ s nowhere to hide . I know I ’ m going to have to pay for sneaking on the boat .
An hour later I find myself in a Juvenile Detention Center . The warden asks a girl , Christina , to show me to a dorm . Christina has tanned skin and light brown hair . She is tall like me and has hazel eyes .
“ This is your dorm . Here ’ s your schedule . If you need any help , my dorm is G63 , right across the hall . Oh and be careful , not everyone is as nice as I am .” She flashes a smile and goes into her dorm . The next morning , I wash a bowl and hand it to Christina , we ’ re both on dishwashing duty .