Chapter 2: First Bell Trouble
Sam and Timo ran through the busy streets like two criminals escaping the police.
"Run faster!" Timo shouted between breaths.
"You're the one slowing us down!" Sam replied.
"I carried more sacks than you!"
"That's because you kept dropping them!"
They finally reached the school gate just as the first bell rang.
Students were already walking to their classes.
Sam bent over, breathing heavily.
Timo looked at him.
"Bro… remind me again why we decided to go to school?"
Sam straightened up.
"Because being poor forever is not part of my plan."
Timo sighed.
"You always say things that sound like motivational speeches."
They walked into the school compound.
The place was huge compared to where they lived.
Clean classrooms.
Students wearing neat uniforms.
Some students even arrived in cars.
Timo leaned closer to Sam and whispered.
"Look at those guys."
Sam followed his eyes.
Three tall boys were standing near the basketball court, laughing loudly.
They looked rich.
Expensive shoes.
Perfect uniforms.
And the attitude of people who believed the school belonged to them.
"That's the problem trio," Timo said quietly.
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Problem trio?"
"Yeah," Timo said. "The leader is called Brian. His dad is rich. Very rich."
Sam shrugged.
"So?"
Timo looked at him like he was crazy.
"So? Bro, people like him eat people like us for breakfast."
Sam laughed softly.
"Well… I'm not on the menu."
Just then, Brian noticed them.
His eyes slowly scanned Sam from head to toe.
The worn shoes.
The faded uniform.
The tired face.
Brian smirked.
"Hey."
Sam ignored him and kept walking.
Bad idea.
Brian stepped in front of him.
"Didn't you hear me?"
Sam stopped.
"Yes."
Brian raised an eyebrow.
"And you kept walking?"
Sam looked at him calmly.
"I was going to class."
Some students nearby started watching.
Timo quietly whispered to Sam.
"Bro… maybe today is not the day."
Brian chuckled.
"You must be the new guy everyone is talking about."
Sam stayed quiet.
"The South Sudanese kid."
Some students laughed.
Timo clenched his fists.
Brian stepped closer.
"So tell me something," he said. "Do you guys ride camels to school back there?"
More laughter.
Sam's eyes became cold.
But he didn't react.
Instead, he looked Brian straight in the eyes.
"Are you done?"
The laughter stopped.
Brian's smile slowly faded.
No one talked to him like that.
Timo whispered again.
"Sam… I think we're about to die."
Brian leaned closer.
"You've got a big mouth for someone wearing shoes older than this school."
Sam glanced down at Brian's shiny sneakers.
Then he looked back up.
"At least mine are paid for with hard work."
Some students gasped.
Brian's face hardened.
Timo slowly stepped back.
"Yep… we're definitely dying today."
Brian grabbed Sam's collar.
"You think you're funny?"
Sam didn't move.
Before things could explode—
A loud voice shouted across the courtyard.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Everyone turned.
A tall teacher was walking toward them with serious eyes.
Timo whispered quickly.
"Mr. Otieno."
Brian immediately released Sam's collar.
Students scattered.
Mr. Otieno stopped in front of them.
"What happened?"
Brian pointed at Sam.
"He started trouble."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
Timo almost laughed.
Mr. Otieno looked at Sam carefully.
"You're the new student."
Sam nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Mr. Otieno studied him for a moment.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Good."
Everyone looked confused.
Mr. Otieno turned to Brian.
"And you," he said calmly, "go to class before I give you detention for the rest of the week."
Brian glared at Sam one last time before walking away.
As soon as he left, Timo whispered loudly.
"Bro… congratulations."
"For what?"
"You just made your first school enemy."
Sam looked toward the classroom building.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Good."
Timo blinked.
"Good?"
Sam started walking again.
"If life was easy…"
He opened the classroom door.
"…I wouldn't need to fight my way out of the trenches."
Timo sighed and followed him.
"This guy is going to get me killed."