Das seltsame Buch - Académie de Nancy-Metz

Premier prix en anglais, catégorie BTS : Nirina Randria
The heart has its reasons that the reason ignores
Wangi had finished school. She was used to taking the shortest way to go back home. She
walked alone because she didn’t have any friends except Rachel but on that day she wasn’t there. Wangi
was twelve, a girl like any other girl of her age except that she was a gifted girl and had been adopted
by the Steins who went to China to bring her to Germany.
The Steins lived in one of the most exclusive district of Germany. they loved to be the first in
all categories and were game for anything to reach their goal. They also loved boasting about all they
had and above all about the success of their two sons who were at medical university in England. They
were the perfect family but there was a problem: they had no daughter and in this country to have a
girl was an essential value. So they decided to adopt a girl in China. Why China? Because they wanted all
their friends and family to believe that they pitied poor children in this country and that it was their
duty to help at least one of them even though it was in reality to have a good reputation. Wangi was only
one when she was adopted. Her parents had abandoned her for a reason that she never knew because
she didn’t dare to ask her foster parents about it for fear they should be embarrassed. Before being
adopted, Wangi lived in a poor district with other abandoned children but fortunately she quickly left
this environment. Wangi never experienced poverty and although she lived in comfort, she wasn’t like
the Steins at all. That’s right; she always received affection and love from her foster parents but
although she was only twelve she knew that something was wrong. They hid something…
When Wangi walked, she was used to walking headlong because she was very shy and she never knew
why but she felt ill-at-ease in this country. She didn’t feel at home. After five minutes, she finally
arrived home. When she opened the gate, Wangi saw her parents come back from the back of their
garden with a spade and mud on their faces and on their hands. Mrs. and Mr. Stein came close to their
daughter to hug her. Wangi noticed that they were behaving oddly.
'Hi Darling! How was school today?' Said Mrs. Stein looking at her husband.
'Good! I’m top of my class again!'
'Really?! That’s not a surprise for us anymore! We are really proud of you Wangi!' Said Mr. Stein
with pride thinking about what else he could say about it.
'Thank you dad. But what are you doing with this spade and mud?'
'Oh! Nothing darling…' Mrs. Stein quickly added.
They went into the house. That night, Wangi didn’t manage to sleep. Suddenly she heard a noise from
the garden. After a few minutes, she rose and looked out of the window. Her parents were digging a
hole to hide a kind of book, which she didn’t clearly see. At that moment Wangi wondered if they really
hid something and what…
The day after, at breakfast, before going to school:
'What were you doing last night in the garden?'
Suddenly Mrs. and Mr. Stein stopped eating.
'Whaa…what? Last night?' stammered Mrs. Stein.
'Yes, last night. I saw you in the garden digging a hole for a kind of book',said Wangi innocently.
Mrs Stein looked at her husband before saying:
'Well, yes…it’s a book from a strange person who came yesterday. It talks about weird things
that you don’t have and don’t need to know because it’s only for adults. Moreover you will have a
nightmare.' He said teasing her. 'So, please don’t touch it ok darling? Promise it to us, Wangi.'
'I promise!' Crossing fingers.' It’s not my business anyway.'
They were reassured by their daughter's answer although Mrs Stein knew that Wangi suspected
something. Wangi went to school. On the way she was thinking of the book in the hole. She couldn’t
concentrate in class. She knew that her foster parents didn’t tell her the truth.