Standard Style 30 March 2015

20 THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY / EDUCATION
MEET THE WINNERS
LILIAN MASITERA
masiteral@yahoo.com
0772 924 796
Rise above,
Take flight &
Move on!
Usave Saskam,
verenga udzore pfungwa
March 29 to April 4 2015
Overall Winner
Pindile Malaba
Form 5 & 6
Lonely in a crowd
Fear devoured me. As I anxiously, but excitedly walked
into Black hill Primary school, immediately, I noticed
that I was different. My initial excitement faded, as the
walls of this unfamiliar place consumed me, but not
enough to hide how conspicuous I was.
As I stood in the middle of the dark corridor to the numerous
classrooms, I was penetrated by the unforgiving stares
of the ‘’normal’’ people who surrounded me. For the first
time in my 5 year life, I realized that albinism was not just
the result of inheriting a recessive chromosome, but was
also to be the merciless menace that would brutally steal
my life from me.
A transparent layer of tears formed on the surface of my
light blue eyes, and these bitter tears tumbled down the fair
skin of my pale face. It was this day that I learnt that different
is abnormality, that difference is void of what society
considers beauty.
The piercing bell rang, and suddenly the corridors were
empty. Everybody had vanished into their respective classrooms,
as I stood confused and hurt by the rejection I had
been subjected to, as the seniors had assisted all the other
new, lost students beforehand.
My teacher, Miss Baird, a tall slim, youthful lady, noticed
my absence whilst taking register and came to look for me.
As she approached me joyfully, I suddenly felt wanted. She
held my hand comfortingly, as her immaculately white teeth
that resembled the colour of my rough hair, shone brightly. I
managed a faint smile in return and walked with her to the
classroom. As she opened the creatively decorated door to
what I thought would be my safe-haven, I was unaware that
this room would be my nightmare. I was invited by horrified
gasps and shocked whispers from some, and outbursts
of cruel laughter from the rest of the rest of the children.
This room had deceived me, because though the walls
were smothered in illuminating pictures and the uplifting
appearance of the room was alive as the other students, every
positive feeling it depicted abandoned me. Miss Baird angrily
silenced the class, but it was too late, because silence
is not silence once something has been said. As I claimed my
rightful place at the back of the classroom, solitude claimed
me.
Miss Baird wrote her name on the board, but all I could
see was a blur of white chalk. I opened my eyes wider, but
my ‘’lazy eye’’ failed me. In some ways visibility with no
clarity was an advantage, because I never had to see the facial
expressions and looks of disgust people heartlessly shot
at me.
to be continued next week