My First Day
I was still shy in the presence of a crowd. And my first day at the new school made me a laughing stock of the classroom. I was sent to the blackboard to write my name I knew my name, and knew how to write it, but standing at the blackboard with the eyes of so many pupils on my back made me freeze inside and I was unable to write a single letter.
“Write your name," the teacher called to me. I lifed the white chalk to the blackboard and, as I was about to write, my mind went blank; I could not remember my name, even the first letter.Somebody laughed and I becamemore nervous.
"Just forget us and write your name," the teacher called and walked to my side, smiling at me to give me confidence.
"What’ s your name?" she asked.
"Richard," I whispered
"Then write it."
I turned to the blackboard and lifted my hand to write, but then I was blank again. I tried to collect my senses but I could remember nothing. I realized how totally I was failing and I grew weak and leaned my hot forehead against the cold blackboard. The room burst into a loud laughter and my muscles froze. I sat and blamed myself. Why did I always appear sosilly when I was asked to perform in a crowd? I knew how to write as well as any other pupil in the classroom, and there was no doubt I could read better than any of them, and I could talk freely when I was sure of myself. Then why did strange faces make me freeze? I sat with my ears and neck burning, hearing the pupils around me whisper, hating myself.