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Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years
Three girl students
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[Three girl students]
As soon as the new school term started, our homeroom teacher changed seating arrangements. At first we students seated according to the Japanese syllabary. But three girl students, K, N and Y suggested changing seating arrangements, and our homeroom teacher accepted it.
Seating was decided by drawing lots. The three girl students took the lead in drawing lots. From what I saw, they suggested changing seating arrangements just because they wanted to change them. I thought how pushy and impish girls they were. Although most students like changing seating arrangements, they usually didn't suggest it to teacher as soon as the new school term started.
Casting my lot and looking at it, I was very surprised. I was assigned to K's neighbor. K was the leader of the three girl students who suggested changing seating arrangements. In addition, a word Atari! (winning ticket!) was written in the lot by K.
In this way, I seated next to K. K and her friends' characters were completely opposite to me. But they cherished me. Curious to say, they often said, "Tomishige is Kawaii (cute) !"
[Y, a girl]
Among the three girls, particularly Y had a strong interest in me. Y was an active girl. She was tall, leggy and beautiful.
One episode I remember was when she and I ran together in an athletic meet. The athletic meet was held soon after the new school term started. She asked me to take part in an obstacle race in pairs with her, and I accepted it. She belonged to a track and field club. On the other hand, I wasn't good at running. But she adapted to my pace of running in the race.
Another episode was when I cleaned the entrance of the school. We students were supposed to clean the school. And a half of students of my class, including me, were assigned to clean the entrance of the school. But almost all students neglected cleaning. Believe it or not, only I cleaned the entrance. Then Y held a broom and said, "Tomishige, clean with me."
Y was very kind to me. I was sometimes helped by her. I didn't know why she was so kind to me. But I felt deeply grateful for her kindness. Even when I promoted to the ninth grade, we were in the same class. She had been very thoughtful of me until we graduated from the junior high school.
(To be continued)
Index of SM story
