THE VILLAGE BOY.

Scene One

[6:30 IN THE MORNING, AT PAUL'S HOME]
Paul  : {LOOKING AT A MIRROR.} I will never give up in my studies, until I wash my mom's poverty. Move her away from this village and give her a better lifestyle.

Miss Pale  : Paul!!! BREAKFAST IS READY. {SHE SHOUT AS SHE CALLED HER SON.}

Paul  : I'm coming. {HE SHOUT BACK.}

[MISS PALE POUR PORRIDGE IN A BOWL, WHILE SINGING A SAD SONG.]

Miss Pale : Here is your food.

Paul : Thanks mom. {HE EATS IN A HURRY.}

Miss Pale : Slow down, you will get choked if you continue eating the way you are doing.

Paul : I can't slow down. I still have to travel three kilometers by foot, to get to school and I don't want to be late. Remember I promised to take you to live in the city. I can't do that if I'm not employed and to be employed, I must be educated.

Miss Pale : I know, but you don't have to suffer yourself like this. Because you might end up not being able to achieve your goals.

Paul : I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that I keep my promises.

Miss Pale : You're so young and ambitious. {SHE LAUGHS.}

Paul : Ambition is one of my strengths.

{AS SOON AS SHE FINISHED EATING. HE STARTED RUNNING.}

Paul : Bye mom.

Miss Pale : Be careful out there. {SHE SHOUT. }

Paul : {NO RESPONSE.}

{IN MR KHUMALO'S CLASS. 8:10 IN THE MORNING.}

Mr Khumalo : Goodmorning class...

Class : Good... Morning... Sir!!!

Mr Khumalo : Take out your reading books.

Class : {TAKING OUT THEIR BOOKS.}

Mr Khumalo : Today we are going to read a story called "VILLAGE PEOPLE" understand.

Class : Yes sir.

{MR KHUMALO BROWSE AROUND THE CLASSROOM AND DESCERN THAT PAUL WASN'T PRESENT.}

Mr Khumalo : Where is Paul?

Class : He...

Paul : {LOOK DOWN WITH EMBARRASSMENT AS HE ENTER THE CLASSROOM.}

Class : {THEY LAUGHED.}

Mr Khumalo : Be quite.

{CLASS FROZE IN SILENCE.}

Mr Khumalo : What is wrong Paul.

Class : He lives in the village too... {THEY ALL SHOUTED AND LAUGHED.}

Mr Khumalo : Is there anything funny about that.

Class : {THEY KEPT QUIET.}

{THE SCHOOL BELL RANGED.}

Mr Khumalo : You're all going to face consequences for that... Class dismissed.

Class : {THEY ALL WENT OUTSIDE.}

Mr Khumalo : Paul stay behind for a second.

Paul :
Am I in trouble sir!!!

Mr Khumalo : I just want to talk to you for a moment.

{PAUL STAYED AND WAITED UNTIL EVERYONE WAS OUT.}

Mr Khumalo : Is what I heard true.

Paul : Yes, it is sir.

Mr Khumalo : If there is anything you need, do not hesitate coming to me to ask for it.

{COUPLE HOURS LATER. A BELL RANGED, PAUL EXITED THE CLASS TO GO HOME SO THAT HE CAN WRITE HIS HOMEWORK AND STUDY WHILE THERE IS STILL SUNLIGHT.}

Paul : I have to go sir, goodbye.

Mr Khumalo : OK. See you on Monday.

{BEFORE HE EVEN WALKED A SINGLE KILOMETER, HE WAS ATTACKED BY DOGS. HE RAN STRAIGHT TO THE BUSHES TO HIMSELF FROM THE DOGS.}

Paul : No!!! It is gloomy. How am I supposed to set  home safely. I won't be able to write my homework. I'll have to write it over the weekend. I'm sure mom is worried about me.

{HE GOT SCARED TO WALK HOME IN THE DARK, BUT HE HEARD A VOICE SAYING "DON'T BE SCARED BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I'LL WALK BY SIDE ALL THE WAY." PAUL REPLIED TO UNKNOWN VOICE.}

Paul : I'm not scared. I'll be fine.

{HE WALKED ALL THE WAY HOME SINGING THE SAME THING "I'M NOT SCARED, I'LL BE FINE" HE GOT HOME VERY LATE. HE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR AND ENTERED.}

Miss Pale : Paul!! Is that you.

Paul : {HE MUTTERED.} Yes mom.

Miss Pale : Where have you been, I've been worried sick about you.

Paul : I'm sorry mom, I got attacked by a bunch of dogs. So I ran into the bushes of hide there. {HE CRIED.}

Miss Pale :Are you okay.

Paul : I'm fine, it's just that I was very scared.

Miss Pale : It's okay, you're safe now.

{HIS MOTHER HUGS HIM AS HE CONTINUES CRYING.}

Miss Pale : Here, drink sugar water. It will calm your nerves.

Paul : {HE DRANK THE WATER IN ONE GO, LIKE IT WAS NIL.}

Miss Pale : Easy... Now go to sleep, it's your big day tomorrow.

Paul : {BECAUSE OF BEING SCARED, HE SAID NOTHING. HE WENT TO SLEEP.}