HalfaDayIwalkedalongsidemyfather,clutchinghisrighthand.Allmyclotheswerenew:theblackshoes,thegreenschooluniform,andtheredcap.Theydidnotmakemehappy,however,asthiswasthedayIwastobethrownintoschoolforthefirsttime.Mymotherstoodatthewindowwatchingourprogress,andIturnedtowardsherfromtimetotime,hopingshewouldhelp.Wewalkedalongastreetlinedwithgardensandfieldsplantedwithcrops,pears,anddatepalms.“Whyschool?”Iaskedmyfather.“WhathaveIdone?”“I’mnotpunishingyou,”hesaid,laughing.“School’snotapunishment.It’saplacethatmakesusefulmenoutofboys.Don’tyouwanttobeusefullikeyourbrothers?”Iwasnotconvinced.Ididnotbelievetherewasreallyanygoodtobehadintearingmeawayfrommyhomeandthrowingmeintothehuge,high-walledbuilding.Whenwearrivedatthegatewecouldseethecourtyard,vastandfullofboysandgirls.“Goinbyyourself,”saidmyfather,“andjointhem.Putasmileonyourfaceandbeagoodexampletoothers.”Ihesitatedandclungtohishand,buthegentlypushedmefromhim.“Beaman,”hesaid.“Todayyoutrulybeginlife.You’llfindmewaitingforyouwhenit’stimetoleave.”Itookafewsteps.Thenthefacesoftheboysandgirlscameintoview.Ididnotknowasingleoneofthem,andnoneofthemknewme.IfeltIwasastrangerwhohadlosthisway.Butthensomeboysbegantoglanceatmeincuriosity,andoneofthemcameoverandasked,“Whobroughtyou?”“Myfather,”Iwhispered.“Myfather’sdead,”hesaidsimply.Ididnotknowwhattosay.Thegatewasnowclosed.Someofthechildrenburstintotears.Thebellrang.Aladycamealong,followedbyagroupofmen.Themenbegansortingusintoranks.Wewereformedintoanintricatepatterninthegreatcourtyardsurroundedbyhighbuildings;fromeachfloorwewereoverlookedbyalongbalconyroofedinwood.“Thisisyournewhome,”saidthewoman.“Therearemothersandfathersheretoo.Everythingthatisenjoyableandbeneficialishere.Sodryyourtearsandfacelifejoyfully.”Well,itseemedthatmymisgivingshadhadnobasis.FromthefirstmomentsImademanyfriendsandfellinlovewithmanygirls.Ihadneverimaginedschoolwouldhavethisrichvarietyofexperiences.Weplayedallsortsofgames.Inthemusicroomwesangourfirstsongs.Wealsohadour