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“Stop it! I could puke over your wonderful creation if you continue to instigate our laughing attacks!” Hope fell backwards on her chair, laughing.

“Hey, it’s not wonderful look at those scratch lines.” Natalia pointed to a few scratches that looked like were made by a cat on her perfectly-made chair.

“It’s awesome, you know. I wouldn’t be able to make something as perfect as yours.” Hope pulled herself closer to Natalia in order to prove her point.

It was true.

The chair Natalia made for Genesis High’s Annual Chair-Making Contest was close to perfect.

The chair was made of mahogany wood, polished carefully in order to create a dazzling shine. Its bamboo cushions were comfy, carefully woven with a strong and soft nylon. The chair was carved with two doves facing each other with a diamond in the middle, and several carved flowers complimented the carving.

“You better believe me, you WILL win first place with this wonderful creation of yours.” Hope traced the carvings on the chair with her fingers.

“Yeah, yeah, you can say that, but I bet there are handmade chairs out there that are way better than mine.” Natalia replied stubbornly.

“Don’t say that Natalia! You’re artistic skills are unbelievable…”

“Hope,”

Hope looked up to see Mrs. Davidson.

She had on one of her favorite dresses, a pink flower dress with ruffles over the bottom.

“You’re dad’s here to pick you up.” Mrs. Davidson looked directly at Hope, her sharp, blue eyes piercing into her very skull.

“Um, yeah, tell my dad I’ll be there in a moment.” Hope hastily gathered her belongings and placed them inside her knapsack.

She’s always been intimidated by Mrs. Davidson.

She’s always been intimidated by everyone, except Natalia, ever since her family came to Capestown, Canada from Vietnam.

She went to an international school in Vietnam, so she could speak flawless English.

It was just the people.

In a secluded city such as Capestown, discrimination is noticeably evident.

People here judge you not by your skills, but by your color.

Everyday, every time she left the safety of her house, she was almost, always under the scrutiny of people.

People who survey her dark skin and black wavy hair. People who don’t know who she really is, except for Natalia Davidson.

She met Natalia on her first day of school.

Natalia Davidson was assigned to be her peer partner for one month a year ago, until Hope would feel comfortable in the school. Hope was grade 10 at that time. Natalia was grade 11.

Now, Natalia was about to graduate from high school--- just six months left till she walks along those red over-perfumed carpets to receive her diploma--- while Hope still had a well year and a half to go.

Hope began to worry who would become her friend when Natalia left her to go to a post secondary institution--- and brought her pride with her.

As she made her way too the front of the Davidson home, she could feel the sting of Mrs. Davidson’s blue eyes behind her back.

She was intimidating alright.

“Hi Hope, how you?” she heard her father greet her.

“Bye.” Mrs. Davidson called out.

On her face was plastered a fake smile, that smile she would have when she saw Asians that couldn’t speak perfect English. The smile she would have when she caught sight of anything she could discriminate.

Discrimination.

It was a word that was completely evident in Capestown, and Hope felt helpless because she couldn’t do anything to stop it.

As Hope fastened her seatbelt reluctantly, she couldn’t help feeling very sorry for herself.

She felt sorry because she only had one friend in Capestown.

She felt sorry for her father because he didn’t know how to speak perfect English.

She felt sorry for herself because she saw no purpose in her life--- she just saw a long line of endless struggles, which she believed would always be that way.