Talk to the goddam kid

With a sigh you turn to the girl, trying to hide your frustration. Now that you look at her more closely, you remember that her name is Anna. Anna is very nervous. She shifts uneasily from foot to foot, constantly fidgeting. She obviously finds eye contact difficult; she seems to want to hide her face behind her hair. Despite this, she manages to speak, if shakily and very quietly:

'I want to sit at the back'.

'What do you mean, Anna? the lesson is over', you reply confusedly.

'No, I mean, I mean after... In all of the lessons. I want to sit at the back'.

Touched by her sincerity and courage, despite her obvious shyness, you agree to make sure she is given a seat in the back of all your lessons. Pleased by your answer, Anna forces herself to look up to thank you. From her eyes you can tell she is close to tears; you resolve to pay attention to her in the rest of her lessons with you.

Suddenly in a hurry, Anna walks down the corridor with a nervous, quick stride.