Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Author:Katherine Applegate
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466887831
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

PART THREE

One doesn’t forego sleeping because of the possibility of nightmares.

—AFRICAN PROVERB

COWBOY

In ESL class

we learn a new game

called Interview.

Ms. Hernandez says it makes us

more confident

when we use our English words.

Plus it’s a good way to learn

about our classmates.

First we have to hold a cardboard tube

and pretend that it’s

something called a microphone

to make our voices loud.

I saw one once on the TV machine

with a lady singing into it.

She howled like a sick animal

till my ears wanted to run away.

I’m the first to go.

I have to stand up and say five sentences.

I say, I have a new job.

I help Lou with her farm.

She has a cow, three goats, many chickens and a pig.

I will go there after school sometimes and on the days

named Saturday and Sunday.

Lou says I can name the cow.

I take a deep breath. I’m weary from my long speech.

Next comes the Interview part.

That is where each student asks you a question.

If they run out of questions,

then the teachers can help.

Nishan is first.

Why does the cow not have a name?

I take another deep breath.

I like the questions best

with yes or no for an answer,

but this time I’m not so lucky.

Lou says her husband called the cow

The Cow.

She didn’t think that was

such a right name.

Very good answer, Kek,

says Mr. Franklin.

Aisha is next.

You could call the cow “Mr. Franklin.”

The class thinks this is a good joke,

and there is much laughing.

She’s a girl,

so she needs a girl name, I explain.

Now each person has an idea

for a name. This isn’t exactly how to play

Interview, but the teachers

don’t seem to mind.

Ms. Hernandez writes the names on the board.

Some are very silly:

Mr. Franklin

Milkshake

Ms. Hernandez

Kek, Jr.

Kitty Kitty

Salama

Rover

Chiku

Angelita

Zlata

Big Mac

When they’re done, Mr. Franklin asks me

if I have a name in mind.

I think for a moment.

We have a word in my language, I say.

Gol.

And what does it mean? Mr. Franklin asks.

I feel my face heat.

It means family, I say.

Ms. Hernandez says it’s up to me.

But I say I would like to have a vote,

because Ms. Hernandez taught us

that’s how things are decided

in America.

We vote.

Gol wins.

Hamburger gets two votes.

Nice job, Cowboy, Mr. Franklin says

when I sit down

at last.

The rest of the day,

everyone calls me “Cowboy.”

It’s a good day.

The cow has a new name.

And I have one, too.

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