Page 37 of I Can't Even Think Straight

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which I tell him.

He sends me back to school,

while he takes names and dates of birth

from the rest of the group:

a group I stand out from like a sore thumb.

As I start on my way, I hear Nathan say,

“Why are you asking for my name, bro?

You just said it thirty seconds ago.”

“I’m not your ‘bro,’” says the South Asian officer.

“Ain’t that the truth,” says Sam.

Detention—After School—Mr. Ndour’s Classroom

Our deputy head teacher, Ms. Sarpong,

has a Progress Pride flag badge

pinned to her staff lanyard.

Our head of year, Mr. Ndour, does not.

“You’re not being punished because of the police,”

says Mr. Ndour, at the front of the classroom.

“There’ll be no action taken by the police.

This is entirely separate to that.”

“How is it, though?” asks Kojo.

“Yeah? How is it, sir?” asks Abdi.

“The feds are the reason we’re here.”

“Sir has already made it clear,” says Ms. Sarpong,

“that this detention is because you snuck

out of school at lunchtime without permission.

You’re not here because of who caught you.

You are here as a direct result of your actions:

the choice you made to ignore school rules.”

“But how is it the job of the feds

to enforce school rules?” asks Sam.

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