Jack's Story

My name is Layla and I live with my grandma in Leicester. My Gran is very kind to me and she always cooks lovely meals and buys me the latest gear and computer games. Some people in my class are unkind to me. I don’t understand why but I think it’s partly because I live with my gran and whenever there’s something on at school and Gran goes to it, the other kids say things like, “Your Mum’s well old. “I say, “It’s not my mum it’s my gran,” but they don’t listen.

I have always found it hard to make friends. Gran says, every week, “Why don’t you invite someone home for tea?” and I’ve tried but nobody wants to come to my house. I asked Sienna but she said she has clubs every day. I asked Paris but she said, “You’re joking, aren’t you?” I even asked a boy, Alex but he just said, “No way!”

Then, after Christmas, a new girl started at our school. She has just moved to this country so that her Mum can work at the hospital. Her family are from Kerala which is in the south of India and her name is Annu. Miss asked us to look out for Annu and make her welcome at our school. So I went up to Annu and said, “Would you like to come to my house for tea?” Paris went, “You’re joking aren’t you? Don’t go, Annu. Nobody goes to Layla’s house for tea.” Annu smiled such a sweet smile and said, “That is very kind of you, Layla. I would be so honoured to come to your house for tea.” I felt like the queen, the way she spoke to me. Paris was not happy, neither was Sienna.

I was so excited when Annu came to my house. We caught the school bus home together and my Gran made Annu very welcome. She cooked Annu a traditional English meal: meat pie and chips and after tea we played on my computer game together. Annu said I am so lucky to have such a caring Gran. Her Mum came to collect Annu at six o’clock and guess what she said to my Gran?

“Would Layla like to come to our house for tea next week?” Gran said yes. I can’t wait. I’m the happiest person alive.

It seemed ages for next week to come around, Layla could think of nothing else. She wandered if they may go swimming, if they might play football and what they may have for tea. Then the day arrived after School Layla went home with Annu and they went swimming. It was such fun and when they got home they had tea. It was pizza and chips.