literature

Creative Writing Assignment

Deviation Actions

samiclayvivianmel's avatar
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Literature Text

I didn't know who he was at the time, all I knew was that he was alone. He was sitting on a bench, watching everyone else walk past him. Everyone was busy that day, there was church and court and visitings to do. He was the only one sitting still at all. I went to sit on the bench next to him.
"Excuse me, mister, but why're you sittin' all alone there?"
He turned to look at me, and I could see that he had a scar on his forehead, like he had been hit rather fiercely.
"Hello, child."
"Are you hungry? Calpurnia's makin' corn bread for supper, an' I bet there'd be enough for you."
"But I cannot repay you for it, I cannot even pay my bus fare..." He trailed off, looking around him. He didn't seem to feel very at home, and I can't recall ever seeing him before that day.  From the way he was absorbing the sights and sounds of the town, I guessed he had come a long way from home.
"Then how'd you get here, mister? Didja walk?"
He shook his head, then let it drop into his hands. "I do not know how I got here. Could you tell me what year it is, please, child?"
"Of course, it's 1937."
"Thank you." He turned to look over his shoulder and started pulling on his shirt sleeve. I saw someone in the reflection on the glass window of the barber shop.
"Jean Louise Finch, I thought I told you to go wash up for supper!" Calpurnia grabbed my ear and pulled me off the bench.
"Ow! Cal, I was just talkin' to my new friend here! What's your name, mister?"
"My name is Valentino Achak Deng. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Jean Louise."
I took the hand he offered me. It was big, with calluses along his palm and on the pads of his fingers. His grip was loose, so I could run away if I wanted to. I smiled. Cal tugged on my ear again impatiently.
"Owie! I'm coming, Cal!"
Cal stopped and looked at Valentino. He turned away from her shyly and looked down at his hands again. I noticed that he didn't wear any shoes, like me. But that was strange for grownups, they had to look respectable and all that. His feet were worn and cracked, like they had seen more than enough of the ground.
"Can Mister Deng come and eat with us, Cal? I promise I'll help clean up after..."
He looked really hungry.  The street was already cleared out, everyone had gone home for supper but me and Cal and Valentino. Atticus was just leaving his office down the road, and I could hear Jem and Dill yelling in the schoolyard.
"Come on, mister, Cal cooks really good."
"Really well, Scout."
"She cooks really well. Come on." I took his hand and pulled gently. "You remind me of Mr. Radley. He's real shy, but he's nice. Come on, mister, Dill would love to meet you!"
He stood up reluctantly and smiled. "I like you, mister. Where are you from?"
"I came from a country far away, it is called Sudan."
Crossover fic! Valentino Achak Deng from What is the What and Jean Louise Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird (and Calpurnia). Got a perfect score on it, too. ^^
© 2010 - 2024 samiclayvivianmel
Comments4
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KiA-OrA-BrO's avatar
I liked it. I remember something about a play called 'to kill a mocking bird' but I can't remember what it's about.
I had no idea what was going on but I liked it.
8D