Brian: A New Beginning

By Wanda Thompson

Bronislav's heart t sank as he realized just how much work it would be. Did he really think it was worth all the hard work he would be up against?
The snow danced and swirled with the shrieking wind as it fast increased to blizzard proportions, almost obliterating the sleeping little town in the blinding snow. It was a night when everyone and everything should be in, out of reach of the fury of the storm. However, a small slight figure, leaning forward into the storm, fought his way to the only lighted building on the street.
Through it all, Brian discovers that family is important. Through their love for him and his for them, anything is possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wanda Thompson
• Release date: May 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9780988074002

Wanda Thompson

Wanda Thompson has been published in newspapers and has written several books among which are Brian - A New Beginning, 1924 Wembley Rodeo, The Mighty Transformer and The Adventures of Princess Jasmine. She has won literary contests and has studied with the Institute of Children's Literature in Redding Ridge, Connecticut. She has also attended the Writing with Style (Historical Fiction) residency workshop at the Banff Fine Arts Centre. Wanda is also interested in photography. She was published in the local newspaper for her article "What Is Love?" She also won Project Read's competition for her short story "Inferno" in 2011.Wanda's next project is to write about the abuse women suffered in the early 19th century at the hands of those who should have been their protectors and works with her own photos.Wanda was nominated for a Global EBook Award for Brian: A New Beginning in April 2012

Book preview

Brian: A New Beginning

Wanda P. Thompson

Published by PT Press at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Wanda P. Thompson

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Chapter 1

Pens, rulers and stacks of paper bounced. The metal globe toppled off the corner and hit the floor with a thud as a heavy fist connected with the surface of the well-worn wooden desk. Spit balls hit the blackboard. Paper airplanes whizzed across the room.

Class, settle down, Mr. Elmsworth bellowed. Thinning silver hair was brushed forward. His handle-bar mustache and goatee framed a blotchy face. Red and white striped suspenders held up baggy plaid trousers.

Oblivious to the catcalls and name calling, he drew up his 6' 3" frame and glared at individual students.

I said that's enough. His deep voice reverberated through the room.

An uneasy quiet soon settled.

The previous teacher had been timid and had not known how to discipline. This one was different. He was not afraid; nor was he taking any guff. However, it was worth a try.

We will be studying about the Soviet Union today. Open your textbooks and turn to page 63. Take out your notebooks and pencils.

Students began stomping their feet and chanting, Go home, go home.

Mr. Elmsworth thundered, The next one to step out of line will answer to me.

Scowling, with compressed lips and eyes knit together, he waited.

Finally an uncomfortable hush returned; everyone except John.

Hey mister. Our last teacher didn't last. What makes you think you will? John snickered. Tossing his head, auburn bangs flipped across his right cheek revealing an angry jagged scar. His large muscular frame left little room for movement as he squeezed into his wooden desk.

Ignoring the taunting, Mr. Elmsworth continued. I warned you that the next one to step out of line will answer to me.

What are you going to do? Kick us out of school? Boy am I afraid. John shuddered, pretending to be frightened, then laughed. The rest of the class joined in with raucous laughter.

A muffled knock at the door was barely heard.

Come in.

Slowly the door opened. Silhouetted in the opening, a young boy stood with exposed legs between dark brown pants mid-calf; worn out dusty black boots with holes in the toes and a faded blue flannel shirt reaching below his elbows. The ragged clothes were too small.

Laughter mingled with the girls' calls of Look at his clothes. Yuck. They're funny.

The boys were no better. Hey, where did you come from, the zoo? Peals of raucous laughter filled the air.

Bending his head in shame, he hesitated in the open doorway.

That's enough. Where are your manners? Pardon me, Mr. Elmsworth said sarcastically. I forgot. You don't have any. Young man, come in please.

All eyes focused on the young boy with eyes averted as he shuffled over to the desk.

Do you have your transfer documents with you? Good. Let me have them. I have been expecting you.

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he stood nervously as Mr. Elmsworth glanced over the papers. Looking up, he announced to the class, Please welcome your new classmate, Bronislav Briansky. I hope that I pronounced your name properly. Bronislav, tell the class where you came from.

Raising his arm to protect his face and dodging spit balls, he answered in halting English, Me from Soviet Republic.

We don't need anyone else. You're not good enough to be in this class. Hisses and boos greeted him. Spit balls whizzed across the room, some hitting its target.

Class, you will all stay in after school today. Your behavior is atrocious, not only toward me, but also to our new student Bronislav. You all have detentions for the next week. Now Bronislav, find a seat.

The soles of Bronislav's boots flopped, making a hollow slapping noise with each step. Bronislav slid into an empty desk directly behind John.

Bronislav, open your textbook and turn to page 63.

Amid groans, books banged on the desks as they were reluctantly opened. Bronislav and Mr. Elmsworth were given dirty looks as pages noisily turned.

John turned around and hissed to Bronislav, You wait; I'll get even with you. Nobody tells me what to do and gets away with it.

As Mr. Elmsworth gazed over the classroom, he remembered the places and opportunities. When he decided to accept this job in the middle of nowhere, he knew it would not be easy. Because of the war, there were many students who were now fatherless. As such, they were an unruly lot. Coming here gave him an opportunity to try and reach them.

Class, get to work. Today we will be studying about the Soviet Union. I chose this topic so as to give us all an opportunity to learn more about Bronislav’s country. Who knows what the capital is and a little about it?

Hesitantly Bronislav raised his hand.

Mr. Elmsworth directed the question to Bronislav.

Okay Bronislav, what can you tell me?

Da sir. Capital Moscow. Largest city in Russia.

Very good. That is a huge city. What else can you tell us.

"Many old palaces and museums.

Moscow huge industrial. Huge factories with houses. Manufacture automobiles, buses, trucks. Russian need permission from government to live there. Pausing for breath, Bronislav continued.

Moscow built shape of huge wheel. Wide boulevards center like spokes.

Remembering where he was, Bronislav stopped becoming self-conscious.

That is very impressive. Mr. Elmsworth remarked. Can you tell us anymore? What are the schools like?

Shyly Bronislav nodded his head. "Largest Moscow State University. More than 30,000 students. Science building, 37 stories high, Moscow's tallest skyscraper.