This is a writing assignment on character. Students were instructed to write an opening scene introducing their main character and their problem in one scene.

Matthew was gazing at the school-library bookshelf, comparing it to his bookshelf. It had neither books nor medals or trophies but only exercise books.

Every day, he wakes up at half past seven and scoffs his breakfast quickly in 10 minutes (he is scared to be punished so he needs to eat his breakfast quickly and do his work.).

After breakfast, he needed to work on an exercise book and do the other one in the afternoon. He must do it even on holidays - his mum stipulates that he must do it or he can’t eat his dinner until he finishes it. Even though he doesn't know how to answer the question, he must figure it out and his mum won’t teach him. Also, if the answer is wrong, his mum will bring out a cane and hit him at least ten times.

He always thinks about books but his mum always replies, “”I will only buy you books when you finish your exercise books.”.

However, the exercise books heap up like a mountain and it seems he won’t finish it in his lifetime. He always knits his brows persuading his mum, but she won’t change her mind. She is as stubborn as a mule. One day, he grumbled it to Fred, his friend sadly and it altered his mum’s stubborn nature...

“My mum doesn’t let me read any books except exercise books and homework. Can you lend your books to me?”

“Of course, Matthew! I’m your best friend! Here are some story books.”

“Well, my mum might be angry with me… All right then.”

He took one of the books and put them into his school bag.

On the way home, Matthew repeatedly thought about what would happen if mum found the books. Oh, how he hated his mum! He really hated the most stubborn person in the world.

He was back home now, and brought out the homeworks. He thought the book was homework and brought it out. Before he said something like ”Uh-oh”, his mum found it.

“Why is there a story book in your school bag? You must have borrowed some books from your friends!”

“Nothing, mum, nothing. Your eyes deceit you…” His palm is sweating. His legs are dithering. The sweat could fill up a bathtub. In a quick speed, his mum grabbed his book and threw it on the floor. The book‘s pages flipped.

The next day, Matthew brought the broken book to school and apologized to his friend,

“I’m sorry that the book was broken. My mum broke it, not me.”

“Oh, how poor you are! Your mum still doesn't let you read any books?”

“Yes, I think I am poor, too.”

“The book is not a big problem, but how can you “fix” your mum?”

“Mmm… Maybe you can tell your mum, but I don’t think this will work.”

“We can try, but… Yeah, we can try.”

Fred went back home and told his mum, ”Matthew borrowed a book from me, but his stubborn mum broke it.”

“Really? Doesn’t she know what is stubborn?

“I’m not sure.”

Fred’s mum turned on his phone and typed in the chat box: “Do you know that Matthew’s mum is really stubborn? She won’t let Matthew read any books, even if he borrowed a book from me and she broke it!” with an angry emoji.

Other parents in the chat box also responded:

“Well, this is what I call an “amenable” person!”

“Wow, how stubborn she is!”

“She might win the prize of “the most stubborn person in the world” in the World Record!”

Matthew’s mum saw all this. She knew she was wrong and apologized deeply to Matthew and Fred and promised that she would purchase a new book for Fred.

Books! I Want Books!