What Life Throws at You

Fourteen year old Anita has gone through a bit in life, and life for her as an ordinary, literature-nerd teenager, she becomes faced with more interruptions. This is the first part what I've written so far...

Scene 1

(In a reception classroom, six young children are surrounding a teacher with books in their hands)

Teacher: Alicia, do you want to read next?

Alicia: (shakes head shyly)

Anita: I'll do it, Miss! (waves her hands in the air)

Teacher: Alright, Anita.

Anita: They lived happ-ppily... happ-ly ever after.

Teacher: Well done! Reading group, we have just read our first book!

Anita: What's the next one?

Teacher: (sighs) Unfortunately, we can not carry on this club any longer, it's not popular enough to carry on after school anymore guys, sorry.

Anita: (looks down, sad)

Scene 2

(Anita and mum, Helen holding hands walking through the market in Ashford, Staines)

(Old bearded man approaches them)

Man: Would you like to buy some books?

Helen: No thanks. (begins to walk away)

Anita: (remains still and grabs hold to Helen) Mum. Please can I have a book? (looks up at her)

Helen: These are adult books, Anita. I know you want to carry on reading but-

Man: This book (holds up brown book as thick as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) is perfect for you.

Anita: (grabs the book and stares) Wow... Please mum?

Helen: Is it really that special, for ten pounds?!

Man: (approaches Helen, looks deeply into her eyes) Definitely.

Helen: (gives tenner to man)

Scene 3

(Ten years later. alarm rings 7:45, Anita slams it quiet and gets out of bed. In the bathroom combing her hair, putting it into plaits, taking it out, then puts it in a headband and takes it out, then she puts it up in a ponytail and smiles. She hops out of the bathroom struggling to put her left sock on. Mum walks into her room)

Mum: I hope you know what day it is!

Anita: You go out with a guy after... six months?

Mum: Mhm, a hot man!

Anita: Well, they are preferably favoured. Do you know his name?

Mum: (pauses) I wanna say Boris...

Anita: Oh! Charming!

Mum: (laughs) Nah, I think his name is Matt.

Anita: What does he do again?

Mum: I think he works with children...

Anita: Mum, to be honest you sound a bit desperate. You sent him a message as soon as you saw his picture on Match.com...

Mum: The context is a little bit more than that.

Anita: Alright then... does that mean I have to cook for myself?

Mum: Yeah, just reheat the pasta we had last night.

Anita: Sure... (has a flashback of last night):

Mum: Mmmmmmm (eats pasta)

Anita: Mmmm... (puts in bin next to her)

(Returns back to her)

(Anita looks at her watch and is shocked)

Anita! Shit! Mum we need to go!

Mum: Oh! Okay hold on! (applies lipstick)

Anita: (gets her schoolbag and puts Shakespeare books in it, then outs it on her shoulder and brings out perfume) Mum, look at me!

Mum: (turns around to face her and poses to get sprayed) Go.

Anita: (sprays) Now let's go!

Scene 4

(Car parks outside Woodbury Secondary School and stops, Mum and Anita are inside)

Anita: Cheers Mum. (unclips belt and opens the door)

Mum: Wish me luck!

Anita: Okay... don't open any umbrellas inside. (leaves the car)

Mum: (smiles and drives off)

(Anita sees he best friends Holly and Sarah leaning against the school brick wall, Holly is listening to music and Sarah is reading Wideacre)

Anita: Hey guys!

Sarah: Hey Anita! (hugs her) Have you done the English homework?

Anita: Of course... (pulls out earplug out of Holly's ear in order to distract her to look up)

Holly: (looks up) Oh hey! (hugs) Apparently we have a new English teacher.

Anita: What? I loved Miss June!

Sarah: She was caught drinking in the toilets.

Anita: (bites lip) I told you she took her wedding ring off! Ah well, maybe this one will be better.

Holly: Apparently he is not even from England.

Anita: Hmm.... this will be interesting...

(School bell rings)

Sarah: Oh great. School.

(They walk inside the school and go into their tutorial classrooms)

Anita: (brings out Romeo and Juliet book)

Holly: Again? I swear you have read that book three time already.

Anita: I want to find their true meaning of love... and I know you are keeping count. You have read the book fifteen times!

Sarah: Well Holly, you really like the competition.

Anita: (sighs) Ugh, Shakespeare just has a way with words that really touches the heart...

Sarah: Or confusing your brain.

Holly: Shut up, Anthony Horowitz!

Sarah: You're just jealous that he can actually write a thrill.

Anita: Hello? C.S Lewis?

Holly: He was alright, but why does Lucy decide to walk into a wardrobe?

Anita: Why do you decide to walk into lampposts?

Holly: (gives Anita evils)

(School bell rings)

Anita: (marks page and puts the book back into her bag) Ah, English next. If this teacher is not good enough I will complain.

Sarah: I think everyone will, I feel sorry for the guy already...

(All of them walk into their English classroom)

(Anita sits on a single table while Holly and Sarah sit behind her)

Anita: (turns to her friends) Looks like Dave's not in today, I can't debate about footballer's wages now!

Holly: Looks like the teacher isn't here either.

Anita: Give him some time...

(Boy Kyle walks up to them)

Kyle: Alright geeks?

Anita: Fuck off, Kyle.

(Kyle walks off laughing)

Sarah: One day I will strangle him.

Anita: You better.

(Turns around, just as she does, the teacher comes through the door ((Bradley Cooper)) with overpowering sexiness)

Anita: (gasps) Oh-my-God...

Matt: Morning class. My name is Mr Evans and I am your new teacher. Today I just want to introduce myself to you and get to know you more as a class. So, I'm up for questions.

(Silence, most class girls mesmerized)

(Holly's hand reaches up slowly)

Matt: yes young lady, what is your name?

Holly: Er... Holly, Sir.

(Anita and Sarah turn to her)

Matt: Nice to meet you Holly, now what did you want to ask?

Holly: Are you from America?

Anita: (rolls eyes and smiles)