The rest of the corridor was in permanent twilight. The air stank of the latrine somewhere down the hall. The floor was slick with spit and snot. The dingy walls, dark with soot and cobwebs near the ceiling, were covered with graffiti at eye level. Leering faces surrounded me.
Someone hawked and spat in contempt.
They joked about my hair, my nose, jeering and jabbing at me. The teachers monitoring the corridor averted their eyes. The bell finally rang, ending recess. The bird-like teacher reappeared and began a most curious lesson. I found myself shouting with them in spite of myself, until the teacher's stick cracked down on my desk.