It’s not easy being the new kid in school. Add to that being new in town, in a new country, and somewhat of a nerd. Such was the case for Shawn de Vos, whose family immigrated to Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, from George, a coastal town in South Africa before his final year of school. With a tennis ball game, Shawn connected somewhat with others on the fringes of his new high school eventually. He even started to enjoy awkwardly, at first, the joys of courtship and true friendship. Soon though, he’d be confronted with issues some new kids face and being bullied was just part of it. Like all teenagers, he’d also been confronted with issues of youth: drugs, alcohol, sex, religion. Would his opinions about it let him make good moral choices? Especially during senior year, Shawn developed a unique friendship with one of the most popular girls in school. Their different backgrounds that kept them apart somehow may become the strength that can keep them upright in their daily struggles. This adds strain on their popularity and acceptance from their peers. Would the friendship last? Amidst everything, Shawn’s body developed a disease that could threaten his very existence.
