I have this student:

Florent is young and adorable and still a little naïve. He’s also smart (He had the second-highest grade in my class last year) and catches on fast to concepts and likes being at school. (Once, he refused to go home when he was sick until he was sick all over my classroom.)

He’s rarely in trouble. He’s usually in a good mood and doesn’t really get into fights with the other students.

He and I get along well. I appreciate that he studies for my class, and he seems to appreciate that I’m not like his other teachers.

And there’s something about him. Like he’s not quite yet chosen to believe that as a Beninese man, he’s entitled to everything before everyone else.

And I’m afraid I saw that being literally beaten out of him today at school.