Growth Within and Outside 

Chapter 1- Prologue

Born in June, Chantelle arrived in a world with people catching the flu, or a cold, as it was winter in Australia. From the day she was born, she had a very weak immune system, so she caught any illness or disease very quickly. Until the age of three, Chantelle lived in a sterilised ward in the Royal Childrens Hospital, where she had the tightest security, to ensure that she would not catch any sicknesses. Anyone who entered her ward could not contain a trace of illness, and had shower beforehand. Everything she played with had to be sterilised, like her favourite soft toy. She longed to see the outdoors, especially the many birds that she would hear twittering throughout the day.

5 Years Since Chantelle was Born

It was Chantelle's first day at school. Her mother had told her to be very careful, or she would get sick very easily. Chantelle and her mother went to meet her prep teacher, called Ms Ferido. Chantelle liked her teacher almost immediately, as she was so kind and loving towards her. She found a seat next to a girl with two plaits called Sasha. Whilst all the other students all looked strangely at her, Sasha shyly asked, " Hello. What is your name?". Chantelle replied," My name is Chantelle." They made friends very quickly. However, nobody else asked to be Chantelle's friend. All her classmates were looking at her as if she were abnormal.

At recess, Chantelle was the only one sitting on the bench eating her food. she was not allowed to play in the playground. Sasha saw her sitting by herself and walked over and asked, " How come you are not playing in the playground?" Chantelle told Sasha about her weak immune system which forced her to sit over at the bench. Sasha, sensing her friend was very upset about it, made a promise that if Chantelle could not play in the playground then she would not either. 

In the classroom, Chantelle could only work with Sasha. She was very lonely but tried not to think about it. She loved learning and reading, and talking to her classmates, but they were acting as if they were scared of her, as if she had a problem or something. Sasha told her to do something about it and tell them about her problem, but she was too scared. That day, when she arrived home, she asked her mother what she would do. Her mother said that she would do just what Sasha said. she would go and tell the class about her problem.

The next day at school, Chantelle asked her teacher, Ms Ferido, if she could talk to the class. Ms Ferido said she could, so Chantelle bravely, walked to the front of the class and said, " I know you might all be thinking that i have a problem, but i don\\\'t. I am just like one of you guys, however, i am different in a way that i have a weak immunse system, meaning i catch illnesses very easily. thsi is the reason why i am often separated from you during recess and lunchtimes, or when we need to work as a group." Sasha was very proud of her friend, so she started clapping. Everyone joined in. Chantelle looked around her and saw that now they were smiling at her. They had all changed their attitude towards her. Chantelle was glad that everyone finally knew why, and that they respected her now.

However ...