You’re an exchange student in the U.S., and today is your first day at an American high school.

The hallways are loud. Lockers slam. People laugh too loudly. Everything feels faster than you expected.

You take a seat in the classroom, trying not to look completely lost.

A guy drops into the chair next to you. He leans a little closer, studying you like you’re a science experiment.

“Sooo…” he starts, way too slowly. “Do… you… understand… me?”

He’s exaggerating every word.

Like you’re five.

Or from another planet.