Scene 1 – Classroom
The teacher adjusts his glasses and slams the eraser on the desk.
Teacher:
— "Alright, class. The first assignment of the year will be in groups. Five to six people. I'll organize the tables."
The chatter begins. Everyone hopes to be paired with friends.
Teacher:
— "Claws, Rafaela, Lucas, Diego, Isa… and Mateus. You'll be together."
The six look at each other, some with boredom, others with surprise.
Diego:
— "Oh, come on… punishment already at the start of the year?"
Rafaela (laughing):
— "Relax, it could be fun."
Mateus:
— "Doubt it. With him (points at Claws), there'll be no peace."
Claws (frowning):
— "Don't start, Mateus."
---
Scene 2 – The Group Table
The six sit around a messy table. Notebooks open, pencils rolling.
Lucas:
— "Alright, guys, calm down. The topic is 'citizenship in everyday life.' We can split the parts and—"
Diego (cutting in):
— "Boring. Let's just make something up and be done."
Claws:
— "You never take anything seriously."
Diego:
— "And you take even breathing seriously."
Rafaela (sketching in her notebook):
— "Look, I drew a caricature of Diego with a goat face."
Diego (looking and laughing):
— "That's perfect, Rafa! Now draw Claws as a grumpy general."
Claws:
— "I'm right here, you know."
Isa stays silent, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Rafaela notices.
Rafaela:
— "What about you, Isa? What do you think?"
Isa hesitates. Opens her mouth, but no words come out.
Mateus (impatient):
— "Of course she won't say anything. Probably doesn't even know what to do."
Lucas (serious):
— "Stop it, Mateus. Let her take her time."
Isa lowers her head.
---
Scene 3 – The Argument
Claws:
— "Guys, if we don't decide soon, we'll get in trouble. I think it's best if each of us takes a part of the topic."
Mateus:
— "Oh, sure. You give the orders and we all obey?"
Diego:
— "Knew it! He loves playing the boss."
Claws:
— "It's not that! I just want this to work."
Rafaela (trying to lighten the mood):
— "Then I'll take care of the illustrations. I can make a cool mural."
Lucas:
— "Good! I'll write the introduction."
Diego:
— "I'll… take whatever's left."
Mateus:
— "No, you won't do anything. You'll just mess it up."
Diego:
— "Look who's talking—the king of chewing gum."
Mateus stands up angrily. Claws glares at him, ready to react.
Lucas:
— "Enough, you two! It's just an assignment, not World War III."
Silence. Only the sound of Rafaela's pencil scratching the paper.
---
Final Scene
Everyone glances at Claws without realizing it. Even Isa quickly lifts her eyes.
He notices their collective stare and sighs.
Claws:
— "Alright… looks like I'm the 'leader' now, huh?"
Diego (sarcastic):
— "Weren't you already?"
Claws rubs his face, exhausted.
Isa watches him discreetly but says nothing.
The bell rings. The six remain in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
End of Chapter 2.