Dumbstruck by Peace Olaluwoye

Kath had always been different. Raised on a sprawling ranch in the heart of the countryside, she was more comfortable in boots caked with mud than in the polished shoes her peers wore. Life after high school was a whirlwind for most of her friends, who were eager to escape their small town and dive into college or the workforce. But for Kath, the future was more about freedom on four wheels than the usual paths. Driving was her next big step toward independence, but as she'd soon find out, the driving school experience would be far from mundane. In a small, stuffy classroom filled with students from different walks of life, Kath found herself thrust into a world where her rugged upbringing clashed with the luxury others took for granted. The break room, a humble space meant for a quick snack and a breather, became the unlikely stage for a story she’d recount for years to come. Kath leaned against the worn-out vending machine in the driving school's break room, he...