NYC Sentinel

Giggles, noisy banter and rampant sidewalk chatter filled the Washington Heights neighborhood in front of the Duke Ellington School on Wednesday.

While many at P.S. 4 couldn’t keep emotions under wrap for the first day of school, one third-grade girl stood silent.

Eight-year-old Naa wore a blank expression and shoulder-length braids as she clutched her pink Bratz doll backpack.

Evelyn Quartson, 46, dropped off Naa at P.S. 4 Duke Ellington before taking her older brother to a nearby middle school. She prodded Naa to talk about her feelings on the first day of school.

Whatever Naa was thinking, she didn’t show it. The third grader’s stoic expression didn’t reveal any sadness, happiness, confusion or nervousness. Her blank face said nothing as a barrage of questions ensued.

“What are you most excited about for the first day?”

Silence.

“What about your friends?”

Not even a blink.

Quartson chimed in, trying to encourage her participation.

“Did you miss your friends?” she asked.

No response.

“What do you normally do on the first day of school?”

Another empty stare.

“How about telling me what you’re going to miss the most this summer?”

Nothing.

“Did you watch cartoons a lot in the summer?

Still wide-eyed.

“You don’t want to talk?” Quartson asked Naa with a furrowed brow. “I’m surprised.”

Quartson then said the obvious.

“She’s shy.”

— Amy Brittain