Chapter 6

                                                 October,

                      2000

Dear mama,

Test starts tomorrow. I made sure to pray very well in church. I went to the altar after service to pray. I do not want to fail. It's not even an option.

I also prayed that Deji's threat will not come to pass. I prayed for Deji too so that he will repent from his bad ways. I remembered that you told me to always pray for my enemies too.

You said people did the evil they did to others because they are frustrated themselves. So I have prayed that whatever it is that may be bothering him God will remove it away from him.

After all, God always answers prayers. I prayed that God will also help me to hang onto the right cloud.

I honestly want to go to heaven where you are and leave this world with all its misery behind

Dear mama,

I was so nervous when my first test came up today. It was social studies. It was so easy it was like I had worried for nothing but I am glad mama, the over reading did help.

The only downside to it is that Deji who has not been talking to me but stealing my lunch told me to get my bum ready for ' koboko '.

I wonder what he has planned for me. I have been extra cautious these past few days. Deji's threat shouldn't bother me but I'm scared nonetheless.

I have been having nightmares about been flogged in front of the assembly by Deji himself. Maybe I have been thinking too much but I can't just shake the thought of.

In fact, I can not wait for it to finally happen so my mind can finally be put to rest.

Dear mama,

My palm is as red as the tomatoes Bose uses to fry my egg.

I got beaten today for the first time by Mrs. Sola. My palm stings from getting beaten by ' Mr do good '.

Honestly, mama if it was my palm only I would have alright but it seemed like the sound of my cries were lovely in her ears so she decided to intensify my pain by instructing me to turn my hand to the back. It was very painful.

It still hurts. It is all Deji's doing I know it. He threw a small paper at me during the science test today and on it had some answers scribbled. 

Mrs. Sola asked where I had gotten the paper from I told her I had no idea. I was surprised to see the paper there.

Mrs. Sola did not believe me and she didn't even bother to check if it was my handwriting on it she just went ahead to tear my science test, she gave me a new paper to write on but with no extra time.

I managed to answer most of the questions though. At the end of our test, she called me to the front of the class, called me a cheat, and beat me on my hand repeatedly.

I thought Deji's wish had come true but before I left for home he told me that was only to warm me up.

If this is warm-up I am so not looking forward to the future

Dear mama,

I honestly don't want to go to school tomorrow. Deji's threat is finally coming true.

Mrs. Sola found a basic science textbook under my desk during test today. I don't know how it got there but I can bet my life savings that it is Deji.

This is the second time Mrs. Sola has supposedly caught me cheating so my case is meant to be reported to the disciplinary committee headed by the headmaster such cases usually end up with the student beaten in front of the whole school.

The wait for tomorrow is dreadful. The only saving grace I might have is that the headmaster is not around and during his absence, they might not be able to come to a decision on what to do with me.

There is no one I can tell about this. Grandma will only get anxious and it will not be good for her health. Bose is of no use, she will not even believe me. Uncle Taju is in Lagos and I do not want to bother him with little issues.

I have no option but to face my fears.

Dear mama,

I cannot move a muscle. It turns out that the disciplinary committee refused to acknowledge the absence of the headmaster, but rather go ahead with the punishment.

First of all, I was called in front of the panel and was told that I will not be writing any of my tests today. I will write it after the midterm break in front of the panel.

I was told to clean all the toilets in the school and sweep the staffroom and corridors. At noon I was to clear the bushes at the back of the school building. At the end of the day, an assembly will be called where I will be beaten in front of the school as a warning to other students not to cheat.

After clearing the bushes I could clear with the time given the assembly was called. Mrs. Sola and Mr. Ayo were the ones to beat me.

They turned my body to a toy. They have never beaten a white girl before so they must've been wondering what it will feel like.

Before the first stroke landed on my bum I peed on myself out of sheer nervousness. Mr. Ayo saw this and announced it to the assembly. The students then started to shout shame and laugh at me.

The more they mocked me the more I cried harder. The strokes came and they were extremely painful. My whole body turned red from the caning.

As it was the end of the day, Bose came to pick me up. She saw me being beaten and she screamed probably out of shock.

She ran towards my direction but was held back by Mr. Ayo. I was in too much pain to hear what was been said but whatever it was I was not released until my teachers were satisfied.

Bose had to carry me on her back home. Before I left I scanned the assembly for my friend, Lola. She was laughing, when our eyes locked she looked away. I wonder why she will do that? Maybe my situation was indeed laughable.

On the way home, Bose told me she did not believe that I had cheated. She knows the effort I have been putting into studying and she knows I am a truthful child.

She said she will tell grandmother but I begged her not to. She said she will have to tell uncle Taju though so that such will not repeat itself again.

When we got home she washed my body with warm water and treated my wounds. I need to sleep mama, I am so tired I feel like I will sleep a whole year

Dear mama,

I woke up late this morning. I panicked when I saw the sun all out. Today is Friday and I had school.

Unfortunately for me, I was so weak that I couldn't even get out of bed. I saw Bose come into my room later on but immediately she saw I was awake she left the room shouting on top of her voice that I had woken up.

Not long after uncle Taju came into my room. I was surprised to see him and not just him, the headteacher too. The headteacher asked me to tell him the truth about the day before yesterday.

I told him that it was true Mrs. Sola found the textbook but I had no idea how it had gotten there and I had not made use of it.

He told me he knew I did not cheat but he told me to tell him the whole truth. He asked me if there was anyone who had been bothering me lately to which I said yes. I then went ahead to tell him about Deji and his threat.

My uncle was very angry about the whole thing. Apparently, he had told the headmaster that he did not want anyone beating me and here I was covered with bruises.

When I told them about yesterday's punishments they were both stunned. The headmaster promised to look into the matter. He also said I could come during the midterm if was feeling alright to write the tests that I had missed already.

My uncle told me that next time such happened I should not hesitate to let him know. Grandmother later found out. She cried over me when she came to my room.

A doctor also came to check my wounds. Everyone in the house made a fuss about me today, it was so annoying. I had to pretend that I was asleep to get the chance to tell you about my day.

My only worry is that I might not be able to jump up tomorrow morning.

Dear mama,

I did not go to church today, neither did grandmother and Bose. Uncle Taju left for Lagos this afternoon. He told me to take care of myself and contact him if anything went wrong.

I can walk now although it hurts to walk for long. Grandmother has refused to leave my side. In fact, she is currently sleeping on the sofa in my room.

I wonder what will become of Deji. Somehow the thought of him getting beaten doesn't sit well with me.

In fact, when the headteacher had visited me yesterday evening I told him I do not want Deji to be beaten or given the same treatment as I.

He looked surprised, he didn't reply to me, he just smiled pleasantly at me.

I remember Lola's laughing face. It hurts to think that she would laugh at me. She's always the one to comfort me whenever something goes wrong at school. I wonder what changed between us.

I can't remember doing anything to annoy her. When I see her next ill know for sure what is wrong and if we're still good

I really do not want to lose her friendship 'cause she's the only one that talks to me in school. I will be very bored and lonely without her.

Please do remember to vote with your power stone daily.

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