Chapter 11: The Faces.

Who had thrown away an AU55 name badge here at the academy?

Who was KHADIJAT?

I heard footsteps approach from the hallway and I hurriedly hid the badge away into my wallet.

The two security officers, Mr. Porter and Mr. Luke entered followed by Director Dogonyaro.

"What happened to Ekaiteh?" I asked.

Director ignored my question and asked Porter and Luke to escort Ebube to his next class.

To me, he said, "Follow me."

We walked the hall in silence, and Dogonyaro led me into his office. He pointed to the leather chair.

"Sit."

I did.

Dogonyaro walked around his desk and took a seat, leaned back in his chair, and locked his fingers behind his head.

He stared at me. "What happened?"

Since Ebube was allowed to return to class, I figured I was going to be the one to take the probe.

Mom had always drilled into Ayo and me to be truthful, and she could always tell when we lie.

In that regard, I must say Dr. Dogonyaro intimidated me more than Mom ever

could, so I knew it was useless to try to dribble him.

"It was all Ekaiteh's doing Sir. She set both of us up, Ebube and me."

I spilled it. The entire saga, chronologically.

When done, I had nothing else to

say in my defense, but what would they do with Ebube pondered my mind.

"Sir, whatever it is I sense coming, Ebube doesn't deserve a share."

"I believe you," Dogonyaro said, which surprised me.

The lips on one side of his mouth lifted, as if he were trying to suppress a smile. He twisted the monitor on his desk to face me and pressed a key on his keyboard.

I watched as the entire incident

unfolded. Ekaiteh talking to Ebube, tricking him into waiting in the security room, her luring me to find Ebube, and she assaulting us.

Watching it all upset and angered me. Why did he make me sweat through telling him a long story when he already have a valid clue?

"You already knew?" I voiced.

"Of course I did. Nothing goes on in this academy that I'm not aware of"

"Ekaiteh said there were no cameras"

" Ekaiteh only thought there were no cameras in the security room or the stairwalls." Dogonyaro cleared. "That's a misdirection we feed to the student body to trip up those who think they're smarter than we are. We have several such traps in unsuspecting-places to weed out liars."

Dogonyaro blinked and leaned forward in his chair.

"Runso aka Phood, I believe you are a remarkable young man.

In just one week you've made quite an impression on me," he paused, "and on others too."

Others? Who were the others? I wondered.

"We've also taken a particular interest in Ebube and have been closely monitoring him. He trusts you now, more than ever. I want you to continue to be his friend. Will you do that?"

What choice did I have?

"Sure." I said.

"You've earned a favor," Dogonyaro said. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes Sir "I blurted swiftly. "I don't want Ekaiteh to be my mentor anymore."

"Ekaiteh isn't going to be anybody's mentor

anymore." His voice sounded ominous saying it.

After our conversation, he dismissed me. I

returned to my room to pick up my tablet before going to class. When I got there, I noticed my dresser door pulled half open. I pulled the drawer the whole way to see what had been taken.

Glancing at my spare uniform, I saw a single gold diamond badge pinned above the chest pocket.

Wow! I had earned my first diamond.

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During the bus trip home on Friday, traffic slowed to a trickle,. As we got nearer to my Gwagwalada bus stop, I could see thick, black smoke in the distance.

It Made me wonder what was burning. I got off the bus with my simple backpack

and my heart started pounding. The smoke came from the direction of our apartment

Block.

Running down the street, I prayed that it

wasn't what I was thinking

My prayer went unanswered. Seeing our building burning left me with a terrible, helpless feeling, an emptiness. I slammed into a wall of people standing around watching the fire and got grabbed

by a police Man wearing NEMA jacket, his big, meaty paw wrapping around my

forearm

.

"Hey, hey, where u tink say u dey go?"

Pointing at the burning hulk, I sucked

in air trying to catch my breath. "That's our house. Let me through."

The Police's expression turned sympathetic, but he didn't let go of my arm.

"Sorry, boy, that was your place. Not anymore. I can't let you through. Can't let you interfere with the fire fighters." He replied in plain English this time.

I stopped struggling. "How'd it happen?"

The cop released his grip. "No idea. That's for the fire men or early witnesses to decide."

"My mom and my little brother live there. Did they make it out? Where did they go?"

Shrugging, the Policeman said, "Probably they are standing here in the crowd. Just look around."

I did as he suggested and rocketted through the people. I recognized several of the other tenants from our building but didn't see either Mom or Ayo.

After Frantical search for about 10minutes with tears and heavy heart, I spotted Ayo and Bobby sitting on a stoop a few houses down the street.

Ayo's head hung, his eyes pointing at his knees.

Bobby glared at me, the same cold stare he had visited upon me last week from my visit.

I ignored his stare and ran over to my brother.

"I've been looking all over for you. You okay?"

Ayo raised his head and looked at me. The vacant look in his eyes clued me in that the fire had overloaded his emotions. I shook him by the shoulders.

"Where is Mom?"

The right side of Ayo's mouth curled up into a half smile. His eyes opened wide, red rimmed and with pupils looking like pin points. Slurring his speech,

Ayo said, "Bros, what's up?"

Bobby leaned over and put an arm around Ayo's shoulders. "My buddy had a rough day, needed a little help. So I helped him with a few tramadol. What would the world be like if we didn't help out our friends in times like this?"

It angered me, Bobby's insolence and the way he had draped his arm around Ayo's shoulders. Not a comforting gesture, this display implied possession, like Bobby had claimed my little brother.

"Besides" Bobby went on, "where were you

when the fire started, when Ayo was crying out for you?"

I have never been a violent person, and I never before hit anyone. But Bobby had crossed the line. Overwhelmed with anger, I slapped Bobby across the face, hard, putting all of my strength behind the hit. He never saw it coming. The force of it lifted the boy off of the stoop and sent him sprawling to the sidewalk.

Bobby sat up, leaning against the wall of the building, legs splayed. A bewildered look crossed his face and blood ran from his nose. He spit onto the sidewalk. Blood and a tooth. Then he screwed up his face and ran away.

I faced Ayo, his gaze having returned to his

knees, sitting there, oblivious.

"Let's go," I said and immediately realized the stupidity of my statement. Where were we going to? What were we going to do?

"Make uhna comot for road," someone shouted from across the street, which snapped me from my thoughts.

Two men wearing NEMA Jackets carried a stretcher in the direction of the

ambulance. On top of the stretcher, a body wrapped with a black bag.

A man wearing a white shirt, grey trousers, and shiny shoes pushed by me. I could tell by the way he moved that he was a supervisor. He said something to the attendant at the far end of the

stretcher. I couldn't make out their conversation, so I sneaked closer for an eavesdrop.

"One fatality," the attendant said. He wiped his brow. "Looks like a female and Burnt beyond recognition Sir"

"Any ID?" The supervisor asked.

"No clue yet. We found the body in the passage."

Upon hearing this, I need no prophet to tell me that the burnt body was my mother. I grabbed a post to steady myself. Ayo and I were now all alone in the world. My little world full of hope has crumbled before me. All the dreams and things I thought I was going to do for Mom have grounded to a halt.

Just like that, she was gone from our lives, gone from the world, and not missed by anyone except for Ayo and me. Like her life hadn't counted for anything. Like she had never even existed.

The incident prompt local investigation which were vague. Some said it's an electrical fault, some said it from so and so gas cooker, some said someone stored petrol in the apartment, while others said it was mysterious.

Whatever, the incident gradually died out without any tangible probe.

Somehow, the Academy get to know about it before I could break the news about my mother's tragic demise.

Ayo and I were invited to Gwagwalada local Government Secretariat and we ended up in front of a judge to decide our fate as young orphans. It was due to the consideration of the Wife of the local government chairMan.

It Turns out it was the same judge who sentenced me to attend the ROYGBIV X Academy that was to attend to us.

He reviewed our situation, after some preample and battallions of questions.

To me, he said, "You are already attending the ROYGBIV X ACADEMY in Kaduna state"

"Yes, sir."

"Tm going to try and find foster care and a boarding school for your brother in the same Kaduna metropolis, close to the

academy."

On a table near the door, a telephone buzzed.

"Excuse me boys," the judge said.

He picked up the phone. After some seconds he voiced "The Federal supreme court Justice? Are you

sure?"

The judge's face went pale and he hung up.

He looked at me and Ayo as if we were COVID-19 patient.

"Who are you?" He asked, looking straight at me.

I didn't know how to answer that question.

Before I could ask what he meant by that, someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," the judge said.

Behold, Dr. Dogonyaro and a woman who I have seen only on TV screen before. A slightly built, dark-haired, fair complexion advanced woman. She wore an unconvincing smile, the kind that doesn't extend all the way to the eyes, like it's forced or insincere.

The woman glanced at the judge and said, "Excuse us."

He never glanced back as he left the room and shut the door behind him gently. My heart hammered in my chest. I didn't know what was about to happen, but it couldn't be good.

"Hello, Phood," Dogonyaro said. He and the woman sat.

Ayo and I exchanged glances.

The woman spoke. "My name is Chief Justice Bianca O. Kanayor MFR."

My heart skipped. That's a big name. I've heard that over the news countless of times. She's a kind of person that if she sneezes, even the President will catch the cold.

That's Justice Bianca for you," Dogonyaro interjected. "She sits on the Federal supreme court. Do you understand what that means?"

"I think that makes her the boss for many?" I said wryly.

The lady's smile widened, and for a moment, it appeared almost genuine. "I'm glad you could say that." She said proudly.

"I informed Justice Bianca about your Predicament," Dogonyaro said. "Tm sorry to hear about your mother."

In the next beat, Bianca added, "Such a terrible tragedy for you little ones. Accept my sympathy."

I and Ayo nodded. Still in suspicion of what they were driving at.

"You've correctly said about Justice Bianca," Dogonyaro went on, "she's in a position of considerable power and has the ability to help you to any extent possible."

As a gentle street boy, I learned from the time I was in Kindergarten that nobody helped anybody for free. The old expression, there's no such thing as a

free lunch came to mind.

Addressing Dogonyaro, I

asked him, "Why should I need her help?"

"You and your brother are still too young to be let to yourselves with no parents and no known relatives.

Under those circumstances you would normally be placed into foster care because of your affiliation with our academy. We care for our own."Dogonyaro paused, as if considering his next words before speaking. "Justice Severn has

decided on an alternative for you."

Decided. That word accelerated my heartbeat. They weren't asking our opinion on this so-called alternative.

"Let me continue from here" Justice Bianca said. "As you probably know, located behind the academy is a small fancy apartment complex. A selected few academy graduates live there. Accommodation is free, all expenses paid for all Basic needs. Very special graduates. The best of the best."

I remembered viewing the complex from the second floor area during the tour Ekaiteh had taken me when I was a fresher.

"Only a few slots are available, so Dr. Dogonyaro and I want you to make a home there." She added.

I didn't know what to say. I don't know what I was feeling at that moment. A mixture of happiness, sadness and tension.

Dogonyaro spoke next. "You are the first ever non-graduate student to have his own apartment at that Section of the school."

The office fell silent.

No such thing as a free lunch played again in my head.

Was this some sort of coax thing? Did they

want Ayo and I to be part of some perverted scheme?

"Let me get this straight. You're offering

Ayo and me a free home of our own?"

Justice Bianca frowned. "Tm afraid you misunderstand us. Not Ayo. Just you."

Confused, I asked, "Hold it Ma. What about Ayo? Where's he going to live?"

"He can't live with you," Dogonyaro said, "because he can't attend our academy."

"Why not?"

"He wouldn't fit in," Dogoyaro said.

I felt anger rise up within me. "Ayo ain't no worse than any of the other students at your academy."

"That's not the point," Dogonyaro said. "Ayo is not an adjudicated delinquent. Kids must be sentenced to a crime to be remanded to our school."

I pointed to Justice Bianca. "I thought she was all powerful. Can't she do something to bend the rules?"

Boone glowered at me. "Do not be insolent toward Justice. She has the power to either save you or crush you."

The justice waved him off and wore her smiley face. "It's okay, let me tell Runso the rest of it. I'm touched by your loyalty to your little brother"

I glanced at Ayo sitting there, melted into his chair, absorbed by his own private thoughts.

"He's the only family I have left." I said.

"And that's why I will do Justice by him," Bianca said. "Tm going to place Ayo in a private boarding school. He'll have his

own room, have his own individual education plan, and a full-time staff to provide for his needs.

Ayo will receive the best possible care and

education."

Was she being straight with me? "How far away is this boarding school? When would we be able to see each other?"

"The school is just an half-hour drive from ROYGBIV X" Bianca said, " You could

visit each other on weekends. Jacko could even spend the weekends with you in your apartment."

Dr. Dogonyaro cleared his throat and glanced at Justice Bianca.

"That would be highly irregular." The Justice said. "As Phood said earlier, I'm all powerful and can bend the rules. I'm sure you could see to those arrangements."

Her tone was stern. Boone sat back in his chair and went quiet. I saw from his expression that he was afraid of her.

"That wouldn't be an issue Ma." He replied.

Bianca's voice softened when she turned her attention back to me. "Does that sound like a good deal to you, Phood?"

The voice inside my head continued to remind me, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Which prompted the bomb question

"Why are you doing this for us? Ayo and I aren't the only kids who are ill-fated?."

"I owe you," she said. "This is my way of paying a debt."

She owed me? I didn't get it. What have I ever done for this woman?

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