CLASS IN A FRENZY

"Good afternoon class", the class teacher Mr Jones said while the class replied in uniform. The school sports' class and reputation, only the middle and upper class could afford it, because of this, some students from the lower class were on scholarship. The environment is conducive and among the best schools in its area, it is ranked among the first three. The international standard it poses makes it stand tall always, little wonder it continues to grow.

The camera in the class 4a or 4 aspirers like the kids dubbed it, is located right at the entrance very close to the door which is why the clip showed could only show John's entrance and back view when the fight ensued, Amid noticed.

"We are here to ask you some questions and I want the truth from all of you", Mr Jones. Suddenly Grace barged in quickly looking around the class.

"I thought I asked you I want you anywhere close to this class till I'm done", the principal shouted forgetting propriety making the students fidget in their seats.

" I uhm, I forgot something here earlier on, sorry sir", She said as she scrambled to take the board duster at the far end of the class and as she was about to leave, she glared at somebody at the far right of the class very briefly but Amid caught her gaze luckily.

"Well, out with you now", the Principal said in a cold tone.

"About what happened yesterday, can any of you stand up and explain to me, the Principal said, almost in a whisper though, with authority, he looks aged and tired.

The whole class remained silent, not even shuffling their feet. They remained still.

"Aisha Kadiri please step out", Mr Jones said, calling out the girl who is the reason for the whole commotion, who could better explain than herself.

"She's the girl John was said to have pushed yesterday", He continued as the parents looked at him baffled and they all hummed in understanding after he explained.

"Did my son push and threaten you little missy? Mrs Stevens asked snaring at the poor girl.

"Why are you scaring the poor girl for heaven's sake? Kam said angrily at the way the woman was reacting.

Mrs Stevens just looked away haughtily as if she wasn't spoken to and that made Kam start to get pissed though she still held the leash over the anger.

Jane who had been looking on bent down to Aisha's level and hugged the silently weeping girl. The back and forth between Kam and John's mom and the attention she was getting from everyone is apparently, not something she was used to. After a while when the tears had reduced, she backed up and wiped Aisha's face with her handkerchief.

"Aisha, you have to tell us everything that happened or you and your friends could really be in trouble", Jane gently explained.

"I might even withdraw your scholarship", the Principal added looking at her dead in the eyes and all the adults were shocked he would resort to threats just to get answers from a class four girl who is below ten and that alone intensifies Aisha's cries.

"That's what she said too, that's what they have been saying, I can't leave school", Aisha cried and Jane was just staring at her looking at how torn the little girl is while she continued saying the said thing and crying. All except Mrs Stevens was looking at her with pity and the Principal more with regrets.

"I'll pay your school fees", both Amid and Jason said at the same time and just momentarily looked at each other. Apparently, their line of thought wasn't that different.

"We'll start paying your school fees and catering for you my darling, to any level of education you want to attain", Jane said pulling her in for another hug.

"We'll be in charge of everything concerning you from now on, so you don't need to worry", Kam said rubbing her back and they both calm her down.

"Now my dear, who threatened to withdraw your scholarship", Jane asked when she was down to just sniffling.

"You all are wasting my time, you all saw the clip but refused to accept the truth", John's mother said angrily which prompted a death glare from Jane and Kam. Kamila quickly lost her cool and Amid understood this so he quickly got between both women and tried to round things up.

"Aisha, I'm here and he is here too, nothing can happen", Amid said pointing at Damola who gave the little girl a reassuring look.

Still sniffling, she explained everything that happened the previous day. How Miss Grace who happened to be John's aunt had cornered her and told her not to say anything else her scholarship would be terminated. She also explained how she promised her parents that she'd never leave school and that she'd abide by the rules, hence she didn't say anything initially.

Mr Jones was so angry that a colleague would stoop that low just to get her cousin out of trouble, the notion in itself is insane and he immediately stomped out to bring her in.

"My son didn't do that you little.....", shouted Mrs Stevens as she lounged for the little girl but was caught short by Kam who pushed her back with force with her back hitting the wall.

"It is true", the little girl sitting beside Aisha shouted though shyly.

"He bullies everybody and never gets punished", Skylar continued, her name written boldly on the tag pinned to her pinafore.

Suddenly, the whole class broke into a frenzy. It felt like a breakthrough to Jane most especially.

"He tore my books last week", a boy at the back shouted.

" He'll tell his aunt if we cry or report", another shouted. In no time the whole class became rowdy. Everybody suddenly seems to have a complaint to lay and it was overwhelming. Mrs Stevens suddenly became dumbfounded while the rest watched on in surprise.

"Okay class, en garde", the Principal said authoritatively and the whole class fell into a quiet though some were still whispering.

"Who is his aunt? Jane asked, somewhat exhausted.

"Grace", Kam said in a matter of fact way. Amid concurred while and he got a questioning look from Damola and he just answered simply;

"observance".

At that moment, Grace entered looking on haughtily as though nothing was wrong but cracks could already be seen in her sweaty makeup as well as her fake façade.

"She was the same person that brought a mute video, shared a knowing smile with Mrs Stevens on entering the Principal's office before and came into the class when unwanted to pick something as useless as a duster just to throw a venomous glance at Aisha, that was when I knew for sure she was important to the matter on the ground", Amid explained fully leaving them all except Damola in awe as to how he deduced everything.

At this point, Grace already turned shaky. Unemployment is a big deal in Nigeria, knowing fully well John's mother got her this job as a teacher, she doubts if she will be willing to help again as she is a distant relation of hers if everything goes awry.

Mrs Steven also promised to sponsor her masters abroad which she already knows in her heart of hearts can't happen again. John is truly devilish, she knows but there is nothing she could do, other than cover up for him as his mother had charged. Everything had always been smooth until he decided to bully kids of makeshift detectives.

"Miss Grace, did you threatened these kids to cover up for your nephew's wrongdoings? The Principal asked seething in anger.

"I….I….I…..I didn't ", she stammered, all pretence down.

"This case is more than a case of bullying, it is also one of child abuse", The Principal said.

"This school will not condone that and for that reason, a panel will set up today and necessary steps will be taken, no one but the parents is allowed to leave the premises till then", He concluded.

Mrs Stevens stormed out of the classroom while the Bashirs and Durelos stayed.