THE SCHOOL DISMISS

 Old building detachable to another,

Amina and Fatima seen in front of an old bungalow, they wore hijab. sits on a

pavement chatting in Hausa language. Fatima third wife of Mr Ahmed Gowon. A Muslim

man, a retired soldier. She was given to

marriage at a very tender age, she's at her thirty. Amina friend, Fatima's best

friend

 Nnenna walks out of an old duplex,

with a tray of an unpeeled melon. sits on a bench in front of her home. Nnenna

a thirty-five, married to Mazie Okorie. 

a civil servant, still in the government depth record, months past still

haven't received salary, then talk of pension, force to be a brick-layer just

to survive with his family. At forty-five years moves around town, looking for

work, after his retirement. They were blessed with five Kids

 Kaima, Emeka, Ugo, Mary and chinasa

walks in. In their school uniform, backpack hang on their back. At once Nnenna

heart was troubled, she knew what had brought them home that early. She has to

go to the school and pleaded with the principal. "to let them stay for two

weeks". At the agreement time, she promise to pay, she still disappoint. They

have to spend most of their school days at home or rum around the school, till

they get tired. Kaima would always want to wait, "wishing they will be call back",

but end up having a fight with chinasa who never want to take the risk of

losing any of them. when they are chased out of the school, she has to fought

and urge with Kaima and Ugo, before she could drag them home. Kaima wants to

stay because she doesn't like missing lesson and note writing in the class. Ugo

just want to play around they play ground with his friends During break. Emeka

always want to be out of school to get away from bullies and flog he receive

from senior students, as well as the teachers.

 Mr Carson. the mathematics teacher,

Emeka in his class. he wishes he fall sick to miss classes, just to avoid him.

Even when he pretends to be solving some class work he gives, he still comes

him up, to answer the question written on the board, as expected he always end

up solving it wrong. He received a very hot slash of cane at his bottom.

 You won't be in Mr Carson class and be

dumb. you must sit up and be smart, if you fail one class work you will receive

two lash, you fail two that is four stroke. Imagine when you fail all the five

classwork, "you won't want to dare", you bottom will be burnt with cane. Emeka

believes everyone hated him even his own family, he has to keep his pains to

himself and cry out his emotions alone with no one to console him. He lives his

life feeling less self-esteem, feelings like a failure and a disappointment to

his family. Mary smart and obedient, whatever decision take by her siblings

she's ok, she is loved by everyone, of cause she's the last born, she don't

torrent from any one, not even her teachers, she don't accept been underrated

by anyone. When the Social Studies teacher, Miss Patrick flog her for fighting

back. "Aunty, I didn't do anything to her, I was on my own, she came and drag

my book from me" she said in tears.

"you

should have report her to me" Mrs Patrick said

"you

didn't ask, you just came in and start flogging me" she retort as the tears

keep flowing, Mrs Patrick knew she was wrong but she scowl her

Thinking

it will end there

"I will

tell Sister Chinasa" she brutal

"will you

shut up or I will give you more stroke of the cane" she yells at her leaving "who

is chinasa rubbish," she left the class. Mary murmured they whole day not that

the cane was painful but because she was punished for fighting for her right.

Chinasa was her second mother, she always gets her back and avenge when

necessary or pet or buy her sack to calm her down and stop her crying. Kaima

always judge her, That's why they never get along. they walked slowly and

dizzy.

"My

children, what's the problem? why are you back by this time?"

Ugo sit on

one of the two stairs in front of the house "we were sent home" said fumble his

school wear, his face clue with distress.

 "As if you know nothing about it"

frown leaning on a pillar, fold her hands "is better we stay home. Is

preferable than going to that school to disgrace ourselves" Chinasa brutal

adding

 "Did those came out of your mouth or it

was a slip of tongue?" she placed the tray beside her as she faces Chinasa, her

face terrifies with those words.

Chinasa

move a distance from where she stands "see is better, than going to that school

to disgrace us in the name of pleading"

Nnenna

pick a slippers shot it at chinasa, she hides herself, ran to the house

 "Take a look. so I'm the one disgracing you? go out there you will see young girls like

you, who support their family"

"But mama

there's truth in what she said" Emeka sit up know he might be the next target,

stay balanced in case there is an ambush, Nnenna turn to him her face fills

with angry and grief, like he adds fuel in a burning fire

"Let me

not get you" she yells, fumble her wrapper which was tire around her waist,

 "Last week you went and pleaded with

the principal to let us stay for the week and now you haven't....", she glare

at him, her eye look like pistol, if that was Gun she would have shot him with

it, she ran towards him, with so much aggression, Emeka ran as much as his leg

could carry him, Nnenna stop, walks back. Emeka walks towards her as he spies

her steps

"But, Bro

Emeka. you should understand how difficult things are, they are also doing

their best, you of all people should understand" Kaima said meekly

"who's

fault is it, see is not mandatory everyone must go to school" he challenge

"Me I want

to go to school, is because you are empty head. that's why you think everyone,

is likely to be like you" she brutal furiously, he glares at her, grinding his

teeth

"you're so

stupid, you must be out of your senses, so you're addressing me as a dumb,

you're stupid" he said roared. with the resentment in his voice, his eyes

glimmered with a dangerous light, glare at her for some time, leaving. Nnenna

Shake her head in displeased.

she walks

to them "my children. come let's go inside, we will wait for your father to

come back". she cuddles the last one

Mary, at her left is Ugo the second to last, Kaima walks in front of them as

the walks inside the house

Fatima and

Amina claps their palms as the drama of Mazie Okorie family ends, in their eyes

looks of disgrace and dissent towards them,

"such a

shame, see how they have mount their self as a thing of mockery" Amina disposed

so aggressive

"Ah…, my

sister that family is full of surprise, the have disgrace themselves enough, I

even feelings ashamed" she tweets in whisper, they chat in Hausa languages. The

sun face west as the scene fold.

***************

 Just as Mazie Okorie has finished eating

his meal, he washes his hand. Nnenna walks in sit beside him, an armchair

almost falling apart, cuddle him.

"My

husband, I hope you enjoyed your food?" she smirks so cold

 "Mhm…, you really did well, the food

was very delicious" smiling as he tact, starring at her, try to remove a piece

of meat stalk in between his teeth, with his finger.

"As if you

don't know they soup as lasted long enough" she brutal

 "But I'm not complaining" he firmed

giggling, Nnenna gaze at him, her eyes fill with empathy and shame, she looks

at the roof tears crowned her eyes, she stares at him and looks to the other

side, she clutches her hands together, robs them as if she was about to receive

a cane. He cuddles her, place her head on his shoulder

"Obim (my

heartbeat), what is the problem, what have they done this time" he pets her

shoulder

"For what

extended, will we dwell in this agony" tears race through her cheeks, she grief

as her heart speaks

 "Don't say that, we will be free,

believe that…, I know it seems so difficult, like the rain is not stopping but

the day the light will shine, it will shine in you" he consoled her, wipes her

eyes

 "The children were sent home, the depth

is much, you and I know the school has tried, we need to do something, I don't

want my children, to be a school dropout" she exclaimed, wipe her nose with her

wrapper

"they are

also my children. I promised to train them even to the university level, none

of our children will be undergraduate, I went to school but couldn't make it to

masters. The will make me proud by getting that degrees" he said so brave and

determine

"I

believe" moan. "so, how was work" she added, manage to say

"I was

hoping today will be better but, it just like every other day" he robs his face

with his hands. his heart fill with deceit and grief

"I know is

not that easy, but I know the God I serve will never shame us, I will go to the

school tomorrow to plead with them" she console him, they speak in Igbo language.

she carried the empty plate in tray and left, he leans on the armchair, face

the roof, his heart felt heavy and broken as he run through idea coming into

his mind

*************

Adex and Yusuf strolling down a lonely road in school uniform, they sun

hit heavily on them as they walk down the street, there wears wet with sweat,

Yusuf always in his bold step, in his fitted uniform that exhibit his body

built and chest. predict age eighteen

but look older than his age, cross his backpack across his shoulder. Adex smile

which exhibit his dimple, which makes him cuter and can melt a heart, tall,

always in a low cut hair, at his sixteen, hang his backpack. Adex is a newbie in

the school while Yusuf has been an old student, because of his good grades and

summation to the school he has won attention

Adex giggling "Dude you have to be careful"

"I'm a fresh guy" lick his lips, caresses his

cheek "I got the swag" he added, Adex blast laughing, they walked to a junction

"your book first, education is the key" Adex

caution as he hangs the backpack to his left shoulder

"Of cause a little bit of fun won't hurt. Look,

you have to enjoy now you're young". he retorted, feelings right with himself,

he adjusts his shirt place one of his hand on his chest

"You know we're in the last period, by next we

will be taken our senior exam. This is the right time to be with your books,"

caution, Yusuf fold his arm starring at him with a smile

"See who's talking, they truth is that you

haven't been in love before, you can say whatever you like" Yusuf sounding so

emotional, Adex looks at him with the tip of his eyes smiled

"Love no, no, no this not the right time for this, Yusuf you need to

focus in your study" tact smiling, Yusuf put his two hands in his pocket, gaze

at the sky, hold Adex shoulder

"You won't understand, when you get there you

will know what's like" he exclaimed.

Bisi walks pass them, with a sack bag and a hand

bag, as she smuggling with the burden. of which was pulling her shoulder, Adex

hush towards her

"welcome mom" Adex firmed as he took the sack

bag from her

"Good afternoon ma, how was business?" Yusuf

tact meekly, so childish smiling, Bisi smile back

"Thank God for today, how was school?" she retorts,

try hiding his eyes from the hot sun, blind by the lights of the sun,

"Adex see you tomorrow, take care ma "he tact

 "Okay

now, see you tomorrow" he retorts Yusuf left. 

wife of late major general Tunde ladepo, died in a car accident, which

left his family stabilize financially, the have to live their comfort zone to

the only property left for them by the family, life took turns out of them. She

was left with no choice, then to sold out the asset left, before she relocated

to the family home with her two children. Adex and Bolade, she was just eight

years when her father died, Adex twelve years.

"Bye my dear" she retorts smirk. turns to Adex as the walk towards a duplex,

painted white

 "You, so

you don't want to listen to me, this people they are not called somebody

friend, when their people comes he will be the first to rebuke you" she caution

"Mom, this people has done nothing to you, I

don't know why you harbour them this much" he brutal

She looks at him with empathy. "What an elder see when sitting, even

when a child climbed a tree, he won't see it" she exclaimed, walk into the

protector mount in the building, sat on the bench

Adex went in keep the bag beside the front door,

it leans on a wall the bag wide open, as he released the two handle which looks

like it was captured and now set free.

"Mom, that's not what is like, I know you know

better than me. your points are always adopting from tribalism and religious,

you have to change your intellect set. it not solving problem" he reluctantly

viciously. lean on the wall, she glares at him, so fierce mincing her teeth

"Shut up. I too know that is what will kill you,

don't listen to me" she said in Yoruba language "Bolade, my daughter please get

me water" she grumble

"Yes ma," voice reply behind the scene, few

minutes Bolade walks in

"Welcome Ma, good afternoon" she tact, in Yoruba language, beaming with

smile she replied. Bolade her father's copy, chubby and tall, looks more mature

than her age, mistake to be older than Adex, known to be notice anywhere she's

presence. Bisi drink the sachet water, she brought on a flat plate. she

squeezed ever drop of water into her mouth, dump The sachet water under the

bench, shows satisfactions by the look on her face Bolade sits beside her. "I

have warned you, don't say I didn't "she said furiously, in Yoruba language.

she stood up in so much energy

 "Mom,

what happened?" she asked curiously. waits patiently, she held the bench, point

her face up to face Bisi, by the look on her face shows how stressed she was

"he will explain better" she exclaimed walking

into the house, Bolade turns to face him

"Adex, what is it this time?" she query

"what!!!" he retaliates. "Mom, Yusuf is a good

guy. don't always think everyone is same" he added

Bolade smirk, twist her mouth "Mom, not again,

what has Yusuf done to you, you haven't stop this discrimination of a thing" he

grumbling joins her, Adex sits on the bench, staring at nature.

"where is he? is he gone?" she sits, besides

him, interrogating him.

"What" he grunts furiously.

Bolade glare at him, frowned walks into the

house, she has always found Yusuf attractive. She so wishes she attend same

school, with her brother, to have the chance to be with him, maybe might end up

been his girlfriend. Which Adex would

never want it to happen. Yusuf was just a Playboy.