Chapter 18

2016.08.30

Today is a public holiday. That means no school. I arranged my books and did all the home works. It was eleven in the morning when I had finished the home works. I packed my bag for tomorrow and went downstairs to have breakfast. "You woke up early?" My dad asked me. He had come from China just yesterday night. I and Engel had been up all night watching movie after movie. We made popcorns and also had a popcorn fight. We picked up the popcorns after the fight and ate them. Do not panic our home floor is clean. I smiled at my dad and replied "Yeah! I had a deep sleep so it was okay. Mom! Where is the scrubber for the floor?" "It is in the store room. The red one." "Okay. Thanks." Mother was in the garden sweeping up the dry leaves that visited us yesterday with the heavy rain and strong winds. And father was getting ready to go to bed back again. He must be tired with the traveling. He went to a business trip to China to purchase some goods and returned back in a week. He did not forget to get us goodies too. I did not open up the suitcase to check what he has bought because Engel and little bro has to wake up.

I took out the red scrubber from the store room cupboard and went to recuse the marble in my room. There was a relatively big black rings on the floor where the pillow had burnt. No, was burnt. I got down to my knees with the scrubber and a small bucket of water. I first scrubbed them off with only water and secondly used soap and finished off with water. The marble back to sparkling clean. Now I only had one pillow. I kind of regretted burning the pillow. It was my favorite brand. I should have not made my emotions take me over. But to be honest I feel bit relaxed as if the pillow burnt with all my anger. I feel better. And I was ready for a new start on a new month overmorrow (day after tomorrow). Engel was snoring in the opposite room.

"Moms can I go get a new pillow down convenience store?" I asked in a whisper. "Dad is at home. What is he doing?" "He is sleeping. Would not be awake in an hour." Mother nodded and said to get some cash from her purse and also said to bring some eggs. Father does not like us going to shops unless if I am accompanied by mother or by him. And if it is very urgent Engel has to accompany me. I tip toed to my parents room. Father was snoring. He was in deed very tired. I took out some cash and dressed in my black hoodie, black jeans and went to the nearby convenience store that was just 3 minutes away.

"Good morning!" the store owner greeted me. I have known him for almost 10 years by now. "Good morning! How are you doing Mr. Smith?" "Good. What do you need?" "5 eggs and do you got that tree pillow?" "I will pack the eggs, you get the pillow. It is in the 8th aisle." I nodded and sprinted to the 8th aisle. I got to be quick and return before Engel wakes up. If she wakes up she will wake up father. I saw the dinosaur boy in the 8th aisle. He was reaching out for a cushion. I have no time to waste. I scanned the aisle. The pillow was on the top shelf. I was short. Dang height! I tried reaching. Dinosaur was watching. I did not know that he was in a closer neighborhood. I turned to him and asked "Do you mind? Can you get me that blue pillow?" I pointed out to the pillow I wanted. He smiled and replied "Sure. You live nearby?" His face was a little red. Maybe because of the weather. "Yeah. Bye." I said bluntly after getting the pillow and ran to the cashier to go back home. He might be dazed. I cannot risk the time.

I made on time. Father and Engel was not awake. I made omelet for me and started having break-fast for the second time. I already had fruits and a glass of milk. All the running made me hungry. I should say sorry next time I meet him. I was being rude and ignorant. What I am supposed to do I do not want my father to find out.

2016.09.15

We are getting study holidays on the 11th month November. We have completed the syllabus except for the English Literature. And we are having seminars and lectures for each subject. They do a revision paper on the whole syllabus. And the revision is for the all the schools that is in our city. And for another city, all the schools in it. The seminars are in a school auditorium. Our school auditorium is quite small so only personal seminars are taken place there. Mrs. Beth gave me the list of seminars we are going to have and on what dates. I wrote them down on the black board. We have both black board and white board. On white board teachers write related to the subjects and when they teach. Where as in black board are day to day time table and any announcements. "You all have to bring permission letters to go the above seminars. Separate letters for each seminar." I delivered the message and went back to my seat.

A junior student came in excusing, "Excuse me, Sister. Can I know who Anna is?" I turned my head to the mention of my name. "That would be me dear." "Mrs. Marinna wanted you to the class 9E." "Okay. Thank you. You can go." I grabbed the seminar time table, a paper and a pen. It has to be regarding the English literature syllabus completion. I took the stairs to the class 9E. "Excuse me madam. You wanted me?" "Ah come in." She gestured with her hand to come in. "When do you have the seminars?" she asked me. I handed over the time table. She took a look at the time table and said "So you do not have seminars on Thursday this week and Wednesday the next week." "Yes, madam." "Has other teachers completed the syllabus?" "I am not sure about some subjects that I am not taking. But most are over madam. I will ask the subject leaders to look in to it." "Ah okay. I also have to check with my time table too." She rummaged through her diary to get het time table. "How about After-school and Saturdays?" I suggested in a low voice. She stopped searching for the time table and gave me a look. I stepped back and said "My bad. It is up to you." She broke in to a smile and pulled me closer. "Will see about that. But I want to just finish at school time and spend some time with my mother." She was really hurt. "Sure madam. She needs you the most now."

"Guys. Subject leaders are your subject syllabus finished?" I asked everyone in front of the class with a loud voice to get their attention. Some said yes and others said no. "Can you talk to your teacher and ask what periods she is going to take and report to Mrs. Marinna? Because we have not finished the English Literature syllabus too." "Sure Anna." They replied and went to their subject teachers. One of the girl asked "What about after-school class?" "You tell me." And I sat down to write a list of our names.

2016.09.16

Today we had Seminar in our school. We came to the auditorium and took our seats. As usual my ex-team sat at the last row. I sat on the opposite column from them in a middle row. I wanted to focus on my studied only. During lunch break I sat alone to have my packed lunch. I was not bothered being alone anymore. I got used to it. More like got addicted to it. You know people say that when you find out how being alone is so peaceful that you become addicted to it and start hating crowds. Well, that is happening to me.

2016.09.18

Today we have a seminar in another school. The seminar is conducted by an appointed lecturer from the Educational Department. I asked for the permission letters from the girls in my class. And no surprise that some of the students had forgotten. They always forget things. I asked what to do from Mr. Beth. She made them give a ring to their parents and to let them know that they are going to a seminar that is held in a different school. I wrote down the list of students who are participating and led the girls on to bus and Mrs. Beth followed us from behind. She knew I would do a good job.

Finally we came to the school where the seminar is going to be held. We are 10 minutes early but the auditorium was filled with other school students already. I will tell you something. Our school is never punctual to be honest we are always the last school to attend the seminar and there was some days that they waited for us to come and we were half an hour late. It was embarrassing. Some schools had their own private buses. Well in our case we did not have.

The school had two auditoriums. The one we sat was very small and all of us could not fit in. The large auditorium had a small meeting going on, so we had to wait till the meeting was over to shift to the bigger auditorium. There was some seats left in the small auditorium and we were asked to sit down. As I was first I went in to sit. The end seat was close to boys and my classmate hesitated to sit down. She looked at me. I nodded in return and exchanged the seat with her. Heads up! Some classmates lookup to me because other top shots do not and these girls do not contact with them. They just do not get along. I leaned back. I heard my name being called from behind. It was voices of boys. I did not behind, I kept looking forward. A classmate approached me and asked if there is any more available seats. As if I was looking I turned behind to see who has been calling me out. It was Samuel's school boys. I did not see him though. A sir from front called my classmate to come and sit in front. I gestured my classmate that there was a seat in front. Some of the girls stood up and went and my classmates filled in. Some hesitated to sit behind and called me to sit with them. I did not want to. They were already teasing me but my classmate was desperate. So I went with her and sat in the row just before them. There was a window on my left. We got files within papers. My tuition math sir passed us. He was out and I could see him from the window. He stopped when I was trying to get attention of Mrs. Beth. He smiled and looked at his school boys and said "Look after your little sister." I was dumbfounded. What is his problem? He was absolute lunatic. The boys behind me started calling me adorable nicknames, asking how I have been. I did not answer or even budge. I sat there like a statue. Later they poked me from behind. I shifted forward and turned to give an 'I will kill you' look.

After a minute passed we shifted to the large auditorium. It was spacious. We came in last to the auditorium so some of us had to sit in the boys' side. The auditorium was separated to boys and girls. The front four rows of the boys were empty and we only needed two rows to sit. I let my classmates follow me and we sat. The boys kind of awed.

Finally the Math seminar was over. We were the last to leave the hall too. Some of us personally went to the lecturer sir and thanked him for taking his time to teach us. I will be honest here. I barely understood what he taught us. When I was finishing packing my bag, a boy came beside me. I looked up. He handed out a form. I took it and checked it. It was to sign that we attended this lecture. The purpose of it is that after you had finished your national exam for Ordinary level they fish you to come and Advanced level in their institute or personal classes. It is a form of advertising. When I was signing I saw the Dinosaur boy's name. I only knew his father's name, not his. I turned around to see if his seat was nearby and he was. He was watching. I turned back casually and filled in. I finally knew his name. His name is Daniel.

I was the last one to fill in. Others left. Left without me. They forgot me. I gave the form and thanked for their hard work and ran to catch up with them. I was kind of lost. I could not remember the way out. I looked left and right. And I saw far away a girl in our school uniform. I speed walked in that direction. "Did they leave you?" the same batch of boys who kept teasing me called out to me from behind. I had no time to lose. I walked straight ahead.

2016.08.20

Today we are having Science seminar in our school. We went to the auditorium and sat. Twenty minutes had passed and yet the seminar did not begin. The auditorium became loud as all started to gossip. I was not gossiping. I was staring at the ceiling. Mrs. Beth came in a rush in to the auditorium and told only our class to go to the class and pack our bags quickly as we have to attend a Science lecture in another school. We dashed to our classroom, packed our bags and I counted the number of students and we quickly caught a bus and went to the school were the lecture was held.

No joke the auditorium was dope. It was all boys' school. Everyone's eyes was on us when we went in to the auditorium. Everyone were like 'They are always late'. The lecturer said "Thank you for coming after we called you just this morning." Yep it was their fault and also yes we are never punctual. I lead my class to the last row. And we sat.

In the middle of the lecture another two all boys' school came in and sat opposite column to us. I was in the front row with Mrs. Beth next to me after two seats. The lecture was good enough but not as good as Mrs. Beth. Mrs. Beth was serious and focused on what the lecturer was teaching. I looked back and my ex-team and some of my classmates were gossiping, the boys were troubling them. A classmate sent me a note. I opened it. It read, 'I have a question to ask from the lecturer. Can we go during the break?' I wrote down a yes and sent the note back.

It was interval. I stretched myself after sitting stiffly in one place writing. My classmate dragged me down the auditorium to the lecturer before he heads out to have his lunch. I stood beside her and others who were in a circle waiting to get their questions answered. My classmate was asking the question. I was scanning the huge auditorium and then looked up where all were seated and to find that 40% of them watching me. No I am not exaggerating. Daniel and his classmates were watching, Samuel and his classmates were watching and some girls were watching me. When I was climbing up, a girl grabbed me by my hand. I was shocked. I turned to see it was one of my friends in the science tuition class. "Hey, why did not you see me?" "Oh, no I was confused with the uniform. I was scanning the first 4 rows." She gave my hand a squeeze. A girl from her school appeared and asked my friend "Is she Anna?" She gave a nod saying yes. "Hi! Nice to you meet you. I am Anna." I waved with a smile and left. I was confused. I turned and saw them again. They were watching me and turned their heads and gossiped.

I wanted to take a trip to the washroom. I had to go alone since some were in the washroom and others did not want to go. As it is a boys' school we were given the staff washroom to use (The girls). I followed two girls from another school to the washroom. I found my classmates and waited in line to use the washroom. Others had left and some of asked me should they stay till I come? I said no because the lecture will be starting within 5 minutes and I am not sure how long will this line take. They left and I finally got to use the washroom after 3 minutes. I finished my business and rushed to the auditorium. "How are you today? Want my number?" I have never seen that face before. Samuel's classmates were eavesdropping and watched me in curiosity. I became deaf, dumb and blind and went in to the auditorium.

The lecture has not started yet. When I was coming in a group of boys from a school I recognized because one of my far cousin attended this school. A boy crossed me and went in to his seat and I almost tripped. I turned my head with rage and saw him hitting other boys as he went. I quickly turned and saw some of my classmates were watching too. A boy said "Dude, are you crazy? Watch where you hit. A****le" He hit to other boys private part.

The lecture finished at three-thirty and we all went to our homes by calling our parents. My parents were busy, so they sent my cousin to pick me up. No, not Rio. My cousin is from foreign. He is here for a short holiday and rides a motorbike that gives out racing vibes. I was thrilled to go on it and at the same time I did not want to grab any more attention. I told my mother to tell my cousin bro to not to bring the bike but come in a car or normal bike.

"What ye doing cuz!" he raced. "I told you not to bring this bike." "C'mon cuz, you love this bike. Do not care what others are going to think and do not mind if they are watching. Just enjoy." I grabbed the helmet from his hands in temper and slid down my head. He was right. I should enjoy the moment.