Chapter Seven

On the day of her exam, She made sure all the things she might need were available. After the exam she was too scared to see her result. She suspected her score won't be high enough but she was still surprised when she saw it. It was lower than she thought and she doubted the possibility of her gaining admission.

After writing the exam and seeing her result, she traveled back to Anambra. Kendra tried to avoid questions from her neighbours but it wasn't possible. She decided to lie to them that the exam wasn't bad.

"I wonder if it's their business. They are looking for who to use as their topic of gossip." She thought angrily. When she got home, she took some time to meditate on the exam. She felt disappointed because her plans didn't work and she might have to wait till next year. She hated the fact that she was still at home while her mates were in their second and third year in the university. After everyone had gone to bed, she stood up quietly and walked to the left corner of the sitting room. There was a table on which books were neatly arranged and she took out her English text book which was among the neatly arranged books. She decided to open the textbook and check answers to the questions she couldn't attempt. After giving it a second thought, she decided to go ahead, "after all, no matter how scared I am, I will still find out some day." She thought while flipping through the textbook. After finding the correct answers, She sighed, looking disappointed and went back to bed.

Kendra decided that She would do anything possible to gain admission. She couldn't afford to spend another year at home, doing nothing. The next day she prepared early for the market as usual and left. Edna was surprised to see her daughter in a good mood; she knew Kendra felt bad after her exams and she expected her anger to last till the next day as usual, but she wasn't. She had no idea Kendra had made up her mind to gain admission either by merit or money.

Weeks later the departmental cutoff marks were released and candidates were allowed to check the internet for their course cutoff mark. Kendra was too scared to know if her score was up to the cutoff mark so she decided to wait until they start giving admission.

The admission started earlier than usual and it was time to check her caps. The constant appearance of"Not Admitted" on her caps, increased her fears and doubt.

"I have checked my caps for like nineteen times but it is still showing"Not Admitted". It just feels like I don't exist; like they don't see me so they can't admit me. As if I did not write Jamb." She said to Tony on their way home, after Sunday service.

"Jesus Christ! So you have been counting?" He exclaimed in surprise. He was about to laugh before he noticed how serious Kendra was.

"I'm even too scared to go and check again tomorrow. What will I do if I don't gain admission this year?" She asked, almost talking to herself.

"You told me you intend to buy admission." He tried to be of help by atleast, reminding her of what she planned to do.

"Yes I know. But I doubt its possibility. Even if it is possible, the amount will be too much for me to afford and I can't borrow or disturb anyone for money. I hate asking for something from people."

"You hate or you don't have the courage?" Tony asked her, expecting the truth from her.

She glared at him before accepting the truth.

"I know it is not right, after all if I don't drop the behavior, I might die in silence one day but I just want to be an independent woman." She shared one of her problems with her brother.

"I will check it for you since you are too scared to do so. But you will have to tip me." He said with a mischievous smile.

"Fine I will. Tomorrow morning you will go and check it before going to school." She was even surprised herself that she agreed to tip him just for helping her. She wasn't the type of person that gives money when it isn't necessary.

"This is so surprising. She immediately agreed to tip me. Is that how desperate she is?" Tony thought.

"I can't do it before going to school and you know that. I will.....or yes! There is a cyber cafe that opens very early. I will go there tomorrow. So how much are we talking about?"

"I will pay you when you are done with the work." She said to him and ended to discussion.

When they got home, Wisdom was already there but they did not see him because he was in the room. They met a strange girl in their sitting room. The sight of her suddenly made Kendra feel intimidated.

"How can a human being be so perfect. She is beautiful, hair full and long, skin is smooth and glowing, she has a nice figure and she is well mannered."

She became surprised and confused when Tony exchange pleasantries with her.

"Who is she?" She asked him when they entered the room. They met Wisdom who was changing his clothes.

"Wisdom's girlfriend." Tony replied.

"Girlfriend? How come Wisdom has a girlfriend and nobody told me?" Wisdom was already out of the room.

"Please I never told you about it. Mum and dad have no idea he has a girlfriend and I'm sure you know why." He said to Kendra who was now watching Wisdom and his girlfriend through the window until they were out of her sight.

"So where are they going to?"

"Wisdom said his girlfriend wants to take him out."

"isn't he the one that should be taking her out?"

"See your life?! Old woman. I told you you are old fashioned but you thought I was teasing you. If women said they are equal to men, then what should stop them from doing what men do? We are in 21st century and in this Century, a woman can take a man out, approach him and express her feelings for him and even propose." Kendra felt embarrassed, hearing that She was old fashioned but she knew he was correct except for one thing, proposing.

"Women are not meant to propose." Tony wasn't ready to continue the argument so he stopped.

"But how can a human being be so complete? She has everything that is needed in a woman.......or maybe not. I know she doesn't have a good character. That is how it always is. If the person is ugly and has a bad figure, just observe the person's behavior, you find out it is worth emulation. Nobody has it all." She explained to Tony who was amazed by what she said.

"What happened to you? What kind of mentality do you have? Or are you jealous? You think because the girl is beautiful and has a good figure, her behavior is bad? In the name of nobody has it all. Your idea of completion. Well I think you are wrong, because you have it all." Kendra was already frowning when she heard him disagree with her but after he made last statement, her frown changed to a smile. She didn't Know her brother would say that.

"Really? I am pretty?" She has always believed she was an ugly girl with an attractive figure.

"Nope. I just said it to make you feel better and stop being jealous."

"I should have known you are always a jerk!" Tony laughed at her reaction. She wondered why he liked teasing her.

"Well, I will be watching that girlfriend of his,. I don't trust her and Wisdom is too young to have a girlfriend."

"His business not mine." Tony loves his brother but he chooses not to be involved in his brother's business, especially when his advice is not needed.

The next day he went to the cybercafe to check Kendra's admission status. When he came back from school, Kendra wasn't back from the market so he had to wait for her.

"Guess what is showing on your caps presently?" He asked her with a calm tone when she returned.

"Tony stop it, I'm not in the mood. Tell me or else I won't pay you." Kendra enjoys joking with her siblings and pranking them but she wasn't joking with her admission.

"I'm so sorry. But you have next year as another opportunity." He said to her, feigning a sad face.

Kendra stood still, trying to accumulate what he just said.

"You mean "Not Admitted is still showing on my caps?" She hoped he was joking.

"Nope. I mean......you got the admission!" He finally broke the news. Kendra paused for a while looked more serious inorder to make him stop but she knew Tony will always be Tony.

"Tony be serious for once. This a matter of life and death...." She was already frustrated.

"No it is not."

"I Know! Just be serious please!" She snapped.

"Kendra I am serious. You got the admission and I've accepted it for you."

"What?! Are you mad? How am I sure you did not make a mistake?"

If only he knew how crucial this admission was to her.

"Kendra you know what? Tomorrow go to the cybercafe and check your caps. If you see any mistake there, hold me responsible but if you don't, you will tip me for a job well done." He said and was about to leave.

"But I have been admitted?"

"Yes."

She immediately lost all sanity, climbed the couch in the sitting room and danced while shouting for joy. It became too loud and Tony tried stopping her but couldn't. He decided to leave the house for her as she was already drawing the attention of their neighbors. She was happy throughout the rest of the day. She began to prepare for the future for by making list of all the things she would need and their prices next to them. She added more effort in her business by selling different meals. She focused on selling only foods since there were no clothes left to sell and believed there will be an increase in her profit.

The next day after her dad and brothers'had gone out, she brought out her money to be sure of the amount and to know how far she has gone. She was still counting when her brothers came in.

"Why are you guys back from school so soon?" Her mum came out to know who she was talking to. When she saw her son's, she immediately knew why they were back so soon. School fees.

"Go inside and change your uniforms. I will be back soon." She calmly told them. Tony obeyed reluctantly. He was upset he would miss alot.

"You have alot of money. Why not pay our fees?" Wisdom asked Kendra who was ready to go out. He asked Kendra the last thing she wanted to hear.

"Don't worry Mike will send the money."

"Mike? Is that what you now call him?" Tony asked.

"Yeah. Why not? I'm no longer in his house after all."

When her their dad heard they were sent home for fees, he immediately called Mike to know if he could lend him some money. Unfortunately he was disappointed so he called other friends of his and some of them couldn't help him while a few promised to give him before the end of the week. After the calls, he thought deeply of what to do. He knew his friends could disappoint him at last and he will be totally frustrated. He thought of borrow from the bank but he declined the idea. "How will I pay back?" Chike was greatly distressed as he couldn't provide the Money and think of a way to do so.

"It is always money. Money is always the problem." He thought and went back to work.

Kendra noticed her dad was greatly troubled when he returned from work. She watched him walked past the sitting room to the bedroom hastily. "Why did he rush to the room?" She rushed to eavesdrop even though she knew it wasn't right. She heard him discussing with someone on the phone and she stained her ears to hear them. It was about her brothers' fees.

They couldn't go to school the next day. It was useless because they would still be sent home.

"Mummy I can help pay the fees." She finally told her mum . She has been thinking of how she would tell her parents without making them feel embarrassed. At first she didn't want to because she has been saving the money for her school. She felt pity for her parents after seeing how frustrated her father was. She decided to help them, believing she would raise another money before it's time to resume school.

"Which fees?" Edna asked, hoping it would be her brothers'.

"The school fees, but not two of them. I don't have enough money."

"My God!" Edna exclaimed, feeling embarrassed and so relieved

"Don't worry, you don't have to. Your dad and I are taking care of it."

"Mummy don't. I'm not a kid. I will be twenty this year. I don't want you and daddy to feel embarrassed whenever I try to help financially because I'm old enough to do it." She told her mum firmly. She was surprised she spoke to her mum as a responsible and matured adult. Though taking responsibilities wasn't something she does but she kind of felt proud of herself she could atleast reduce her parents' burden. She knew her dad would feel embarrassed when he hears it so she decided to leave it to her mum. Only Wisdom's fee was paid; it was all her money could afford. Half of Tony's fee was paid after her dad had borrowed the money. Kendra began to make preparations for school. She printed the required documents and readied others. Payment of school fees was the only thing remaining.