Don’t Act the Hero

It wasn't so hard for Anna to believe that the school would try to change the narrative and pin the whole thing on her innocent friend. She had always suspected that the Deaconess would dance to the tune of the affluent Bernard family. But not on her watch! "Poor Stanley and Poor Sylvia deserve justice" And she was going to make sure they got it! She was going to expose Gloria, Pablo, and Clinton in front of the school board. Anna swore as she wore her uniform, waiting for the moment the school board members will call on her as a witness.

Convincing the school board to give her a chance to speak as a witness had been very difficult. She had written several times during the investigation, indicating her interest to speak in front of the board, and for many weeks, the school refused. They were trying so hard to stop her from speaking up in her friend's defense, probably to prevent her from revealing the actual truth. But Anna didn't stop writing to the head of the board until the board had no choice but to give her an opportunity to speak.

"How do I look? Presentable?" Anna inquired, adjusting her tie and buttoning her school shirt. The D-day was finally here, and she wanted to look her best. She wanted to look confident, like a proud student of Bishop Evangelical College while she brought the school down.

"Are you really doing this, Anna?" Sylvia asked in a low voice, feeling skeptical about her friend keeping to her promise.

"Yes, I am doing this for you and Stanley… And oh, I promise not to mention what happened to you. Trust me." Anna appealed to her sad friend.

"Anna, are you sure you want to do this against your own school? You are making everyone your enemy if you do. The Deaconess wants Clinton protected at all costs, and if you go against that, you are making her your enemy." 

"Stop it, Sylvia. I don't care if I make enemies. Stanley didn't deserve what happened to him, neither did you. We can't let it slide. I am not scared of having enemies. The Deaconess is protecting the actual suspect, Clinton, and I won't allow that. I will bring them all down!" Anna retorted boldly as she zipped her skirt and buckled her shoes to get herself all set to meet the school board.

"Now, let's go to class! I can't wait to see how the day unfolds. I can't wait to see their faces when I tell everyone the truth." She said to Sylvia before they both walked into the busy school compound littered with students on their way to class. Anna's skirt flapped as she walked boldly to class, with determination in her heart while Sylvia dragged her feet, her eyes lowered in shame like she was used to, ever since Pablo and his gang violated her. Anna watched her silently, promising herself to make Pablo and his gang pay for what they did to her friend.

Impatiently, Anna waited in class for the moment the school board would summon her to the school's general hall for the ongoing investigation. She just couldn't wait to expose Clinton, Gloria, and Pablo. She was itching to see them expelled and severely punished. Anna was so restless she could barely pay attention in class, her eyes glued to the class door, anticipating the moment a member of the school board would walk in and call her out. She was still thinking about all that when Mrs. Gracious walked in and told her they needed her in the general hall.

Smoothening her school shirt and skirt one more time, she stood to walk towards the door when her wrist was grabbed in a tight grip, preventing her from moving any further. She turned, and it was Sylvia holding her hands. Her eyes were pleading with Anna to keep her promise. Anna nodded to her to assure her she would keep her promise. 

Sylvia finally let her go after getting her confirmation and Anna bounced to the General wall prepared to expose the villains in her school. But somewhere in her mind, she wondered how she was going to tell the school board the true and complete story without mentioning Sylvia and if they were even going to believe her. Just one girl against the school! Her doubts screamed in her head. She brushed the discouraging thoughts aside as she stopped at the entrance door of the General hall, breathing in and out to regain her composure.

Feeling confident again, she opened the door and her slim legs strutted into the hall courageously. But she almost faltered when she saw the strict faces of her teachers and the Deaconess watching her. She could almost swear she saw a hateful look written boldly on the Deaconess' plain face. "Would they really hate her for telling the truth?" "What would happen to her after she did?"She wondered. And she was suddenly scared of the consequences of her actions. But at the extreme end of the wide table where teachers, parents and other members of the school board were seated, she noticed a sad-looking couple also watching her, and she knew then that they were Stanley's parents. Her heart tightened in pity for them. "Why were they here if they were already suing the school? Were they giving the school the chance to handle it internally, first?" She thought to herself. Well, it doesn't matter. They deserve to know the truth, and she was more than ready to tell that truth.

Having politely greeted the strict faces watching her every move, she took a seat Mrs. Gracious had pointed to her, still a bit nervous. Immediately she took her seat, there was an absolute silence before the moderator, a woman with an unkind, serious face, commanded a boy to continue speaking. Anna instantly remembered he was one of Pablo guys as she trembled at the memory of that awful night they accosted her. She listened carefully to every word he was saying, and they were all lies against Stanley.

"Everyone knows I am one of the calmest boys in school. I was so surprised he picked on me. I had to fight back, but I… I don't know what happened to him after we fought. Maybe his gang members were angry he didn't deliver the assignment and beat him up." The boy babbled, unable to look at any of the people seated at the table. 

"Wasn't it obvious he was lying from the way he was acting?" Anna wanted to scream at everyone but she held herself, even though she was on the verge of losing control.

"Young man, are you trying to say a gang exists in this school? Okay, who are the members of his gang?" The Deaconess asked in a harsh tone, probably pushing for the boy to take the fall.

"I don't know, ma, I don't know… I still don't understand why he came to fight me. Look at the bruises on my body. I had to fight back, but honestly I didn't beat him to unconsciousness. We just fought, and I left him only for me to hear…" the boy muttered before the Moderator cut him short.

"Enough! Your story isn't straight. A gang in this prestigious school of ours isn't possible. We have to hear from others. We must get to the bottom of this!"

Anna could barely hold her anger as she listened to three more boys lie against Stanley, calling him a notorious student and a bully. This wasn't fair, and she was going to put things right by calling out the names of the real culprits! The truth can no longer be hidden. She gritted her teeth.

She will be called at any moment, and she will reveal the most shocking news. The Deaconess will be left more shocked than any other person when she learns of her daughter's involvement. Still waiting for her moment, Anna was offended when Mrs. Gracious suddenly tapped her and informed her that her mum wanted to speak urgently with her on the phone. "What? Her mum wanted to speak to her now? Why?" She was reluctant to stand until Mrs. Gracious ordered her to get up immediately and move. 

Reluctantly, Anna stood and left the hall with Mrs. Gracious. While she was leaving, she noticed the Deaconess was watching her every move, and she could swear she saw a hidden smile on her face.

Anna got to Mrs.Gracious' office and angrily took the phone to answer her mum.

"Anna, baby, how are you? How is school today?" Anna's mum's cheerful tone rang from the phone speaker.

"Fine, mum" Anna answered dryly, still upset that her mum had called her at the wrong time.

"Anna, dear, listen carefully to everything I have to say. I know about the case going on in your school and I know the victim was a friend of yours. The information reaching me is that you want to testify against your school and I can't allow that." Anna's mum sounded serious, and Anna just couldn't understand any of what was happening. How did her mum know she was about to testify against Clinton and Pablo? And why was she calling now? She wondered.

"Mum, he is innocent. He didn't deserve the brutal beating he got. I know everything; I need to let everyone know too." Anna mumbled as tiny drops of tears slid down her oval face.

"Anna, I don't want you getting involved. This is bigger than you. I don't want you going through all that mental and emotional stress. The Bernards are involved and you don't know what… Just stay out of it. You are too young for all this. Please stay out of it, Anna. It can't be just you against the school. You can't face them alone." Anna's mum said.

"Mum, I don't understand why you are siding with the bad people. I saw him in that unconscious state. They beat him really bad. He is the victim, mum and they all lying against him. I don't understand…" Anna muttered before her mum interrupted her.

"Anna, I don't want you getting involved. Do you understand? I want you very far away from this case. When you go to the hall and they ask you any question, tell them you know nothing and have nothing to say. Trust me, I know what I am protecting you from. One day, you will understand. Besides, your dad will be disappointed in me if I let you go through this." Her mum said to a dejected Anna.

After the the call had ended with more and more warnings from her mum, Anna couldn't get herself to move from where she was standing. She just couldn't make sense of anything. Why was her mum doing this? How was she ever going to get her friends justice if she wasn't supposed to say anything? What was her mum even protecting her from? Poor Stanley! Why now, mum? Anna mused, her thoughts scattered all over the place as she walked back to the hall. She was confused and tired when she took her seat again and did exactly what her mum had instructed her when the board questioned her. And of course, the Deaconess was happy her plan had worked perfectly well.

When the questioning was over, Stanley's mum started weeping because of all the lies heaped on her poor son and Anna felt like she had betrayed her friend. Still feeling devastated, she opened and closed the door to leave, only to find Pablo standing in front of the door, staring at her. Her heart skipped a beat, but she tried to stay calm since their teachers were still in the hall behind the door. Pablo neither said nor did anything to her. He merely watched her as she watched him, nervously. He was so close, she could feel his breath on her skin. The closeness made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She turned to walk away, only to see Clinton standing in her way too.

"You did well, Anna. I was scared you were going to say the wrong thing because of all rumors going around that you were planning to expose Stanley's attackers and testify against the school. It's good you didn't lie against innocent boys like us. You are a good girl," Clinton said, as his face cracked into a smirk.

Anna stood there trapped between them, more scared than angry, while they made a mockery of her.

"Thank your God you didn't try to act the hero. Because you would have stepped on the lion's tail and I'm sure you don't want that. Because no one messes with a Bernard and goes scot-free. You did the the right thing today, youngie. Good girl!" Clinton said, patting her head like she was his puppy, while Pablo silently watched her tremble before walking away.

When the boys finally left her alone, Anna ran to the T-end and slammed the toilet door as her entire body shook violently with tears. She had failed her friends. She was a coward! Anna cried, wishing she had disobeyed her mum.