chapter 3

Confession 

At the assembly ground the next morning, after all the routine was performed the principal came to give a speech.

He cleared his voice and started 

"Good morning students," He said.

Good morning sir all replied 

Then he continued " Most of you knew what happened last night at one of  the boys dorm last night "

There was murmuring everywhere 

Both those that knew what happened and those that didn't even know what happened were trying to get information and gist of what happened.

" Please quiet everybody"  the principal said . As I said he continued I don't know what's still going on, James is awake, but he's still not responding to us. His still in a state of shock according to the nurse, so I will want the boys at the yellow house dorm, which is James dorm, all of you at that dorm i mean all with no one excluding should come to the hall after the assembly for a brief interrogation, and query cause none of you gave me an answer yesterday. And we the school management would want to know what really went wrong, to know how to go about all this. 

I am confused right now and I need  urgent answers please, after the assembly to the hall please.

" Am i cleared?" He asked 

" Yes sir " They answered 

" Everyone dismissed" he said and everyone went into their classrooms 

Back in ss3 class block B Moses said to Ken "what are we going to do now ?" 

Am already getting scared of all these Emmanuel's disappearance means something is wrong somewhere and it would get all of us in deep trouble cause what more can explain all these right now 

Only God knows what James saw that kept him in shock till now he's not talking.

" I think we should just give in and tell the school authority the whole truth, " Ken replied.

Cause I don't know what else to do. It will bring consequences to us all. We all in our final year here, am getting really scared. I don't want to be expelled or suspended at this stage of my life. My father will kill me,I just don't know what you do.

They went to their class room and arranged themselves to march to the hall for the meeting. All were looking gloomy going to the hall, their fates now lie in the hands of the school authorities. They only hope it won't be that painful, cause they really have broken a rule that warranty suspension, but it might be more dangerous, cause one of them is now missing on top.

They all were quiet and sober when they got there, all waiting for the principal to come and address them, and know their fates. 

The principal, assistant, head of their dorm and some other officials all came into the hall and sat down.

Everywhere was getting tense and uncomfortable for them all.

" Hello boys "  He started his speech 

None replied they were all getting scared now. The principal sensed the tensity around them then he continued " am not here to punish anyone please I just want to know what really happened to James, so we know where we stand.

 " If you know you know anything, please step forward and tell us what happened, because according to the report I got, it was not too long when I left your dorm last night they said James ran into the dorm and fainted. Please, whoever has a clue, let him come forward and explain to us all please we are all waiting. He concluded and stepped aside, indicating for someone to come up.

Everywhere went so quiet, that even the sound of a needle drop can be heard. 

" Is nobody willing to come out or are you waiting for me to start pointing out people ? Am getting impatient already" The principal said angrily.

 The boys were now looking at each other,waiting for one of them to go up there.

Finally Ken raised his hands up and said I have something to say sir .

Then you come up here and say it so we all can hear, or is  that not the reason why we  all are  here? he asked, turning to his colleagues.

"Yes of course" they replied.

Ken came up and started.

Am not proud to say this, neither are any of us here proud of our wrongs, but we have to and bear the consequences there after, but in all that happens we still give thanks to God Almighty.

He looked up at the superiors sitted in front of him and he was getting scared again, he couldn't get himself to speak.

" Calm down ken just say it cause it won't kill you. His dorm supervisor said.

He looked at them again and looked at the floor, because he knows that what he's about to say will lead a lot of people, including him, into trouble. but he still has to say them.

We steal food stuff from the school canteen to cook inside the school bush to eat, and we've been doing this for a while now.

He said, raising his head to look at them again this time around tears gathering up in his eyes.

"Please continue," the principal said.

He nodded and continued, so we did it turn by turn. After we succeeded in stealing some of the food stuff, we would hide them in our lockers until we had gotten all we needed to cook it.

After getting these things, we would share ourselves into two's,so we  won't be easily noticed. The two people would take it into the Bush to prepare and we all would eat.

It was going on and on not until last night, when it was James and Emmanuel's turn to go and make theirs. We were all waiting in the dorm for them to come in, not until James ran inside panting and sweating, and with no sight of Emmanuel seen.

We were trying to get to know from him what happened, but he passed out on us.

He said and looked at them again that all we know for now sir.he said and stood there waiting for a response.

After some minutes of silence the principal got himself and asked " What do you mean by no sight of Emmanuel?" 

So you mean Emmanuel is not here with you guys? He asked.

No he is not sir ken replied still no sight of him since last night.

 O.M.G the female assistant exclaimed in shock.