The High School Miscreants

"Here comes the big girls in school!" I screamed aloud in our school dormitory lavatory after trying on one of the dresses Angela had given me. 

Chioma and I could not contain our excitement. I was wearing a short dress that exposed some of my body part. Chioma, on the other hand, was trying on the second outfit Angela had given her. I wasn't aware of what I was doing, but I believe I knew. Angela has scheduled a meeting with one of the men who have requested to see her. As a result, she decided to take us along with her. We had no idea how we were going to sneak out from the school grounds without being caught by the school gatekeeper or any of the school teachers. No student was to be seen loitering around the school grounds at odd hours, let alone leaving the school area without permission or a legitimate reason. One of the grade 12 students who held the position of head girl and would usually cover up for us whenever Chioma and I sneaked into the school dormitory room to eat junk food had already graduated. It was up to us to decide how we would sneak out of the school grounds, as it was already late at night. The wealthy man we would meet that night had sent Angela some money, with the promise of more when she met him. It was a large sum of money that I was willing to give up anything for.

That night, we spent a few hours hiding in the dormitory lavatory. Fortunately for us, no students entered or knocked on the door. We took the little bag with our outfits in it, hoping to change into it once we got out of school. We sneakily checked a few dormitories at the school and discovered that everyone was sleeping. The moon was shining brightly, and we were able to navigate the school with the help of street lamps that illuminated certain areas. We hurriedly but quietly began running towards the grounds in back of the school. Our plan was to jump through the fence in the backyard, walk a short distance, and then take any taxi to our destination. But as we approached the school fence, we were blinded by a long visible flashlight in front of us. 

"Who are you?!" The familiar voice, masculine and deep, yelled at us.

It was the gatekeeper, who was recently employed to keep watch in our school. Unfortunately, he had caught us. Before catching us, he apparently stopped by the school backyard to relieve himself while on duty at that night. Angela attempted to flee, but the gatekeeper quickly apprehended her by her dress. I stood transfixed, my legs trembling in fear and beads of sweat running down my face. Chioma had already started crying before the gatekeeper could say anything else. Despite our pleas, he led us to the fierce-looking female school principal.

Each of our parents was contacted, and we were suspended the next day. But first, we were summoned to the assembly ground and made scapegoats in front of the entire student body. My parents and Auntie Rita could not contain their rage for me. My father could not save me from the punishment. My mother heard the news and had to beg Auntie Rita to take me back into her home, where I could stay until I finished serving my punishment. But that didn't sit well with her. She had covered up the fight I had with Anna at school with a promise not to report it to my parents, but now I had committed another crime, and my parents had been informed as well. Despite my repeated requests, Auntie Rita refused. However, after my father's intervention, she reluctantly agreed to let me stay.