Meet the Friends

Today in class, three prefects, two males and one female came to ask of me. I was expecting the games prefect but definitely not with escorts. What have I gotten myself into?

I stood with my insides trembling but I have trained myself on poker face for a long time so that no one can guess what I am thinking. They asked me to follow them and I did. Thankfully, no teacher is in class now. It's our free period, minutes before break time.

We went to other classes and some students were also called out. What did we do? And why are they not saying anything about yesterday?

My questions were answered in a few minutes.

They called us because we are new students and school houses has been assigned to us. I'm in Flamingo house.

After calling out our various houses, we were told to go but the female prefect whom I suspect is the games prefect asked me to stay back.

"So you are the madam I told to come yesterday that bluffed me. What's that your name?" She asked, arms crossed. She is petite and fair. Beautiful in a sharp way. 

Since I'm way taller than her, I've to look down on my feet as I talked to her. Not out of meekness though, I don't want anyone to say I'm insulting her.

"I'm sorry prefect. I wanted to come but..."

"Wanted? Do you think you just want things in our school? Do you know I can punish you for this? If this is how you behave in your former school, you better drop the foolish behavior or I'll gladly cut your long tail for you."

Why won't she let me explain? "I was going to come but..."

"Now it is that you were going to come but before it was that you wanted to," the girl beside her chipped in.

What's her business in this?

"It is just that Mr Edwin called me as I was coming and...and they said he is very strict so I didn't want to offend him." I deliberately switched into a beseeching tone when all I want to do is to knock their heads together.

"And we are now the people to offend, right? Besides, when you came to school, why didn't you come or better still when you were done with Mr Edwin?" The games prefect asked.

"That is if it's true," the other girl said.

I kept quiet. My lie is obviously not working out very well. They kept talking me down for a while then thankfully, the games prefect muttered, "if not because this is my good day, you would have seen the other side of me."

I was dismissed. I thanked her whole heartedly. The last thing I want now is a punishment. If this is her good day and she is this bad, who knows what her bad day will be like. Hopefully, I won't have to find out.

I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice someone entering the class. I collided with a boy, sending his maths-set to the floor.

"Oh my God, I'm so sor..." I looked up and my eyes landed on a set of beautiful deep brown eyes. Oh no! "Sorry."

I bent down and picked up the math-set handing it to Mr Handsome as I straightened up.

"Be careful," he said in a voice that sounded heavenly. It's like a deep musical drawl that could melt Antarctica.

Okay girl, get a grip on yourself.

I turned to go but the voice stopped me.

"Hey, you forgot your pen."

"Oh," my pen had equally fallen. I picked it up, stood to say thank you but he's already seated at the back of the class.

*

I lectured myself from the minute I stepped out of that class and throughout the days that followed. I shouldn't have lost my cool in that class. An Uzodigwe never looses control.

I shouldn't have stammered. What's the difference between l and my cousin who behaves like a groupie when she sees handsome guys? Oh well, what's done is done.

On Sunday, I snuck out of the house to visit Esomchi to get the picture. He commented on my aunty being inside the picture and I tried to act surprised.

"Really? All the better. She's eating with someone, see?" I pointed at the lanky guy and Esomchi leaned in to take a look.

"Yeah, that's Mr Peters, the senior project manager. Look, I gotta go now. Have tons of homework."

"Oh, okay. Thanks a lot. Bye."

Mr Peters, senior project manager. Filed into memory.

*

I don't know how I've been facing my aunty all this while. Each time I look at her, all I see is a woman full of deceit and lies. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe there's no affair. Too bad the message I read keeps replaying in my head, reminding me that it is all so true.

*

It's been three weeks into school now. Everything's moving like a clock. Lessons have started in earnest and everything has become hectic. 

I'm still trying to figure out who the silencer is. I've made friends with all the B students in my class except one boy. He's actually my neighbour, a very shy and awkward boy. 

He stammers when he talks and I suspect it's more out of fear than a gene problem. He has zero confidence in himself and he rarely talks with anyone. Probably because others mock and avoid him. I kinda feel sorry for him.

Of course, I'm not ruling out the fact that he may be the silencer. Awkward kids like him have been reported to do worse things. But he's just so sweet (I think I'm the only one who sees this). Pretty sure all he needs is just a little confidence boost now and again.

Jennifer and I are officially friends, or something close to friends. I still suspect her though. She acts mysterious most times but I've discovered she's really kind underneath all that I don't care attitude.

Today at lunch, I collected my food and headed automatically towards the table I share with Jennifer. Almost there, I spotted Kelechi, the clumsy boy. Time to make a new friend.

I purposely bumped into him, making sure none of our food spilled.

"OMG, I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking," I said, watching as he fumbled with his tray with one hand, the other hand fighting a loosing war with his perpetually slipping glasses.

"N..no. it's m..my f.fa..fault."

Okay, better stop him now before he trips on his own words.

"Don't worry. Why don't we go sit?"

I practically dragged him to our lunch table, sitting him down before he could articulate a protest.

"Hey, hope you don't mind us crashing here."

Jennifer looked up for a second, then promptly resumed eating giving an I couldn't have cared less shrug. She does that a lot, shrugging I mean.

I tried to engage both of them in a conversation but Jenny flat out ignored us while the "pauvre homme" just made sounds I assume to be words. Time for confidence boosting.

"Kenzy," that's my new nickname for him. It just takes a whole lot of time to call out people's full name so I like to shorten it. I call Jennifer Jenny. She isn't so cool about it but duh! 

"Were you the one that drew that beautiful girl I saw on top of your locker?" The drawing had truely been exceptional.

"U.umm..y..yes," he shoved back his glasses again. 

He is really a small boy with large eyes. He looks more like a baby than a senior. He makes me feel like a mom, which is a nice feeling.

"Wow! That drawing was totes adobs."

At his blank look, I explained, "totally adorable." A summer spent in United States had taught me that slang.

He flushed.

I stared at him in total amazement. He's actually blushing like a white. Wow, he's skin is very light. At this moment, I could have sworn he's an angel.

"I ...I c.could s..show you s..some m..more if..if you like."

"I'd be delighted."

He brought out a piece of paper folded neatly from his pocket. For such a clumsy boy, he sure is careful with his drawing.

He handed over the paper to me. I opened it.

And simply stared.

"Jesus!"

It's actually a painting of the sea, underneath the sea actually. Different sea creatures were painted so exquisitely and with so much talent that it rendered me speechless for a while.

Curious now, Jenny looked up. She had a bored look on her face as she collected the painting from me. I watched as the expression changed to pleasant surprise as she viewed the art work.

"You painted this?"

He nodded. "Y..yes."

"Wow, you are so talented. Why aren't you in art class? You can make a career out of this," I said.

"I..it's j..just a hob..by."

"Hobby huh? Well, you are one talented boy. Tell me, what else can you do?" I asked.

He was about to respond when the bell rang.

I let out a groan.

"Looks like we have to wait for later. Let's do this again tomorrow at lunch time, 'kay?" 

He nodded, thoroughly pleased with himself.