“Listen to your heart more than your head. This motto would get you into trouble, but it’s never boring.” – Brad Barkley.

•••

“…they are above you, as school law states and as of today—would be handed over the mandate, to serve and govern the school body in accordance to the status quo, of course. They are to be awarded the same level of respect, given to the teachers and other staff alike and the same height of consequences would follow anyone that acts in defiance to their will. You can be rest assured, that they wouldn’t on any occasion stray outside the conventional means in carrying out their duties and would only act in your best interests…”

The principal’s voice was as shrill and pulsating, like eerie shrieks in an enclosed tunnel. Despite the fact that the woman was in her late fifties, her voice was all-encompassing than ever. The weekend had passed since the collation and announcement of the election results, and the jubilee and manic activities that ensued had all subsided now.

Celebrations were over, it was the time to act and assume office. And that was the reason why she struggled to keep the rate of her heartbeat on a normal frequency, as the vice-principal of the administrative section – a woman in her late thirties, with an obtuse-sized nose and rumpled face that made one wonder if she had perhaps did some time in prison, or previously served in the military—stepped forward with a golden tag engraved with the title of her office, and pressed it into place on her chest.

“By the power vested in me as school principal, I declare you all – the 20th set of prefects of Lake High, Lake County—Lagos, Nigeria – newly minted prefects. You are to assume office with immediate effect, so as to relieve the current S.S.S.3 students who are preparing for their final year examination—of their duties. Congratulations, I wish you well in your respective endeavors.”

The pristine silence shattered, as mayhem of cheers and applause revved up in the school hall. Rena couldn’t help the smile that bulged out of her cheeks, as she looked purposefully into the distance whilst shooting cursory glances at her mates, by her right and left—all aligned in a straight line, standing on the five-foot tall podium. Instantly, the students all rose to their feet and filed out of the large room in a barbarian yet organized fashion, and from her angle of view—it made them appear like irregular shards of magnetic components subjecting to the overwhelming force of a humongous magnet, pulling them.

The principal, who was beneath them on the leveled ground – whirled around, a smile on her face as she gestured for them all to descend from the threshold. They did so in a disorganized manner, but rearranged themselves uniformly before her again. The vice principals, and a handful of teachers were present also, and the few in absentia were ones whose duties weren’t in correlation with the student council.

“Once again, congratulations to you all.” The woman started, clasping her raised hands as she advanced towards the middle of the line where – Rena was standing. “I know you’re tired of hearing that all over and over again, and at some point you’d even begin to wonder if winning the election gives you the privilege of your office and that of your school degree, without the need to write an exam.” She trailed off, expecting a laughter that indeed stemmed forth.

“But you indeed deserve it. To be the official, endorsed, high school in Lake here is no small deal. Being a government school that matches the facilities, and even trumps that even in the best of privately constituted institutions by foreigners, is no small reputation. And you being on the student council of such institution, is in turn no small prestige. But just like we all know, with great power comes great responsibility.

“I have faith in all of you here though, I’ve personally vetted most of you and the few ones who I didn’t—were vetted by other trustworthy staff of mine, and I know that you’re more than qualified to man your respective posts, but qualification is one thing and adaptation is another. By now, I trust you’ve all read your respective manuals?”

“Yes ma.” They all chorused.

“And you know what exactly it is that you’d be undertaking,” The woman’s eyes was moving from one end of the line to another, like the pointer of a speedometer. “But of course, that’s just the basic stuff. The manual would only list out your duties in its most primary form, you’d later find out that to tackle most of your responsibilities you’d need to be intuitive as seeking solutions won’t be as straight-forward as you think. But that’s enough overwhelming talk from me already, I’m done making you feel like you’re the Super Eagles of Nigeria about to board the plane to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.”

Once again, they laughed in unison.

Her gaze fell to the brown leather watch clasped on her left wrist, before she continued. “I’d be handing you over to the respective staff assigned to your various offices. They’d give you further information needed and also, escort you to your various office-rooms. That’s if the post in question has one. Good-day, prefects.”

“Good-day ma.” They chorused.

The principal signaled in the direction of the vice principal, academics – who was clad in a black plaid suit, exuding his usual ominous vibe before calling out to the line, which had curved into a circle of teenagers in numerous conversations. “The Senior prefects, should please follow me to my office. That is the head-boy and head-girl, Mofiyin Adegoke and Moyin Olaoye.”

Rena broke the hold she had on her best-friend’s hand, as Mofiyin pulled her away towards the retreating pair of the principal and two vice personnel.

“See you during lunch!” She screamed, before turning her attention back to the scene before her. The guidance counselor, a pleasant woman with a petite frame and a low-cut that was finely attuned to her round face, where oval spectacles was perched was now addressing April, Itunu and Dabby. She moved closer to the group, so she could hear the woman’s words clearer.

“…student matters are mostly your concern, of course I don’t need to reemphasize that. Just don’t feel any pressure, okay? You hold 90% of the power of the social committee as social prefects in formulating all social related matters and events. The remaining 10% belongs to myself, and the Vice Principal Academics in giving you the go-ahead when we’re assured that what you’re about to indulge in is something you can handle, and of course isn’t some forbidden activity that we can’t condone. I guess, I’m clear?”

“Yes, ma.” April nodded her head, hands clasped behind and resting on her back—while the boys, who looked overtly indifferent to the women words—nodded dryly.

“Okay, then. Rena dear, you have something you want to tell me?” The woman’s gaze fell on her.

“No, not at all.” Rena shook her head. “I just can’t stop myself from ogling your jumpsuit. It’s really cool.”

“Why, thank you.” She beamed with another smile, and ran her gaze over her own body as if to confirm that she was indeed Rena’s point of reference. “It’s been in my wardrobe for quite a while now, I just didn’t have the courage to wear it. And I can’t exactly wear it to church, since I don’t want the attention of those judgmental ushers and I’m not exactly in my twenties and happen to be living the life and partying and all, I gat kids and a man, you know. School is pretty much the only place I could wear it to.”

“I see,” April asked, also seemingly entranced by the woman’s appearance—as her stare was transfixed on her foot. The boys on the other hand were inaudibly grumbling, and looking at the females in dismay like a pair of starved infants watching food being prepared, that would never become theirs.  “Those platforms are hot also. What are they called?”

“Oh, they’re Kendra Black Croc Heels. From a firm called – Simmi Shoes, I guess. Pretty hot, right?”

“Not as hot as the person wearing it,” Rena smiled, causing the woman to blush further.

“Alright, enough flattery. Pretty sure the boys are not interested in learning more models of shoes.” She cleared her throat, her smile disappearing but her warm façade didn’t depart. “Okay, now follow me. Let’s go to your office.”

Unlike the rest of the school staff, they followed the North exit of the hall. The counselor in the lead—Itunu and April directly behind her, while Dabby fell behind to walk by her side. She knew he wasn’t exactly seeking out her attention, he just didn’t want to walk by Itunu’s side. Oh, the pride of them both – when put together, could match the impaling rays of a scorching sun. Her heart throbbed in anxiety as the thought further of the sort of conflict that could arise in the process of carrying out their duties.

“And let me remind you, that while you have total jurisdiction over this office…” The counselor’s voice jolted her out of her reverie. “…you are not to use it for frivolities. Don’t think I’m ignorant of the way you prefects abuse your power from time to time using your offices.

“Example is how the health prefects skip classes they don’t like, by lying that they have patients to attend to in the sick bay and eventually go there to hang out with their friends. Or how the food prefects lie about the food inspection time and leave classes a period, or two earlier. Anyway, the teachers have been enlightened on those various crimes anyway. But still, be warned. Such would not be tolerated.”

“Nawa o, what’s now the use?” Dabby snorted, to himself but she heard him nonetheless. It was on very few occasions, that his mood could actually turn sour and since he was quiet when such mood was in place, she didn’t want to jinx it. But still, the sight of him being angry could be likened to that of an ugly stray dog, out in the violent rain. You didn’t want it inside your house and at the same time, you don’t want it to suffer.

“I wonder what’d be next. Don’t sit on the plump chairs in there, take the metal chairs from your class-rooms.” He continued grumbling, in the tone of a whisper.

“Don’t be silly.” She shoved him gently on his shoulder, and he flinched as if to say she had appeared out of thin air and wasn’t by his side all along. Wow, he must have been really immersed in thoughts. “What’s wrong with you? You’re looking like they’re going to restore your virginity at the place where we’re going to. They can’t do that, they know how much you hate it.”

He rolled his eyes, but she didn’t miss the glimmer of a smile on the ends of his lips. “Oh please, they’re all full of crap.” He lowered his voice, even further. “All that talk about having 90 percent power is bullshit. If we want to do something that they don’t want, they’d conveniently cancel it and that’d be it. Their 10 percent is more powerful, so what’s the use of having the title. We’re just figure-heads really, figure heads doing their dirty job.”

“Dirty job?” Her brow quirked. “We’re not going to be assassinating enemies for them if that’s what you thought.”

“Why, I’m not hurt at all that you think me to be so smart.” He snarled. “I meant dirty as in, the main, actual work. Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. They’d conveniently leave all the planning and administrative duties to us, let us carry the entire stress on our shoulders and not do more than give us a green-light. Giving us the delusion that we have more power, but they’re only using us. Can’t you see?”

“No, you’re being obnoxious. If anyone uses anyone in this circle, it’s you – the way you dump girls up and down, like last week’s refuse.” Rena snapped. “It’s only protocol. Besides, when have you heard that the school rejected a proposition from the social committee? It hardly happens. The counselor is a young woman, and is therefore very open-minded and modern. She hardly rejects stuff that’s cool. Only if you want to suggest a party where no one wears clothes, then yeah. I see why you’re worried now, you probably had that in mind.”

“Hey, what’s so bad in that? Wasn’t it in England or one British country that they did it last?” He shrugged, earning another blow from her. “But no, they’d go on and reject such brilliant proposition. Even when you put in the fact that one could gain Vitamin K from basking in the sun rays and taking it into your body and all.”

“You’re silly,” She laughed, just as they came to a halt on a particular room by their right on the corridor. They were currently on the last floor of the building, above the senior block where various administrative offices were located. She cringed inwardly, at the proximity with the most powerful personnel in the school. The thought alone, decimated all her previous fantasies of acting as she wished in the committee conference room.

“And we’re here.” The counselor said, halting by the arch-way—gesturing for them to proceed. Itunu went in first, followed by April before her and Dabby stepped in together. The room was illuminated by white fluorescent globes that spelt out its blue-white painted walls. It was the typical setting of a conference room, save a long table and several chairs. The table mounted in the centre of the room, with a large emblem of the school’s logo imprinted on it – was of moderate size, and the chairs were only five in number. Two on each sides, and one pioneer seat. She guessed such seat was for when the counselor was joining them.

“So, this is your home until next year when your term is over of course.” The counselor said, striding over to their side by the table. “Like I said earlier, you have full access to it. You can come in at anytime you wish, stay here during your free periods if you don’t want to stay in the library, even bring one or two friends, but ensure you do not abuse that privilege so it won’t attract scrutiny. Remember this is the administrative block. The principal’s office is just on the other end of the hall, alongside other personnel like myself and the vice principals. This is the most serene and quiet part of the school. You have to maintain that order, is that clear?”

“Yes ma’am.” They chorused.

“Good, I’m not concerned about the girls anyway. I know Rena and April are besties, and Moyin who isn’t here is the head-girl herself whose comport would be the most monitored, so I know you guys would behave. It’s you boys that I’m worried about, Dabby and Itunu.”

Rena and April smiled, while the boys smirked.

She turned a studious gaze on the boys, who were across the room by the other side of the table. “You are the leaders of different packs. You have friends, just like any normal fashion-conscious girl has clothes. They’re so many, you can’t even keep track. Be warned that they are not to come here in such large groups. Don’t brew up noise here, whatever you do – act with moderation. I guess that’s all for now.” She paused, her eyes sinking on the watch clasped on her hand.

“First period is pretty much over, so you can take the rest of the minutes off to just—you know get familiar with your environment, and also chat a little on the duties you just assumed today. If you have any question, my office is just across the hall. Have a nice day.”

“You too ma.” This time it was only she and April that bothered to reply, as the counselor let herself out of the room. The moment the door slammed shut, the boys exhaled like the room had just been wiped clean of a bad odor.

“So much talk like we’re CIA agents trying to unravel the remedy of a hostage situation.” Itunu groaned, advancing towards the pioneer seat which Dabby already had a hand on. “All that standing has taken its toll on my leg, mehn.” He was just about to slump into the chair, when Dabby drew it back—a scowl on his face.

“And what do you think you’re doing?” The latter asked.

Itunu stretched to his full height, and looked Dabby in the eyes. Although the demeaning effect he was going for wasn’t quite achieved, since Dabby was a couple inches taller.

“I was about to have my seat, why did you pull it back?”

“Oh, so you didn’t see my hand on it?” Dabby asked. “Isn’t that supposed to tell you that I’ve claimed ownership of it already?”

“Oh, so because your hand is there – Its yours? Without actually calling dibs or announcing to the group?”

Here we go.

Rena sighed, watching an argument unfold before her very eyes. This was exactly what she feared—the battle for dominance between two alpha males. Why did boys have to be so egoistic, she thought. She and April, were alpha females and they were the best of friends. They said girls were complicated and all, but boys were another case entirely.

“…You just finished complaining that the talk you’ve been getting all day is exhausting. So, I was being considerate by not giving you more of that and announcing to everybody that the seat is indeed – mine.”

“Yeah, right! You’re that considerate. Well, Mr. Man – fuck off. Because this chair is mine and I’m sitting on it.”

Dabby raised the chair in his right arm, closer to his ear. “Chair, is your name—mine? I don’t think so, because I don’t see it scrawled on your body. So Itunu, sorry the chair isn’t mine. You got it confused with another one, and you’re not exactly sitting on it as you can see I’m holding it up. No one is currently sitting on it.”

“Why do you have to be so stupid–”

“Guys, for goodness sake!” Rena cried, barging into their middle and pushing Dabby aside. April on the other hand was clearly amused by the scene, and was doing close to nothing to curb it. “We’ve not even been alone for more than three minutes, and you guys just can’t keep it in your mouths. We’d be working together for a whole year. An entire year! How do you plan on putting up with each other, if you can’t try at least to understand one another, huh? As for this chair, no one would be sitting on it.” Just as she paused, April sneaked in on Dabby from behind and plucked the chair from his unprepared hold. He tried to retaliate, but Rena’s grip on his wrist held him in place.

“That is not even a seat for us. It’s for the counselor, for anytime she’s present. So, we’d be sitting on the four chairs, facing each other. Is that okay?”

Their grumble was enough reply.

Rena dragged Dabby to the closest seat by their side, and took the one next to him while April joined Itunu on the other side. The tension hadn’t exactly dissipated—it was still very much present but with April by her side, she felt energized and reinvigorated. They had gone through a difficult hurdle in coming out triumphant in the elections, this was just another hurdle they had to go through.

We can do this.

*****

“Hmm, normally we don’t encounter this sort of problem. It looks like we’d have to move it to another location.”

The Nurse remarked, as she stood in between him and Legide—gazing up at the huge, grey box – stripped with chains wedged into the wall. For the past ten minutes or so, he and Legide had been given a brief orientation on the machinery and equipment in the school’s clinic. It was of course their base of operations, and where they would be taking up temporary residence for the year to come. What he wouldn’t have expected however, was to experience a shortcoming owing to his height.

Yeah, his height.

“So you mean all health prefects before us, have been really tall people?” Legide was saying—her arms folded, and a smirk on her face. “That were able to reach up to the first-aid box there without no troubles?”

“Nope, not the duo in particular. Just the boys.” The Nurse nodded, turning around to face them. They were in a clustered space between two bunks in the long, spacious room—which was parallel to the center of the room. “They’ve always been tall, and that always took care of that. As the school saw no reason to get a ladder or something.”

“Wow,” Tomi swallowed, his hands pocketed. He wasn’t short, but he wasn’t exactly tall either. At 5’7, he was just the exact embodiment of an average heighted person. He had never for once, detested his height or harbored some sort of fear of a looming shortcoming as a result of it. Who would have thought, such would come into play in such department.

“So, like can’t we have someone else bring it down permanently? And just put it—I don’t know in a place, where it would be easily accessible?”

“Well, it does add some sort of beauty when it glues to the wall like that.” The Nurse replied, and Tomi had to clench his fists to keep his astonished state. Really? Beauty was more important here? “You know how it complements the grey panels and cream walls and all that, but I guess we could do just that. When I leave here, I’d have someone bring it down for easy access.”

“Better, or else no one would be getting first aid treatment until Baba here grows taller.” Legide laughed, causing the Nurse to smile also. The woman in question didn’t exactly have the rudimentary outfit on. Her work gown held a deeper shade of grey than usual, was fitted and also pleated at the edges – which gave it a very fashionable look. Tomi stopped himself from scoffing out loud in the last minute. Lake High did have a perchance for attempting to stand out in every possible way.

“So I guess that’s all for now,” The nurse said as she stepped out of the corner to the center of the room. “I’ve given you the most basic information, if something else arises that is outside that then just use your intuitive. Do not be afraid, that hardly happens. This is a school clinic not a government hospital. I come twice in a week. On Mondays like this and then on Fridays.”

“Sorry, why if I may ask?” Legide inquired, much to his satisfaction. That setting had also stirred up curiosity in him.

“It’s totally the school’s decision, not mine.” She replied. “It’s not like they can’t afford me of course, but I guess it’s in accordance of their principle of aiming to groom their students better or something. Like they want their students to be able enough to tackle most of the problem and not lean on the Nurses or so. It’s just so you guys can be more independent, I guess.”

Or, it’s just a policy implemented to cut down their budget.

“But not to worry, like I said nothing bad can happen.” The Nurse was heading out now, retrieving her bag from a vacant bed in which she had thrown it on earlier, and draping it straps through her shoulder. “It’s when the Inter-house sport comes around that I know that serious cases come in. But that isn’t until next year, so you’re pretty much covered. I won’t be leaving, B-T-W. Would just be downstairs, hanging in the staff lounge because I want you guys to get comfortable without me around.”

“Got it.” Tomi nodded, his hands plopped on his waist as he and Legide watched the Nurse exit the room. “Oh, Dammit. I forgot to ask her if we could wear the coats outside.” He hissed, tugging the ends of the grey-padded jacket that glued to his shirt and tie firmly. “What’s the use when you’re wearing it only in the clinic, here? Everyone in the school isn’t going to get sick and see you on it.”

Legide chuckled as she brushed the stray strands of black braids on her forehead aside. It felt quite surreal to be here with her, alone and having the luxury of her company all to himself. In the beginning, he hadn’t done more than admire her from afar, only conversing with her exclusively in his dreams but it would seem one of those dreams had escaped dreamland, and had found its way to reality.

“You’re such a dork, Tomi. A big one.” When she smiled, she exposed her entire set of white glistening teeth, the overall image hearkening to that of an elated toddler. Just that cute. The light illuminating pattern of the room, rendered a glowing effect on her due to her dark complexion – like a blot of black ink on a white sheet of paper. “Don’t think joking about that would make me forget to kill you, though.”

“Kill me?” His face squeezed. “For what?”

“All that elaborate speech on the manifestoes day, can’t you remember…” And then she trailed off, as it hit her square in the face. “Oh, no I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive–”

Oh!

He shrugged. “Believe me it’s nothing. I might not have remembered if you didn’t bring it up–”

“How would you not remember?” She sighed, obviously disappointed at herself. “That day wasn’t in any way pleasant for you. But that’s that, let’s not revisit ugly memories. But if I must persist, your speech that day was quite—diplomatic. And very professional, if not for the ugly event that happened after, it would have gone on to be remembered as one of the greatest speeches ever delivered here at Lake. But instead, it is remembered for something else.”

“At least it’s remembered for something. Why don’t we sit? All this standing is beginning to daze me. I stand enough in Church, I don’t need to spend my entire week standing also.”

She nodded, and headed over to the receptive corner of the room which consisted of two plump sofas facing each other.

“Hmm, standing huh? You were dozing in church abi and they told you to stand up?”

“No!” He smiled, as she took the seat across him. “I’m an usher actually. Still relatively new and getting used to the standing stuff, and I wasn’t lucky at all. There are some posts that have a wall nearby that you could easily lean on if you’re tired, but not mine. It’s full-standing, mehn.”

“Really?” Her smile was back, but there was no flashing of teeth. “Who send you?”

“You think I went there to take up the job on my own? It was my mom’s handiwork. I’m just tired of it all. I can’t continue. I’m just going to do it for a while before I find a concrete excuse to give for quitting. Still looking for one.”

“Easy. Just say you received a revelation from God, and he said that the department isn’t for you.”

He tittered. “So what would be for me?”

“I don’t know, say you’re still waiting on him to reveal it to you, but you know with the way it’s going—it’s probably going to take a while.”

“I’m pretty sure God doesn’t work like that–”

“His ways are incomprehensible to man, so you don’t know.” She interjected. “Anyway, it’s your choice. Do as you wish.” She trailed off, letting her gaze roam the room. “We’re really here, aren’t we? I’ve always admired the sick bay, you know. I remember back then when my mates in J.S.S.1 would get sick and would be sent here to come rest and take drugs, and they’d come back to narrate their experience here like they just arrived from London. I’ve always wanted to come here also, but unlucky me never got ill and my friends too who are supposed to fall sick, so I could come visit them—were every bit as hale and healthy as I am. So annoying.”

“Annoying indeed.” He humored her. “The place me I always felt like visiting was the principal’s office. I know right? I’m weird like that. But everyone that ever got into trouble always discussed how you know—evil the place could be that my imagination ran wild. I must have thought at some point that there was even a pool of fire, for offenders to burn and suffer in—if their crimes were that grave.”

“Kilode,” And there was it again, her teeth-infused smile. “It feels good, though. It feels really good, and also the weight doesn’t feel all that heavy because if something goes really, wrong in our department we won’t exactly be blamed.”

“I’m not following.”

“Let’s say a child fall sick, all we can do is tend to him or her until it’s closing time and the parents come and carry their load. We’re not responsible to cure them, and even if its that intense and immediate we won’t be blamed because we’re merely health prefects not doctors. But other posts, such as the Labour office for instance. If the students are not well managed in the mobilization of large-scale duties then yeah, the prefects would pay.”

“Or if a social event in the school sucks, the prefects would be attacked.”

“Exactly, but we here have this cushion sha. And it’s one that indeed puts my mind at rest. Also, now taking into consideration most of the promises you made that day—that’s if the students can even remember half of it, self. If you don’t fail to deliver eventually, what can they do? Impeach you? Sure, they can’t impeach the others but you can always say you’re working on it and it would come to pass. Unlike let’s say the food prefect who cannot continue saying she’d work on the school’s timetable. If there is no immediate change, they’d rip her apart. You get my point?”

“I sure do. But why are you laying out all these facts, anyway? You’re supposed to be working in an encouraging agenda, not giving me reasons that would give me rest and peace of mind, if I don’t deliver.”

She laughed, reclining in her seat. Her profile was always a sight to behold, all the time and the rest of her body, well he wasn’t exactly ready to get started on that. They were dangerous tides.

“This is basically what I do when I’m fighting anxiety, just talk about random trifle stuff that’s supposed to give me courage that failure won’t have many grave consequences. Believe me, I’m nervous. This office is quite the fuss. Asides from the fact that the most expensive equipment here could pay a huge percentage of my school fees, and giving the wrong set of prescription to a person could stir such outrage, why in the world are we only two? We’re not the most powerful after the senior prefects, but the fact that we’re just two in number puts us in a similar place.”

“Oh, so it’s the popularity then?”

“It is the popularity!” Her shoulders slumped, and he didn’t need further confirmation to know his sentence had hit the right cords. She was going through the same nervous pathway, that he had gone through about two months ago now, during resumption after he had won the most fashionable award for their class.

“I don’t know, I just—my naïve self just thought that there was a way that I could be this and still be low-key, you know. Today alone, has opened my eyes wildly. Being called out on the assembly like that, decorated in front of everyone. Referencing me and you specially, as the people to go to whenever there is a problem relating to health oh, and that rule that we have to come up every Friday to address the entire school on hygiene! Just kill me already.”

Her earlier comport had already faded, and a tensed and perturbed one had taken its place. Despite her disconsolate state, she still locked cute with her pouted lips and creased brows. Tomi get a handle on yourself, he thought. There was simply no place for thoughts of such nature. They hadn’t even commenced work, and such stuff was visiting his mind. What’s to say about what they could develop into as time went by?

“I understand, Legide. I really do.” He sat up, clasping his hands. “I experienced the same thing also, you know when we resumed and I got given that award. At first, all I could think of was how I was going to lose my precious anonymity that I loved and cherished so much. And how I was going to join the popular folk in the spotlight, and become one of them. But the truth is, it really isn’t as bad it is.

“Sure, you have eyes that follow you about and watch your every move like an ex-con with charges of murder, but is there any severe, dire repercussion that we face if we do something, that a non-popular person wouldn’t face if they did? Sure, ours would be far greater but I guess that would go a long way in making us more careful and conscious that such doesn’t happen again.”

Her shoulders slumped, and he could sense the tension in her dripping out. “Really? Well, that’s true. But I really do not like attention in any way–”

“It is sorta difficult at first, I won’t lie to you. But after a couple of weeks, you’d get used to it. Just make sure you’re walking with a person, or two at most times. And you’d be fine, as the stares won’t be so intense. There are a lot of perks to being popular though, but I’m not going to start laying those out for you. You’re going to discover that yourself along the line. Trust me when I say, you’re going to love this life soon enough.”

“Really,” Her lips twitched. “And do you? Love this life?”

“I do, truly.” He cleared his throat, and leaned forward. “I think my love for it grows bigger, day by day. Anyway, back to the matter at hand and the huge responsibility I’ve dragged us into with that elaborate speech on the manifestoes day. Uhm, I have an idea that could fool the entire school.”

“Fool them?”

“Yeah, fool them. You see, people are very gullible. Let’s take for instance, I’m your father and I make a promise to you, my son that I’d give you anything you ask me for the entire year and for the first few months, I fulfill that promise? Won’t you have hope till the end of the year that I’d keep on fulfilling it even if I stop in the third month?”

“Yeah, definitely. Because you started out on a good note.”

“Brilliant, so you see my point. Now I believe we should follow this same trickery scheme. Start out on a good note, and shut the school body up as they’d keep on hoping that since we started with a blast, the only reason we’re not able to continue is because we’re probably coming across obstacles that are holding us back.”

“Okay,” Legide folded her arms. “I hope this brilliant start of yours doesn’t include finding the cure to cancer and HIV.”

“Of course, not.” He chuckled. “It’s just simple. Let’s serve the community. You know, community service. It’s not exactly a part of the stuff I mentioned earlier in my address, but because it’s quite different and no one really does it in this part of the world, then everyone would buy it.”

“Community service? In where exactly?”

“Just the turf surrounding the school, that’s all.” He shrugged. “And then a couple of houses, not so far away. C’mon, we live in the most refined part of the state, if not the country. It isn’t so difficult to clean up. It’s like redoing your laundry, after your mom has washed it for you. She washed it well, but she told you to rewash anyway cos she wants you to partake in the work. And you won’t of course do it well, since she had washed it before.”

“Ah, so you’re on the – I do my laundry, after my mom has done it for me wagon.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He feigned an incongruous look. “So, what do you think?”

“I’m in.”

*****

“You know, I was actually beginning to wonder if they were doing some sort of ritual in there.”

Rena exclaimed in weariness, as she pushed herself off the wall and faced her friend who had just stepped out of the principal’s office, alongside another physically drained male.

“I tell you, someone who they caught in one chance ehn? Has a better chance of survival, than me and Mofiyin who have been in that place for the past two hours listening to all sorts of talk.” Moyin grunted, collapsing on the wall that Rena and April had just pushed themselves off.

“Christ, I’ve been standing for the past three hours or so. At some point in there, I almost asked them if the standing was all a test, to see if I’d budge and take a seat. Because they were just bringing seats in, and no one was offering it to us.” Moyin added.

Mofiyin merely pocketed his hands into his pockets, as he towered over the trio. “That wasn’t even the most difficult part. The most difficult part was dodging and weaving all the nuclear missiles that were being fired in our direction. It was a life or death situation.”

“Nuclear missiles ke?” April frowned, her gaze moving from Mofiyin to Moyin. “Someone better explain that.”

“All sorts my dear,” Moyin said. “Grammatical blunders o, spit and saliva o chai. It was just bad. I’m telling you that thing was a test to vet our character. Anyway, we made it out alive. I must not forget to give testimony in church on Sunday. Hmm, it’s not an easy sturvs o.”

“See guys,” Mofiyin started, with weary eyes skimming the hall. “Let’s leave this block. You know it’s a graveyard, in times of silence. No sort of noise is allowed. We don’t want to wake up the dead, and make them throw us another missile.”

And so they took Mofiyin’s advice, and left the hallway – heading for the second floor, which was the senior block. They were just trudging down the stairs, Mofiyin and Moyin in the lead—she and April, trailing behind when two familiar figures, walking down the hallway drew their attention.

Tomi and Alexis.

“Idiots,” Mofiyin called out to the boys, and they whipped their heads instantly in the direction of the noise and halted. Their perplexed looks melted into a smile, as the two groups adjoined—before resuming their walk to the distance ahead.

“We were beginning to wonder, if there was some sort of executive lunch room up there. Maybe that’d explain why you people didn’t want to come down for lunch.” Tomi was saying to Mofiyin.

“If anything, we were the ones that were lunch to the executives there as they were tearing us apart with their weapons.” Mofiyin sighed. “At least, it was worthwhile. We had double period Visual Art today, and I so forgot to do my assignment. That’s the one thing I hate about Art. Unlike other subjects, once you don’t do it – you didn’t do it. It’s not something you can dub quickly. I’m tired o. Next session, I’m changing to Data Processing before it’s too late.”

“Sheybi, they were warning you – you were forming boss.” Alexis shook his head, just before April who was behind the boys dragged him closer, and began a separate conversation with him. Hmm, April, April—she thought to herself. Whatever evil intention she had for the boy, though. Rena could only hope it wasn’t that brutal and inflicting, that it would affect her relationship with Tomi.

Tomi also sensing the pairing, quickly fell back in line with her to give Mofiyin and Moyin their space.

“Hey, you.” He gave her a genuine smile, that stirred up so much indiscernible emotions in her. A regular person didn’t have such effect on her, not because he was special and had the best smile, but it was because he hardly smiled—and so if he willingly smiled upon setting eyes on her, it meant that he was overwhelmed at seeing her and her feelings might just be mutual.

“Hey,” She returned the smile, and dared loop her right hand through his left one. Much to her surprise, he didn’t offer any protest or show any sign of discomfort. He simply eased into it. “How are you doing?”

“Just good, really.” His gaze returned to the life ahead. “The heat at home has died down. Dad isn’t as angry as he was before, but we’re not yet back on the best terms. Mom came into my room this past weekend to give me another speech on why they berated me so much and that I shouldn’t read too much meaning into it, that they were just so terrified at the moment. She apologized, and left me alone for the rest of the day.”

“Left you alone for the rest of the day?”

“Yeah, no chores, no Imisi problem. None at all.” He replied. “She made sure I had the entire day to myself, undisturbed. Believe me, that’s the best gift that you could get in that house.”

“I see,” She smiled. She couldn’t exactly say she could connect much on what he said, since privacy was something she had in abundance and even loathed unconsciously, but the essence behind the gesture didn’t elude her. It was quite clear.

“Yeah, what about you?”

“I’m just there o,” She rocked her shoulders. The school hall was coming into sight now, and she gently broke the grip she had on his hands. Not like she had grown tired of it, no her reason for the dissolution was far from that. As the ‘it’ kids, every pair of eyes in the hall always scrutinized them like some inspection exercise for detecting good bread, and she knew he hadn’t exactly grown fully acclimatized to such protocol fully. Bit by bit, she said to herself. They had to take it bit by bit.

“Nothing new, at all in anyway. Although I’ve been noticing that Moyin is actually growing taller these days, and I’m not.”

“What?” He arched a brow.

“Yeah! I was always taller than her, and I always rub it in her face.” She sighed. “Now she is taller than me! I don’t think she has noticed, if she has? The entire world would hear. Even the people outside the galaxy. That’s why I’ve been making it a conscious action to not walk in the middle again. I’ve been pushing April, the tallest in three of us – into the middle so Moyin won’t notice.”

Tomi’s smile widened further. “But you can’t hide it forever?”

“Says who?” She rolled her eyes. “I just have to remember to get new shoes this weekend, that have higher heels than this one I’m wearing. My dear boy, I do intend on hiding it forever biko. You don’t know Moyin, if you do you will understand. She might be the most reserved in the three of us, and the quiet one but she’s the craziest and noisiest really. She’s just too chicken to show that part to people who aren’t in her usual circle. If you think I’m lying, just ask Dabby – how the girl don suffer am. He learnt that the hard way also.”

“Wow, wow. Height sha. It was just earlier today, that the Nurse and Legide were throwing shots at me for not being so tall…”

His voice seemed to drift away into the distance, echoing—as its volume plunged low into whispers when the word – Legide rang out. Hearing that name on his lips aroused so many negative feelings in her that she wasn’t proud of. This isn’t healthy, she told herself. How could the mention of just a name make her so ardently jealous? Just the name alone! Oh, this wasn’t good.

“…just because I couldn’t reach up to take the first-aid box. Like, why didn’t they announce It earlier that being tall is a prerequisite for running for the health office. Funny people. They agreed to bring it down, B-T-W.”

She didn’t bother giving him a vocal reply, since her voice would drown in the harem of noise raging in the hall, as they stepped into it. The group quickened up their paces, heading to perhaps the only vacant table left in the hall—since it was well into the period. After they had settled down, and she ensured that he take the seat next to her – she made an announcement.

“Uh, guys. Tomorrow is public holiday, Lake County’s anniversary. I’m throwing a party at my place. Not exactly a party party, just a get-together that there would be stuff to eat, music playing, games to play and etcetera. Who is in?”

“Not me and Tomi, that’s sure.” Rena’s face squeezed into a frown, as Legide sunk into the vacant seat on Tomi’s right. What the hell was happening? Tomi also appeared confused. “I just spoke to the vice principal, Tomi and she’s all for the community service ish. She said we should do it tomorrow so it wouldn’t affect our school time-table and that she has some students who are due for detention tomorrow and probably think themselves slick for thinking they’ve escaped. She’d mobilize them and they’d help us. It’s perfect, right?”

Rena could only watch in disdain.

“Urgh!” Tomi grimaced. “I was actually counting on doing that on a school day, so as to avoid school. But anyway, we have to do it in the morning then. I don’t want to spend my entire day cleaning up people’s trash.”

“Yeah,” Rena smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “And then if you finish up early you could come to the party.”

And once again, Legide interrupted. “We don’t know, tomorrow is another day. Anything could happen.”

Yeah, anything like me sticking a kick up your face?

As lunch proceeded, and conversation filled the atmosphere—something became clearer to Rena that she had been oblivious to. It was the fact that Tomi and Legide were both health prefects, and would begin to work very closely together for the entire school session. The bond was a very significant, strong one and she couldn’t help but feel helpless that she couldn’t contend with it.

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Phase 2 is off with a blast!

Take a moment to tag your friends, family and every other person you know on here with an in-line comment.

So, so the second half of the story has commenced. How did you find this chapter? Phase 1 was mainly about the  introduction of these numerous characters, and setting up a few things but phase 2 would be much more defined and focused. I’m telling you, you have absolutely no idea of what its going to be like.

Drop a comment reflecting your thought, and tap that lonely star before leaving. See you same time, next week.

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Glossary:

Vernacular Interpretation.

Pidgin Statements:

1. Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop – An analogy that highlights the harsh struggling and toiling of laborers, who hardly reap the benefits of their work and have most of their gain truncated by selfish employers.

Terms Used.

1. Weaving – A synonym for dodging.

Others.

1. Stulvs – Informal way of saying – stuff.

2. Sheybi – A word use to implore clarification. Could be used at the beginning or end of the sentence.