We were relishing the few minutes between assembly and commencing of classes when some students shouted "Mr Wusliu is coming "
The announcement was followed by students scurrying to their seats and getting ready for the iron man himself, then groans and murmurs everywhere
"Shebi we stil have like ten minutes before class starts " Kemi complained
"I swear" Ebuka replied
Felicia and Jemima just grumbled beside me and Felicia murmured something about Mr Wusliu's oversabi being too much.
"As for me, I need my beauty rest " Uyai said and tapped her face softly "It's not easy to maintain such a beautiful face . Joseph don't you think so?" She said batting her long eyelashes at the mumu Joseph who was obviously enjoying the attention
"I think so " Joseph replied with a small smile on his face.
Gosh! It looked good on him
"Ashawo " Moses said and we all laughed. Uyai opened her mouth but before she could speak, Mr Wusliu came in
"All stand greet!" I announced as the class captain.
I hate this job
The whole class responded and greeted him and he replied our greeting and added "Keep standing"
Question and answer time.
We knew Mr Wusliu's catch phrase when he started this
"Miss a question , miss a mark"
"Ime, another name for lithosphere is? "
Ime replied and he asked her to seat
"Ebuka, define Mesosphere "
"Kemi, give me two characteristics of hydrosphere "
"Uyai, define SIAL and SIMA "
Uyai began to stutter and Mr Wusliu shouted
"Miss a question......."
"Miss a mark " the class shouted.
The question and answer session continued for twenty minutes before he started teaching and the entire class was as silent as a graveyard for fear of Mr Wusliu is the beginning of wisdom.
He moved his thin body round the class , walking and teaching , at the same time knocking students, warning some that he won't mark their notes if they didn't tidy them up, commending some, warning others about their appearance, going through some notes, using his long cane on others.
No one dared misbehave during Mr Wusliu's fourty minutes
Towards the end of the class, he began dictating "Assignment, "
Students concluded their notes and began to write the assignment
"Define rocks. State the types of rocks. Give detailed explanation on the formation of the three types of rocks. Give three characteristics of each type of rock. Give three uses of rocks. Give three importance of rocks"
This man ehn! Is that not the entire topic he has given us as assignment?
"Submit before assembly tomorrow. After assembly........"
"You're not my problem " the class finished and his lips curved into a small smile and he adjusted his belt
"I'm happy you know"
The class burst into laughter but we quickly regained composure
"What do you have now? " Mr Wusliu shouted
"Chemistry" the class responded
He nodded and the siren wailed signifying the end of geography class and after Mr Wusliu left, we ran to the chemistry lab.
By break time, we already had three assignments for the day: Geography, Chemistry and English .
God help me
"I feel like dying" Jemima announced as we went for break
"I second that" I concurred with her.
When we got to the canteen, I bought food instead of our usual snacks. Felicia stood not buying anything and Jemima teased her
"Felicia, this one you're not buying anything, do you want to loose the small weight you've added?"
Felicia had been sick few weeks back and had looked so thin. Now she recovered and was looking flashier than ever. Felicia who prided herself on being the model of our group. Slim, dark, baby face.
She smiled a small smile that didn't reach her eyes and Jemima gave me a look. Felicia was just getting worse. I thought opening up to me would cheer her up a little and it did but after few days she sank even deeper into her world.
We went to sit and Jemima wrapped her hands round Felicia "Fefe, what is it? For how long now you've not been yourself. You know you can talk to us. And if it's your mum, she'll get better. Shey you know "
Felicia nodded and smiled
"Thank you "
We finished our meals and went back to our class and Bimpe joined us when she came from the hostel.
The rest of the day passed and I was extremely tired and with a bad headache. As we went home, I kept thinking of the many assignments I had to do and all of them were bulky.
Grandma Dafe had gone back to her house but I wished she was still around. She would have prepared some food for me to eat when I come from school.
I miss that woman. Oh! How she spoiled me
I met Aunty Ebere and Aunty Chika in the parlour when I got back and I greeted them. Luckily for me, they let me go without any drama but thirty minutes later, during the time I wanted for a quick nap , Aunty Ebere began screaming my name like the mad dog she was.
I hit my fist on the bed countless times before going to answer her. I hoped she had a good reason for disturbing me.
"What are you doing that you can't answer me on time?"
I was praying for you to leave. Nonsense
"I was sleeping ma "
She looked at me with scrutiny before speaking
"Anyway, I need you to go to that junction side, buy small vegetable, ugwu, hundred naira, nchawu, fifty naira and small Titus fish so that you can come and prepare rice and vegetable sauce for Sister Chika and I to eat "
Oghene!
She said what?!
"Ma, I should......"
"You heard me. Be fast " Aunty Ebere shouted
Ehn! How? When?
I'm dog tired, I have a terrible headache and so many assignments and this woman wants me to prepare rice and vegetable for her.
Is it that they were not hungry until I came back or what?"
"Aunty, please I'm. ......"
I didn't get to finish before Aunty Chika shouted from where she sat, interrupting me
"Jasmine , you are what? So you have now grown wings big enough that you can argue with your elder. Have you forgotten what the bible says about disobedience? "
No, no no
Aunty Chika not now. Biko
"The Bible says take hold of instruction, let her not go. Keep her for she is your life. Ebere just gave you an instruction, take hold of it. It is your life"
So, rice and vegetable is now my life.
Jasmine, God is your strength
"Yes ma "
"Eh hen! Ngwa go o "
I went to do their bidding and after preparing their meal, my eyes were very heavy and my head kept pounding. Many times, while cooking I dozed off and the smell of what I had on the fire woke me up abruptly.
I tried doing my assignments before sleeping but that wouldn't work. The headache was just too much to bear and my eyes closed immediately my head hit the pillow
*************************
It was already past eight when I woke up and I could hear mum's voice. I peeped through my window to check for dad's car and luckily for me, it wasn't within the premises. I didn't want to have to explain to him why I was sleeping away my time
I went downstairs and found mum in the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer and greeted her. She looked up and smiled when she heard my voice.
"Sleeping beauty " mum teased as she closed the freezer
"What did you do today that you're sleeping like this? "
"Many things " I said and she laughed.
"Things like what? "
I didn't want to tell her about Aunty Ebere so I dodged the question.
"Go and take your food o . Do "
"Thank you ma " I said and went to help myself with some yam and stew
"Who cooked vegetable today?" Mum asked me
I didn't want to tell her. She might get upset and be worked up
"Vegetable?" I asked tiredly.
"No o, fruits. My friend answer me jare "
My mother might be young, loving and all, but she was still a Nigerian mother.
How did she even know?
I scanned the kitchen and I spotted the plates and pots in the sink.
Abeg, I'm telling her. Maybe she'll warn Aunty Ebere not to do that again. But then it's not as if she can tell Aunty Ebere not to send me on errands
Ohohoh
"It was me "
"Why?"
"For Aunty Ebere and Aunty Chika "
"When you came from school? I thought you said you were tired"
"I was"
Mum shook her head and laughed without humour and I heard her mutter "Lazy fellows"
"Okay, go and eat"
"Thank you ma " I said and went to eat. I was just done washing plates and had just gotten to my room when dad came back and I was thankful I was already in my room and didn't have to face him.
I started my assignments and didn't finish until past eleven. I was already tired again when I finished so I took a shower , said my night prayers and tucked myself in bed
God, please today was very stressful. Let tomorrow be better. I need that.
"Jasmine , Jasmine "
I was fast asleep when I heard my name followed by a gentle shake
"Jasmine, wake up"
Ha ! Who's this?
I'm tired
"Jasmine "
The voice was louder
"Jasmine, stand up joor "
Mum?
I opened my heavy eyes and true to my suspicion, it was mum
"Mummy" I said , rubbing my eyes sleepily
I checked the time , it was only past two in the morning
What could have happened?
"Mummy, is there a problem? "I asked her sitting up and she sat on my bed
"I can't sleep "
Ah ahn!
"Why? "
She sighed before speaking
"Jasmine, I'm having cravings "
"Cravings?"
Me, I can not go out and buy food o. This pregnancy sef. How many weeks old, wahala has started
"Yes , I'm craving spaghetti and stew. You know I can't ask your father and there's a way you cook that your stew that's really nice "
No o, my stew is not nice at all!
Hope it's not what I'm thinking, I can't cook stew at past two in the morning na
"Please come and prepare stew for me. I've already put the spaghetti on the fire. Even the chicken that you will use for the stew is boiling. Just come and prepare the stew for me. Biko "
"Mummy, stew"
"Yes, chicken stew"
"At past two "
"It's for the babies. Your siblings "
She rubbed her swollen belly.
I'm sure she must have seen the obvious distress and surprise on my face
"Please, since twelve I couldn't sleep."
She licked her lips and I couldn't hold my giggle. She looked so childish and vulnerable. I'd never seen her that way before and I actually began to pity her. She looked tired. But still......
I'm tired
I went to prepare the stew and when I brought it to her, the happiness on her face was very obvious and I couldn't help but laugh.
See what spaghetti and stew has done to my mother.
**********
I never ever intended to repeat yesterday in my life again. I was narrating yesterday's events to my friends during our free period and we were all laughing. Even Felicia was breaking her ribs with laughter
"Abeg, I'm okay as an only child, let nobody wake me up to prepare food for them in the middle of the night" Bimpe said laughing
"Thank God my mummy is through with having children " Jemima added and Felicia laughed
"I swear "
"I want to go and use the toilet" Felicia announced
"Me too " I said
"Oya let's go " Felicia told me and we left the noisy class. Felicia was actually quite bubbly and I was happy to see her this way since she had been melancholic for sometime now.
We were on the corridor of our SS1 floor on the way to the toilet. The way our school was built was quite funny . The corridor was L- shaped making it seem like two corridors and at the end of the corridor was the way to the toilet.
My joy was shortlived when we saw Joseph and one of his friends, David walking together laughing like girls.
Foolish boys.
Joseph was demonstrating something to David as we passed them when his hand mistakenly slapped Felicia's stomach
"Joseph are you okay?" Felicia snapped
"Oh, Felicia sorry, didn't see you coming. Besides na only your bele I touch "
"Can you imagine? Only my bele. What nonsense. You think I'm like Uyai that throws herself at you?"
Joseph laughed
"Felicia, calm down na"
"Felicia, calm down. Sorry " I said rubbing her back.
I knew Joseph was wrong but Felicia was overreacting.
I understood her. She won't want anyone touching her randomly, especially with Mr Obi's actions.
"Tell her o " Joseph said
"You must be crazy" Felicia snapped at him
"Felicia, he's sorry " David said clearly not wanting any trouble
"David, please carry your friend " I said eyeing Joseph.
He was still wrong.
"You too, carry your friend" Joseph snapped at me
"Ogbeni shut up and go your way" I said and just as Joseph was about to speak, David tapped him and whispered whatever to him and they left
"Ewu " Felicia said and walked away muttering something in Igbo
When we were done doing our business in the toilet and we were about to leave, I held Felicia back
"You overreacted, you know that right?"
She looked away and I could see her wiping tears
"Felicia, please talk to me" I begged her. Seeing her this way was tearing me apart.
She cried in my arms and we stayed that way for a while before she looked at me
"I...I....I'm pregnant "
----------------------------
Hello ☺☺
Sorry for the late update.
Do is a word in Delta language commonly used to say 'Sorry or well done, sometimes thank you.
Ewu means goat in Igbo
Ogbeni means Mr in Yoruba
Please vote, comment and share
Thanks.
Also, pray for Felicia. Pregnant ke? !
God bless you 😉😉😉😉😁