True to my prediction, the abortion was having its emotional effects on Felicia and it was hard not to notice how distant she was getting. Our first Continuous Assessment for the term was coming up soon and of course teachers were reminding us of it every day.
We were just returning from the assembly and the entire class was noisy as we began to prepare for our maths class. Immediately the siren wailed, our maths teacher Mr Segun walked into the class and audible sighs were heard everywhere even as we stood to greet him. The man always entered class as if he was waiting for the siren to wail.
Sometimes I wondered if he was a magician. Maths class was a semi -geography class because no one dared disturb in Mr Segun's class not for fear of his cane but for fear of his punishment. Mr Wusliu knew how to flog while Mr Segun was the punishment general but he still held a cane just for show. Despite that, he was still a bit nice but that strictness was unmissable.
It didn't surprise us when we heard he was Mr Wusliu's nephew
"Turn to the back of your notes let's do our small classwork" Mr Segun announced rubbing his bald head causing some people to chuckle. The head shone and was shaped like an egg and the man still like rubbing it
"Who are those that laughing?" Mr Segun asked and everyone was seen trying to hold their laughter. Even Felicia was nearly bursting with laughter.
Which one is who are those that laughing?
Jemima as the responsible one among us was giving Felicia and I deadly glares even though we could see her struggling to hold back her own laughter.
"Now take these questions " Mr Segun announced and began to dictate a total of five questions
"You have five minutes " he said and some people shouted "Sir five minutes is too small na"
I rolled my eyes as I began solving. Those ones were just wasting their time because he would not increase the time. Today is not the first time.
"Don't solve, be complaining " he said and soon the class became quiet.
Five minutes later, Mr Segun stopped us and had us mark our answers then we went on with the class.
At the end of the class, we were given eleven questions as homework and some students murmured knowing that Mr Segun dare not hear them but he did
"Those that are murmuring, eku ise o. Don't you know I'm helping you? "
That's what they always say
"We don't want this help o " Kemi murmured and Mr Segun frowned in concentration
"Who said we don't want this help o?"
Now, we were all grateful to Kemi for speaking our minds but we were not ready to bear the punishment with her at all. I positioned myself in a comfortable way because I knew drama was about to unfold.
Me, I must watch film o
"As if the one in your house is not better film." My subconscious told me and I shook my head at myself and continued watching the maths drama.
"I said who said we don't need your help o " Mr Segun shouted hitting his cane furiously on the desk in front of him and the girl that owned the desk, Cynthia moved back for fear of the cane.
Nobody answered Mr Segun but I suspected people knew it was Kemi because of the sideway glances some students were giving her.
"Okay, you're hiding the person abi " Mr Segun said
"Oya all of you in that area stand up" he said pointing at Kemi's area which unfortunately included Uyai but our beauty queen didn't stand up and the rest eyed her vigorously until Mr Segun spoke
"Yes, Uyai why are you still sitting?"
To the surprise of everyone, Uyai held her stomach and her voice that was screaming "A thousand years " this morning was now soft
"Sir, it's that time of the month when something comes out of a woman's body and causes the poor woman pain and--"
Omo! See lie
The lie just rolled off her tongue sweetly and people were shifting in their seats while some were giggling.
I turned my face away and smiled broadly trying to suppress my laughter
"It's okay, sit down " Mr Segun cut her short and was about to face those standing when Moses began to cough.
God, this boy wants to start
"Eh hen! Moses, why are you coughing?" Mr Segun asked and Moses coughed again before replying
"Sir, it's that time of the year when rain comes out of the sky and causes a poor human being cough "
My God!
This boy is mad
Mr Segun only stared at him and the foolish boy actually continued laughing and the whole class burst into laughter.
Moses is something else.
"Those of you standing, you still don't want to say anything abi. Don't worry. As I'm going out now follow me. If you don't talk soon, you will join Baba B to cut grass throughout today "
We all knew they were not going to say anything to him but in private, they would surely kill Kemi.
Life of a student
Lucy, another student looked at the wall clock hung in front of the class and Mr Segun shouted
"Aunty Lucy, time keeper well done "
As he spoke, the siren wailed signifying end of the period but the man did not leave until Mrs Ibeh came to teach and even after her pleading, he did not leave Kemi's group behind and that resulted in Mrs Ibeh using more than ten minutes to sermonize about respect, honesty and obedience
Oh well!
Moral lesson: Next time don't cover up for Kemi. Besides how are we sure that she will guard her mouth next time.
After an amazingly stressful school day, I was finally back home but my joy was shortlived when I saw dad's car parked in the compound
Ah! Why na? Can't one day pass without trouble in my life?
I met dad with Aunty Chika , Aunty Ebere and grandma in the parlour and surprisingly, Aunty Chika was scolding dad.
"Michael what came over you? What demon possessed you? That you, Michael slapped your wife is like I'm dreaming. Not just your wife but your pregnant wife. Answer me!"
"Chika, please you can't scold me in my own house. Mabel is my wife , my property "
"My friend will you mechie onu gi " Aunty Chika said "See how he's even calling my name without respect "
"How many years are you older than me with? " dad murmured and grandma and Aunty Chika shouted at the same time
"Mechie onu "
They were so caught up in the heat of the moment that they didn't even notice me so I greeted all of them and was about going upstairs when dad called me back
"My friend, where do you think you're going to? Are you not the cause of this problem? "
I froze on the spot and fixed my gaze on the ground. I guessed I was in trouble
Aunty Ebere eyed me while grandma shouted at dad
"Did she hold your hand and force you to slap your wife?"
"Mama, I understand what brother Michael is trying to say" Aunty Ebere said and I fumed.
This one and her big mouth. Alakoba, she wants to put me in trouble.
"And what is he trying to say?" Aunty Chika asked planting her hands on her hips
"Ask her o " grandma shouted
"Mama, sister Chika, if Jasmine here had not gone reporting to her mother as usual, will we be here?" Aunty Ebere asked
It's official. This woman is mad. Does she want me to die?
"Can you see ? This child is full of problems " dad said pointing at me
I blinked back tears as he said this.
Coming from my own father
"Nwokem mechie onu ! Mechie onu gi" grandma shouted at dad and turned to Aunty Ebere
"You're here changing the topic eh kwa. We're talking about a man beating his pregnant wife and you're bringing a small girl into the matter"
For the first time in my life, grandma defended me. I silently thanked her
"Is this one a small girl or a small devil?" Dad asked eyeing me.
Sometimes I wondered why he hated me this much. I feared for my life real bad. I wiped my face of the threatening tears but I knew they would eventually fall but I didn't want that now.
"Michael! Michael! Michael " Aunty Chika shouted "How many times did I call you ?"
"Three times" dad mumbled
"Be careful " Aunty Chika warned him.
"Oh please, Chika. You can't just come in and tell me how to run my home. Mabel and Jasmine are my wife and child and I can treat them however I like " Dad shouted
"Will you keep quiet?!" Aunty Chika snapped "You are not seeing things the way Mama and I are. You've forgotten that all Mabel's siblings are rich and have connections. One of her brothers-in-law is an oga in the army. Mabel herself has money. If you injure her they will finish you. Do you want to die?"
So that's why they were scolding dad not because they care for mum and I.
"Help me ask him o" grandma shouted.
"Is that it? Is that why you both are scolding me like a child?" Dad asked.
"Have you forgotten I have money also? I'm also rich. I'm a young millionaire "
"Michael, you know you're the only person with lots of money in this family. If anything happens no body can help you. Brother Joe will only advise you on how to behave inside cell and as for me I can only pray for you and Mama and Papa will only cry. Be careful this boy "
"I have friends "dad simply said
"Sometimes, I wonder how you made money with this your small sense " Aunty Chika said "Friends that immediately they hear police they will run as if their destinies left them behind. We , your family are now telling you small small but you are being adamant. Continue "
"Leave him, let him wait for friends" grandma said sarcastically
Dad shoved his hands into his pockets and took deep breaths before speaking
"I've heard all you said. Would that be all?"
"Brother Joe will be coming here on Saturday. In fact all of us will be here on Saturday to have a meeting on this issue. It cannot slide just like that " Aunty Chika said
"Why?!" Dad asked "I have somewhere to be on Saturday "
"Michael, you have nowhere to be " grandma shouted "You will be here and that's final "
Dad gave a curt nod and walked out. When he came to where I was, he stopped and stared at me before walking away.
I tried to suppress the sadness and hurt I felt with the anger of dad's gaze. As soon as I heard his room door slam shut, I ran upstairs to my room in tears.
God, I'm tired. I want out.
Please
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Hello people. How are you doing? 😉😊
Alakoba -Yoruba word for someone that wants to put another person in trouble
Mechie onu gi -Close your mouth(Igbo )
Nwokem mechie onu gi -My friend, close your mouth (Igbo )
Eku ise -Well done (Yoruba )
Oga means boss . Sometimes , it's used to say Mr (Pidgin )
Small small in this context means softly, gently (Pidgin)
Eh kwa is just another way of saying 'Okwa ya ' in Igbo or 'Abi ' in Yoruba. It means 'right? '
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V, C and S
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