CHAPTER 1: FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL

I lay on a mat outside our hut, watching the clear blue sky with my brown eyes. The weather was alluring. The sun shone its golden rays upon the earth.

My mind was not at peace, my heart was racing like a  moving car because of the thoughts that were clouding my mind. I was thinking about my family and their predicament. How I wished I could change their lifestyle! Just by thinking that there was nothing I could change, tears started cascading down my chubby cheeks. I got off the mat and walked towards our hut which was temporarily built. 

I thought being a firstborn was not easy, it has its challenges and ups and downs especially when one is from a poor background and on top of that, as a girl it was even harder. Anyway am sorry, I am Blessing Richard a 21-year-old girl. I finished my secondary education recently at the age of 20 years but could not continue with my college studies because my parents could not afford to pay for it, as I had already suffered from my primary and secondary education.

We were five children in my family. Going to school for me was a miracle because even having two meals per day was not easy. My siblings were always being sent home for school fees while they were still in primary school. What about me who was blessed to be able to go to high school? I had no choice but to thank Almighty God and continue with my life and forget about college.

Being firstborn I had my share of responsibilities.   

After all, I finished high school so I could do any job to provide for my family even if it was to be a maid because in the twenty-first century the younger ones looked up to me and my parents, but I can say I was the one being looked up to more because at least I had been in a class while my parents were illiterate. Because of this, they were unable to cater for our needs.

My thoughts drove me back to fourteen years ago when my parents took me to school for the first time. Even though I was very late at that age because I was already seven years, I was very excited and considered myself lucky to finally get the opportunity like the other children of my age.

That day I woke up at the crack of dawn as I was eager to join the school.

I went directly to my parent's room and knocked on the door. After some time, my father opened the door, he was astonished to see me at the door at that time of the day as it was not my habit to be up so early but I didn't give a hoot.

I smiled at him and he smiled back. I knew my father was wondering why I got so early but he remembered that it was my day to join the school so he cleared his throat and greeted, "Good morning baby girl, I think you are too early it is still at four in the morning, we can't go at this hour."

He was the best dad one could ever have as a father.

He was very loving and caring even though he was poor, he showered us both with love and happiness in our family.

He was a middle-aged man, kind-hearted, curious, handsome and very hardworking but had no permanent job due to a lack of education. He had dark but shiny flawless skin. He was humble, patient and always advising us not to give up in life no matter what. He was the best dad ever.

 I looked at him and blurted out, "But did you know it is my first day, I have to prepare early. You know we have to be there as early as possible" My dad just laughed at my curiosity and ruffled my hair. He did not know what to tell me anymore because he knew I was very stubborn. He just nodded his head to mean that I could go and prepare and entered the room. I took off towards my room which I shared with my younger two sisters and started preparing myself.

After about ten to twenty minutes, my mum came into the room and stared at me with a lot of love and sadness at that time. Unfortunately, I was as busy as a bee that I did not know that somebody was at the door.

I was busy arranging my two beautiful small pink books in my plastic bag because my father did not have the money to buy a bag for me. But I didn't mind as long as I was going to school, that was enough for me.

She cleared her throat and whispered so as not to wake up my siblings, “Baby girl, it is still early. Your dad told me that you are already preparing." “I have been here for quite some time but you were so busy, you couldn't even see me."

 Oooh my! I looked at her and ran into her embrace.

She was awestruck but then she relaxed and hugged me back because she understood how excited I was at that time.

My mum was a middle-aged lady who I respected and loved so much. Despite having an incurable disease, she was a bold woman who always talked her mind out without fear and at the same time, she was a loving and caring lady who would go to any extent of making sure that her family would always be together.

She kissed me on my forehead and without saying anything she smirked and went to her room and I knew immediately that she was also going to prepare.

I became even happier by the thought that my parents we ready to prepare in that early morning because of me.

After some hours which I could say was like an eternity, we were all ready to go.

It was already 0730 hours. I wore my best dress which my dad had bought for me a year earlier because I had no school uniform. But I was not the only one as most of the pupils in that school wore that in nursery school until one was to join lower primary.

My mum also wore her flair dress with slippers just like me. My dad wore jeans and a big white t-shirt which was given to him by my aunty's husband with slippers as well.

At 0750 hours, we were already at the school because it was not very far from our home so we walked. My father told my mum and me to wait for him as he was going to the office.

We sat under the shade of a tall mahogany tree waiting for him.

After about five minutes my father came and told us to follow him into the office, I was very scared and I started shaking like a chameleon on a feeble leaf but my mum held my hand to reassure me that all would be well as long as we were together. 

I smiled at her we walked in the direction of the office hand in hand with my father leading the way.

We passed through a smaller gate that was separating the classes and offices. My father guided us through a smaller office which I thought was to be the secretary's office. We passed through there into an adjacent door that was painted blue and was made of timber. My dad knocked courageously at the door and shortly after, the door was opened and we entered.

The office was not too big but it was beautiful with two chairs and a table which contained some files, a computer, some books and a pen.

At the other end of the table, we saw a middle-aged man who was very serious looking at the computer without facing us. He was somehow handsome and wore glasses whom I supposed was the headteacher.

He had a big belly and a plump face.

After some time of waiting anxiously without any word, he faced us and pointed at the seats hence my dad and mum sat down while I stood at their side. He looked at my father with an intimidating look but my father was a carefree man and got directly to the point, "Sir, this is my kid that I was telling you about," He stated while pointing at me.

I was very scared and sweat started forming on my forehead profusely.

True to be told, I was scared to death by just the cold stare the headmaster was directing at me. My mother held me near herself to reassure me that all would be fine.

By just the hold from her, I got the courage and faced the headteacher directly without being intimidated by his look.

Actually, I could say he was looking at me like some garbage but I did not mind as long as my parents were there I knew I was always safe by their side.

There was an awkward silence in the office until my father broke the silence and babbled, “So what do you say, sir? Please take her in I know she is very late but better late than never and as you can see she is a smart and disciplined girl, I know she will pass very well."

My father had to plead with him because the school was a public school.

The teacher scrutinized me again and then complained, “Why were you two, keeping the kid at home for that long? Because lack of money is not a good excuse."

I was very astounded by the headteacher's words. I knew he was just talking nonsense because if I were to come empty-handed, they would not accept me.

I was brought back from my wonderland by the headteacher's deep cold voice, “Can't you see she is too old for a nursery school kid?"

My father did not know what to say because it was true I was old to be in nursery school for three years but I kept encouraging myself that I could do it.

 After all, better half a loaf than none.

The headteacher seeing the awkwardness of the situation which he created, faced me and explained, “What is your name young one?"

"My name is Blessing Richard" I uttered without even facing him. “What a name, anyway ..." Without the headteacher completing his sentence, there was a thud at the door, which made all of us gaze in that direction.

I saw a young and handsome man who was tall and masculine. I guessed he was about thirty years of age.

He ran directly to the headteacher without facing us and shouted, “Sir there is an emergency in class three east, a pupil has fainted" He exclaimed while shaking, he was very scared and remorseful.

The headteacher stood up abruptly and said to the young man who I suspected to be a teacher, “Call the deputy headteacher to deal with these people, let me go and check."