CHAPTER 7: AFTER TWO YEARS

I looked at my reflection in a small mirror that my aunty Becky gave me as a gift on my tenth birthday.

Yes, I was ten years now and I had grown even taller and more beautiful. My hair had grown longer and straight.

My mum never allowed me to cut it short even though I insisted because I was like the odd one out. My classmates had short, kinky and tight hair while mine was long, wave and its growth was even faster I could say one point four centimetres per month which left me flabbergasted but I loved it very much.

Even my mother had short and tight but if I asked her why mine was different she would say that I was a blessing like my name.

The good thing with the school that I was in, as we were allowed to plait our hair so my mum always did that to me she used to twist two lines only and then rolled it several times so it could look shorter.

I remembered there was a day that pupils in my school used to mock me and said that I was not born by my parents and that I was found in a dustbin.

I remembered how I cried bitterly that day.

Fortunately, Madam Esther heard about it and punished them accordingly.

Since that time they never made fun of my hair again. They made me hate my hair from then.

I also remembered when I came home I told my dad and warned me not to say such a thing again that he also had that type of hair. It was just that he was a man so he had to cut it short.

I was brought back from my wonderland by a knock on the door. My mum entered with her beautiful smile. She had improved a lot because we got a sponsor who helped us with some money for better treatment.

I suddenly remembered Mr Andrew who helped us to look for the sponsor and felt bad that I had to change my school and suddenly my smile faded. 

He had been on good terms with my family since that day.

"Don't worry dear, I know what you feel but you have to be strong as you always be. We will miss you baby but you have to go. You know the way we suffered to pay for your fees so please don't let this opportunity slip away" She tried to encourage me as she wiped her tears.

I also became emotional and cried while hugging her. 

I couldn't believe that I was going away to a place where I did not know anybody because of poverty.

The person who helped my mum to get better also find a school for people who were unable to pay their fees.

I was to go there and it was a boarding school.

I remembered Susan who we had become close to each other and cried even more. But then I understood that I had to go. My mum gave birth to a baby boy last year and we were four now.

My sisters have been put in school but they always stayed at home because of fees so I had to at least reduce the burden on our jobless father.

"Mum, can I at least see Susan for the last time before I go? It has been a long since I saw her last. From last year when we were doing our final exams" My mum nodded and she replied, "It's fine dear we will go to her home when we will be travelling later" By hearing the word travelling, I broke into a heavy cry.

I did not want to go to a place far away from home no matter how beautiful they described it to be. It was better the devil one knew than the angel who had never set eyes on, but I had to go for my good.

"I could not believe what Susan did for you dear," Mum said after calming me down.

" Yeah, mum but you always say that. Please forget about that incident. It always brings sadness to me. Let bygones be bygones. It has been two years now since it happened" I started making my mum smile.

"I know dear is just that she is a good girl and a true friend to you that I feel guilty to separate you two. You should be going to standard three today” Mum stated sadly.

“It’s okay mum, after all, it is not your fault. It is the circumstances that do not allow that. Do you feel happy when I attend my classes only for a month and then stay home for the remaining months because of the fee?" I exclaimed.

I knew I had to be strong because now I needed that.

Though my mum was better now,  I did not want to leave her behind while she felt guilty.

I was the strongest girl that people used to say even my teachers because no matter what I would not give up. Even if I used to wake up early every morning to go to school only to be chased, I would wake up the following morning and went again until my teacher had to scare me that he would whip me so that I would stop disturbing her by coming to school empty-handed.

The school was government-sponsored but we used to pay a little amount for food and other things.

"Okay dear, we will be coming to visit you with your dad when we get fair." I was blessed just like my name to have a mother like her she was very understanding and caring. I knew if they had the money I wouldn't have to go to an unknown place.

We talked for some time then my mum went to her room to prepare so that we could take off.

My thoughts drove me back to two years ago.

“Good morning children" I was busy writing numbers after my parents and aunt Becky together with teacher Nelly went to the headteacher's office when we heard him greet us for the second time.

I tensed because the situation recently was terrible. 

"Good morning sir and welcome sir" We all chorused.

“Susan Beta and Blessing Richard, please follow me. The others you can continue with your assignments" He beamed. I became tensed.

My heart was beating uncontrollably.

'What is happening? Why are we being summoned again and this time even my friend Susan?' A warm fluid rolled down my forehead and I knew I was sweating because of fear.

I tried to ease myself by thinking that all would be fine.

 I gazed at Susan but the girl was smiling, what was going on?

Afterwards, we gathered outside the class all of us except teacher Nelly whom I did not see.

"I am sure you are wondering why I called you here but this kid here came to my office very early in the morning when I was just opening my office and accounted to me what teacher Nelly was doing to her friend but I am very sorry because I ignored her" He was explaining while pointing at Susan.

That was when my questions were answered. Wow! I couldn't believe this, so Susan was the one who reported what happened to the headteacher?

I was very happy. at least apart from madam Esther, I had another true friend.

I could not take it anymore. I ran to Susan and hugged her while crying. She had proved to me that she was a true friend to me and stood up by my side.

I felt a little guilty that I pushed her away in the morning when she was trying to calm me down.

I murmured into her ears, “I am sorry bestie for the attitude I showed you in the morning" She just tapped my back meaning that it was okay

After we broke from our hug, my mum stepped near Susan and beamed, "Thanks little one you are the best thing that happened to my daughter. May the Almighty bless you”

“It’s okay mum anyone who was in my shoes would have done the same and after all Blessing is a good girl. She cared for others so I hate it when she cries" we all laughed at her comments then we continued talking for some time.

After that, we headed to our class while my parents and aunt Becky went home.

"I have been calling you for some time now. I wonder what you are thinking about"

Ooh! Hahaha! I laughed at my stupid thoughts. So my father had been in the room talking to me but I was in another world?

“Get up we are getting late dear. The lady who will take us there is outside the house"

I felt a tingle of suddenness but I pushed that thought to the back of my head and walked out of the room with my father.

Outside the hut, I saw Mrs Monar standing with my mum. They were murmuring about something but I could not hear.

My mum was somehow worried but when she saw us, she smiled and called for us to go near them.

Cynthia Monar- A middle-aged woman. (Beautiful, intelligent, literate and helpful)

Today she wore elegantly as always. A red dress reached her mid-thigh and heels.

People in our village loved to see her as she wore expensively. Clothes that we would never dream of wearing.

As for me, I was wearing my green dress. It was very long. I was given them by aunty Becky so I could wear them when I would be going to my new school because my clothes were old and had torn up. I had black slippers on. They were big but I had no option. They were given to me by my dad because mine were not in good shape and my mum had one pair too.

My mum wore her dress too with her slippers while my dad wore his old jeans and a big shirt which was given to him by a man who gave him a job for two days. That was his wage for the job.

We inspected ourselves first and as we were about to move, we heard a voice, “Stop I have to call my sister to make sure that my kids are okay before we go" It was the voice of my mum.

She took the small phone from my father's hand and made a call.

In a jiffy, we were ready to go.

"Blessing" We heard a voice from nowhere in particular. We stood rooted on the ground trying to look where it came from.

“Wow!" I ran as quick as my little legs could carry my body.