Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Now it’s been one month since I joined Tumaini Secondary. It has been great so far, well except for today. So it was during third period and we were having Chemistry. We didn’t require to go the lab so we just had it in class. We were just on the introduction part and so the teacher just brought some lab equipment for us to name and learn their uses. As part of the of the process we would all go to the front one by one pick an equipment and name its uses. So when I walked to the front everyone started murmuring to each other and giving me weird glances. That’s when the chemistry teacher came and whispered to my ear that I had something on my skirt.

On looking, there it was! A big period blood stain on the back of my skirt. At first I could hear my blood pumping and feel the stares especially from guys. However I quickly composed myself, took a deep breath then took out my sweater and wrapped myself with it around the waste to hide the blood stain. I then quickly asked for permission from the teacher before I quickly rushed out.

I was basically 11 years old and the last thing I expected was for me to begin my periods at that age. I had no tampon or pads so I had to think quickly. Luckily for me our principle was a lady so it was easy to talk to her. I explained my situation to her and she offered me a spare packet of pads that she had in her office. Unfortunately for me I had to stay the whole day with a sweater wrapped around my waist since I couldn’t get an extra skirt.

What was even worse was the throbbing and cramping pain in my lower abdomen. It was so intense and I had no painkillers. Then there was constant stare from the whole school. By now the news had spread like wild fire and the whole school including the teachers knew I was on my periods.Even the watch woman looked at me with pity.

And I couldn’t help but think, “Come on guys! This a totally normal biological process of the body, every other normal lady goes through it. It’s not like I killed anyone”

After what seemed like an eternity it was five pm and also time to go home. I couldn’t help but sign with relief. I quickly packed up my things jumped on my bicycle and cycled home.

When I got home I explained to my mom what happened. My mom being the traditionalist she was told me that I didn’t need to use pads or tampons and instead could use some clean old clothes instead. That brought me slightly down but fortunately for me I had some money in my piggy bank. So I quickly changed and went to buy myself some pads and pain killers. The shops were around 500 miters from our farm.

Soon enough I had moved on from the embarrassment and ready to face the next day and more precisely my class mates. Well my classmates didn’t move on so quickly but within a week everyone had moved on from it as well.

Today during the morning announcements we were told that we would be starting the season for music festivals. There would be poem and songs to present both solos and groups. If I had talents then singing was definitely one of them. I lead our Sunday school choir, then after joining the church youth I became part of the church choir. Singing basically part of my DNA. So I was definitely going to take part in the music festivals.

As per the instructions from the head of the music department anyone who wanted to join would give their names to the class prefect including the part they would like to participate in. I registered for a solo poem and one group poem. Also the practice would be taking place every day from four to five.

Of course I wasn’t the only who registered for the solo and therefore I had to compete with five more others since only one person would represent the school during the competitions with other schools. The practice went quite steadily and soon enough it was just one week to the music festivals. Today the head of music department was going to select one person for each solo poem to represent the school in music festival.

For me I had a really loud voice and a really nice accent almost similar to the British accent. I also had a great ability at imitating other people’s accents. Most of my classmates were from my local area and spoke the local language and really found it hard to master the English language especially the when it came to pronunciation. My abilities however gave me a great advantage since my solo poem was in English. So I actually easily won the part.

Now what awaited us was the external competition with other schools. I had done lots of practice both at school and at home was quite confident that I was going to win.

Most of my practice involved reciting in front of a whole length mirror. This helped by giving an idea of how I looked like while reciting in front of the judges. Also I learnt a few tips on how to overcome anxiety. For instance taking a deep breath before the presentation and looking directly at the wall behind the judges yet without seeming like I am avoiding eye contact.

I was not a social person and I often preferred spending my time alone however since I joined secondary school I grew fond of my desk mate her name was Joy.

And her name definitely presided her reputation. She was always joyful, kind and always willing to help anyone in need. Unlike me she an extrovert and easily made friends. She was also my neighbor back home. Occasionally I helped her with her assignments and homework. I decided to ask her for help which she readily offered. After we got home a day before the start of the competition we went to her home with my mom’s permission, I then recited my poem with her as the audience. After reciting several times I was now confident enough to recite in front of the judges.

I always believed in one policy, that if one really worked hard enough there is nothing too big for you to achieve. You just needed to believe it and want it enough.

Finally the day we had been preparing for came. We were going to compete with other schools in the district for a position in the next level which would be the county level.

All my hard work really paid off and my school won in several of its presentations including my solo.

When we went for activities outside of the school every student usually gets provided with a soda and half loaf of bread, usually the 400grams of bread. Unfortunately for me, I could not bring myself to drink soda since all I could imagine was all the sugar I was taking into my body.so while everyone took soda I took water.

The season for the music festivals went on well and I actually went up to national level where I together with others had the opportunity to present in front of the president and other national dignitaries.

As soon as the music season was over we went into the sports season. I was never really interested in sports and since it was optional I took the time to dive into my studies.

Eventually the sports were over too and now it was the athletics season. And for me that was the season I disliked the most. During this season every student would be forced to run for three kilometers every day in the evening from four pm. And I really disliked running. Eventually that season too was over.

The funny thing is that though sports and athletics were the two seasons I didn’t care for, for the rest of my classmates they were the two seasons they loved the most. Joy especially was great at athletics especially short distance races.

And that was basically the routine throughout the four years of secondary school. Music during the first term, then sports in the second term and athletics in the third term. We had exams every end of term. We also had various clubs. For me I was a member of law club, debate club and the chairperson of mathematics club. I was also appointed as the chairperson of the Christian Union.

We were occasionally invited to other schools for academic contest which I always won. At my senior year I was appointed the school president.

The four years passed by steadily and yet again it was time for national examinations at secondary level.