2 CHAPTER THREE.....the walking disaster

"The correct answer is paradox", he writes the word with a blue ink on our white board. " You're wrong, miss Shola", he diverts his attention towards her as well as others in the class, waiting for him to pronounce his judgement. I feel proud of myself for getting the answer correctly yet afraid of what he'll do to my only Allie in Marie's High School.

In the middle of nowhere, Mr Yemi calls my name again as one would address the Queen of England, "What should I do to miss Shola?"

"Please pardon her, sir", I plead on her behalf.

" Alright, the new class representative has spoken", he reaches for his black leathered brief case on the teacher's desk, "class dismissed!"

Class representative?

What the hell does that mean!!!!!!!

Well, whatever! I've never been interested in a school post and nothing in this world will make me change my mind.

Walking into the school's car park, I see exotic cars, the likes of Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler and others. Coming out of these rides are either nannies or parents to pick up elementary kids while high schoolers prefer bicycles safeguarded in their racks, walking home with friends or driving their mini sport cars.

As i spot Uncle B and my siblings walking to my direction, I make a sigh of relieve cause I'm tired and eager for a nap.

My annoying siblings at it again, they have been trying to convince him to allow them trek home for acquaintance's sake. Well, they succeed eventually when uncle B notices my mood.

After ringing the door bell for the fifth time, grandma answers it with rubber gloves in her fair hands and apologises for coming late cause she's been trimming the plants in the garden then goes on with stories of how the gardener she employed swindled her, leaving her precious garden unkept.

Realising she's not seen either my siblings or uncle B whom she guesses , "must be on a business trip" which is true, she asks after them. In anger, she yells at me as to why I left them after all, we're new in this neighbourhood. I use my tiredness and fake headache as a disguise. Relentless, she gets me some panadol extra from our medicine box with a bottle of water to ease my pain so I can narrate the events that happened in school but before she returns from the tools store, I make a quick escape to my bedroom for my long awaited nap.

Far away in wonder land, as I'm about to unveil my prince charming,an excruciating pain from my abdomen brings me to my knees till he disappears then memory reminds me I didn't take lunch in school. Opening my eyes, I curse myself for such stupid imagination.

Climbing the stairs lazily, I anticipate a "sweet smelling savour" coming from the kitchen as I arrange my evening snack. To my surprise, the moon has taken over the clouds. I've never taken a nap for so long!

Besides, grandma's nowhere to be found in the kitchen preparing dinner , the girls watching watching Indian telenovelas on our flat screen TV, the boys taking Scott on a walk round home or uncle B washing his Honda accord in the car park.

In panic, I repeatedly pace and search every hole just to catch a glimpse of them nevertheless confirm if they're playing tricks on me or it's true! Thereafter, a note appears on the glassy center table which creates a sort of ease. It says:

"Dear Nifemi, I didn't disturb you cause of your headache. Since your siblings refused to return home, your uncle and I decided to search for them. I want you to remain calm, pray we find them as soon as possible and take care of our home till we return.

Your loving, grandma".

As the note falls consciously from my trembling hands, I can't help but imagine how aunt Simi will joyfully scrap off each strand of my hair if something terrible happens to her kids. I switch on the TV for distraction which fails so I turn it off and reminisce on the events that happened in the car park, how I failed to look after my own siblings. Then tell me, how can I lead a class of freaking teens when I couldn't accomplish that simple task?

Of course not! Why should I even blame myself for what happened? I didn't beg them to be a part of my complicated life. It was a lonely one, I agree but I've become independent so I don't need anyone anymore. I won't mind if they leave, if grandma decides to resume her duty or uncle B returns to "go knows where" he came from.

Lost in thoughts, my charging phone rings consistently in my bedroom so I hurry to check it upon realising. On my Samsung , a photo of grandma which she took at a summit in Abuja appears on the screen . I unplug it and answer the call quickly hoping for good news which eradicates my worries. Unaware of the constant weather situation beforehand, I dash into the heavy outpouring of rain to open the main gate and Scott follows behind, wagging his black stroke brown coloured tail blissfully.

With wet clothes stuck in the laundering machine, sweaters or hoods and pyjamas on, we sit in the dinning room for steaming potatoes and fried fish sauce.

"From today henceforth", grandma gives my siblings a warning look, " you're not allowed to go out alone", she orders Bola to raise her bowed head. "Your big sis, uncle or I have to be with you".

"It makes no difference if Nifemi's involved", she gives a uncool look. " If she cared about us, we would have followed ", she tries to instigate her siblings to hate me as much as she does.

" You should never blame anyone for your mistakes",he makes a disapproving hand gesture, "besides I had faith in you that was why I let you go".

" she had a headache", grandma says in my defense, "Don't just go about blaming innocent souls for your foolishness!" she insults Bola which makes me feel bad for lying to her.

"Fine. I admit it's all my fault", she stands up furiously, " I'm a bad girl and this sly, pretentious.....is the best daughter in the world",she drops her plate carelessly in the kitchen sink then slams her bedroom door ignoring grandma's orders for her to come back which ceases as uncle B tells grandma to let her be .

Today promises a more entertaining family drama as Bola's left the house pretty early even before grandma rises for chewing stick and observing nature in the porch or Gbemi doing her daily routine of cleaning the kitchen now coupled with Bola's chores which is another big offense but as a good big sis, I help her out, impressing grandma unintentionally.

"Good morning, babe", Shola waves from her desks and joins me.

" Hi", I tell her while unpacking.

"Thanks for yesterday", she shows me an article written in my honour.

" You shouldn't have done this", A blush walks its way right to my puffy cheeks. "Thanks, anyways".

" It's nothing",she hibernates her HP laptop and returns it to its bag. "I almost forgot!" she pulls me closer for a tight hug, " congratulations on your new post of class rep.

"Does anything like that exist", I ask confusingly.

" You're so funny ", she laughs. "Spare me the drama. currently, you're trending on all MH social media platforms!"

Did she just say social media? I don't even know if I still have accounts on the apps cause the last time I checked, I had over a hundred messages that have still not been checked but I use my google for daily researches.

"I'm damn serious, Shola", I remove my android from my backpack's smallest space. " Does it really exist? "

"Yh, it's exclusive to MH. Each subject teacher has one", she nods.

" There must have been a mix up somewhere", I stare at my news online in awe, "he doesn't even know me well, must have been a joke".

" I've known Mr Yemi for a while and he's not the type to joke with stuffs like this", she ditches me for other girls whom I'm unfamiliar with. "He must have seen something special about you like I did", she announces, embarrassing me yet winks lastly.

Few minutes later, I get bored since it's impossible to read in my noisy class so I take note of events happening in the class instead instead. What catches my attention is Rose and a group of students talking about her vacation in Rome. I can't help but admire her glowing fair skin and natural pink lips each time she answers various questions from those who cared to listen with son much poise, confidence and conviction. She's indeed a great story teller!

" What can I do you for, miss spot full, fat legs", the rest make fun of and Rose walks up to me, pouting her lips."You've been staring at me all day long", she sits on my desk, clearly aware I have my hands placed on it. Intentionally, she relaxes her butt, causing me pains yet she crosses her sexy legs!

"Ouch!" I groan while my classmates continue to make mockery of me. Not even Shola can stand up for me.

"Oh, does that hurt?" she continues with more energy. "That's what you get for trying to infect me with your ugliness".

"Common baby, the poor girl just wants some attention", Freaky laughs. " And can't get over the fact that you're my girlfriend".

"So ridiculous!" she points her well polished fourth left finger at me scornfully. "This filthy slut's competing with me?" her right palm lands on my cheek.

"Oh, that's amazing, rosy" Cynthia remarks while recording the video.

"You should be awarded the best slapper of the year", they do the high five gesture. Unable to control my emotions, I break down in tears.

" Don't tell me she's crying", Michelle says followed by series of laughter. "Grandma, where are you?" she mimics a child's voice. Shamefully, I walk out of the classroom to wash my swollen face in the toilet and get some first aid but it appears no where is safe for me in MH. Even faraway from the four walls of our classroom, students keep staring at me with side talks and spreading fake rumours that I was trying to seduce Freaky on my first in MH!

"Hey,it's nice seeing you again", I bump into Timmy at the school clinic while escaping from haters ganging up against me.

" Hi", I reply impolitely so he'll leave.

"You'll get through this", he smiles. "Lemme get you an hand balm", he disappears and returns with one as he promised.

" Thanks", I grin.

"it's okay to cry here. No one's gonna laugh", he applies the balm on my broken wrist , massaging it gently. Ironically, l laugh maniacally yet tears keep flowing from my eye bank.

" And congratulations on your new post", he adds, dropping an iota of panic in me.

"You need to take me to Mr Yemi's office", I plead him, afraid of getting another round of physical assaults for a post I lack interest in.

The staff quarters has different offices and departments, I would have certainly got lost if Timmy didn't accompany me besides Mr Yemi's supposed office is far. Unfortunately, his office's been locked, indicating he's taking a class or carrying out other official assignments. Checking my led wrist watch, I find out we have five minutes left which is barely enough to get to our homeroom before classes start! This shouldn't happen! Don't tell me Timmy will be punished for helping me!

Fine, maths is the lest of my favourite subjects, still I wouldn't like to be a teacher's enemy so as soon as I enter my homeroom, I go on my knees, begging for forgiveness. He ignores me at first, teaches others with full concentration then twenty three minutes remaining for change of class, he orders me out. I try to explain my reasons although hiding the full details but he shuts me up.

As I'm about to leave the class, completely chattered physically and emotionally, a feminine voice interrupts, pleading. I look back for my saviour's face which turns out to be Aisha whom I least expected. Proving she's on good terms with him, he listens. "Thank you, sir", We chorus.

Sitting quietly in the library during lunch, I amuse myself with every single word coming from " she stoops to conquer" by oliver goldsmith. Anticipating Tony's reaction as he finds out the bar maid is Miss Hard castle, Shola hastily takes the book from me, disrupting my fun.

"Don't tell me you're not eating today also", she drags me from my plastic chair.

" I'm not hungry", I insist.

"Can you at least buy me a hot cup of tea as appreciation?" Aisha demands.

"Of course", I escort them out of the library so the librarian won't show me her red eyes for disturbing the peace of other readers. " Thanks for helping me earlier", I tell her.

"Shola forced me to do it", she confesses.

" it's not a big deal", she cuts in.

Presently, I feel Esau's pain when he sold his birth right for a pot of porridge. Food can be so tempting! Here they lie in front of me in different dimensions, colours and shapes begging to be eaten. Jollof rice garnished with cube size carrots, sweet corn and green pepper, soft golden brown fried plantains stylishly arranged on a plate of boiled beans with stew, doughnuts with ice toppings , cupcakes having strawberry frostings.

"What can I do for you, miss", A middle aged woman asks at the counter.

"A hot cup of coffee, please", I say in return and she serves it in a tray then I pay her via cash. Returning to my seat, I bump into Rose who was walking towards me, engrossed in her phone cause I couldn't take my eyes off the snacks!