chapter 4

Early in the morning around 5 O'clock, a bell was rung in the hostel to wake the students. Sadik continued to sleep despite the sound of the bell. A boy in the room waked Sadik."Wake up it's time" the boy said shaking Sadik. Sadik woke up and had his clothes on."My name is Peter, I'm in JSS2. I came to the room yesterday and found you sleeping" Peter said." Oh yes I was so tired that's why I slept early" Sadik replied."Your name is Sadik, right?" Peter requested."Yes I am" Sadik replied."It's a pleasure to meet you Sadik" Peter said."It's a pleasure to meet you too" Sadik retorted." You should go to the mosque, Muslim students usually have their morning prayers at 5:15 am" Peter announced."Oh thank you Peter, I will be on my way" Sadik responded.

Sadik went to the mosque and prayed, and at about 5:30 am, he returned to their room. He got into the room and found David still sleeping. He was about to wake him when Peter quickly interrupted."He is a Final year student, he said he doesn't want people to wake him until is 6:30 am" peter said."Go and take your bath and get ready for classes, we have our breakfast here at 7 O'clock am" he added. Sadik went to the bathroom and took his bath and put on his class uniform.

At 7 O'clock, the bell for dining hall was rung and Peter and Sadik headed out to the dining hall. On their way to the dining hall, Sadik notice that all the students were wearing the same uniform(a black trouser and a white shirt for boys. A black skirt, a white shirt and a black beret for Christian girls and a black skirt, a white shirt and a black hijab for Muslim girls) .They entered the dining hall and sat together. After all the students had entered the dining hall, the three mysterious girls that Sadik saw the previous day walked in."Who are these girls?" Sadik inquired."This is a group of girls who think they're better than anyone else" Peter said."The first girl by the right is Hafsat, her father is one of the Powerful kings in the country. And the other girl by the left hand side is Maryam, her father is senate president" he continued."But what about the fair girl in the middle?" Sadik requested."Oh that's Fatima, the most arrogant girl I've ever seen in my life. Many boys are after her since her first year in this school but none had gotten her attention" Peter answered."You said she's the most arrogant girl you've ever seen. So do you mean to tell me that at this age, you've seen a lot of girls?" Sadik inquired smiling at Peter."Yes I do" Peter laughed.

Just then, three boys came and stood beside their table."Will you please excuse us? You guys should go and find yourselves another table, we want to sit here" Said one of the boys. Peter stood up and was about leave when Sadik grabbed him by the hand." We are not going anywhere" Sadik opposed." Looks like you're new here and have no idea of who I am" the boy said." Let's just find another table Sadik" Peter said. Sadik and Peter stood up and went to another table."Who is that stupid boy?" Sadik asked."His name is James, he's so rude and arrogant to people just because he used to lived in the U.S.A" Peter said. "Oh really?" Sadik asked."Yes he came to this school last year when I was in Jss1. Even on his arrival, he kept saying that things in America were far better than the ones here and since then, I decided I don't like him" Peter answered."He must be a fool, he was behaving like he had stayed long in this school" Sadik Said angrily."Yes and he's getting more arrogant every single day. He's falling madly for Fatima, and she doesn't even listen to him" Peter said."And who is Fatima?" Sadik asked." One of the three girls you asked me about earlier" Peter responded.

After their breakfast, Peter accompanied Sadik to the office of the Vice Principal. Peter stopped outside the administration building and waited for Sadik."Good morning sir" Sadik greeted when he entered the office of the Vice Principal."Good morning how are you?" The vice principal answered."I'm fine sir" Sadik replied."Oh please have a seat" the vice principal said, and Sadik sat on a chair opposite to him."Do you like it here?" The vice principal inquired."I really like it a lot sir, I feel honoured to be here" Sadik replied." Oh good to hear that" the vice principal said."So, are you a science, art or commercial student?" The vice principal continued."I'm a science student sir" Sadik answered."Okay then I will allocate you to SS2 C, because they have the least number of students in SS2 science classes" the vice principal concluded. He gave Sadik everything he requires for class including notebooks and textbooks.

Sadik came out of the administration building holding a lot of books. When Peter saw him, he ran to him and helped with some of the books." Which class are you allocated to?" Peter asked." I'm given SS2 C" Sadik answered."Could you please show me the way to the class?" He added."Oh yes I can" Peter replied smiling. Peter accompanied Sadik to the side of SS2."I think SS2C will be on the second floor" Peter Said."Oh really?" Sadik replied wondering how he's going to get there."Here are your books, let me go to the class before our form master will think I'm absent" Peter said."Oh thank you Peter, I'm so grateful" Sadik thanked. Peter left Sadik standing there thinking of how he's going to get into his new class."Hello Sadik" came a thin voice behind him. When he turned discovered that it was Sarah."Good morning Sarah" Sadik greeted."Good morning Sadik how are you doing?" Sarah replied."I'm doing good, how about you?" Sadik responded."I'm doing good too" Sarah answered."Are you given a class yet?" She continued."Yes, I was allocated to SS2 C" Sadik respoded."Oh! I'm also a member of SS2 C" Sarah announced."Oh what a pleasing coincidence "Sadik replied happily."Let me help you with some of these books, it's too much for you to hold" Sarah suggest."I will be grateful if you do that" Sadik answered gratefully.

Sarah collected some of the books Sadik was holding and they walk their way to SS2 C."Have I just spoken to a girl without any fear?" Sadik surprisingly wondered. They got to the second floor and entered SS2 C. When they entered, everybody was staring at Sadik." I can't believe they send this village savage to this class" James insulted."Don't say a word to him, he's a trouble maker" Sarah whispered." I guess this school is becoming something else now, how can they admit someone of lower class like this?"Said another boy."Will you please leave him alone" Sarah yelled and the class started laughing."Please ignore them Sadik, go the last seat and sit down" Sarah pointed. As Sadik was walking to the last seat, James stretched his leg and Sadik stumbled over it and fell on the ground and the whole class laughed again. Sarah ran to Sadik and helped him up. Sarah stared at James with an angry face."What did I do wrong? I was just teaching him some manners" James smiled.

Sadik went to the last seat and sat down. Few minutes later, their Physics teacher came into the class and all the students stood up."Good morning sir" the students greeted."Good morning boys and girls, how are you doing?" The teacher responded."We're doing okay sir" the class replied."That's good, please have your seats" the teacher commanded. After the whole class sat down, he noticed a new face in the class."Who is that new boy I'm seeing" the teacher inquired as he moved closer to Sadik."He is a new boy that came yesterday" replied a boy sitting next to Sadik."Oh will you please introduce yourself to us Mr. newbie?" The teacher asked. Sadik stood up and remained quiet for a moment."Come on, we are waiting to hear from you" the teacher Said."My name is Sadik Tanko from Mazaga Yobe state" Sadik introduced." And what kind of name is Mazaga?" The teacher questioned and the class started laughing. Sadik became so embarrassed that made him feel like he was sinking into the ground."And how did you managed to get here? The teacher asked again."I got here by chance" Sadik replied."That's okay" the teacher laughed and he started his lesson.