CHAPTER ONE

Friday, 12:30, the bell rings to signal the end of the lessons and we all scamper out of the class room and head towards the parking lot. I attend a very fancy and expensive school- when I made it to grade Ten(10) a year ago, I was offered a full tuition scholarship to attend this school. Everyone at my school is rich and they get to do extravagant things that I have

always wanted to do but I haven't been able to because my mother is poor. To fit into this environment, I have had to tell some lies here and there. No one at my school knows where I come from, they actually think I am rich too.

"Would you like to go to the mall with me this afternoon to grab lunch? My treat" Anita says. She is the only child of a wealthy businessman; she is such a brat who gets anything she ask for. " I don't mi d grabbing lunch with you but I will have to inform my Mom about it so she won't come to pick me up this afternoon". Can I make use of your phone?

"Sure" she hand over her phone and move away from her and others. For few minutes I pretend to be on the phone with my mother. "Alright Mom, I will let you know when we are done. I love you too". I said it loud enough for everyone to hear me.

"So what did she say" Anita asked.

She said it's okay, that she will be picking me up when we are done.

"Okay, you girls can hop in," she gestures to the car in front of us. We all get in and

once settled, she tells the driver where we are heading to.

"My birthday is coming up and I would love you girls to come over and celebrate with me," says Anita, she is seated in the front seat while Jane and I are in the back seat. What is your father getting you for your birthday this time around?" Jane asks. "I haven't yet decided but maybe I might need a new car."

"

"He got you a car last year and…."

"Well I don't like this one anymore, I want something bigger," she says and I frown,

she is such an unappreciative brat, some of us don't even get a simple cake for our birthday and she is here complaining about a whole car. At 14 Anita has her own car with a personal driver. "So, what's the plan for your birthday?" I ask. "I want to have a slumber party. I am still thinking of the theme, I want our pajamas to be in line with the theme so I will let you know when all the plans are fnalized". "I really can't wait; we have a lot of fun."

"Yes, we will."

We listen to music and sing along the rest of the way, when we pull up in front of the mall, Jane and I step out while Anita waits for the driver to open the door for her before she can step out

"Where do you guys want to eat?"

"Let's go to Nando's," says Jane.

"Nando's," it is, I excitedly say, I am over the moon with joy at least I get to eat something different from the trash my mother cooks at home. We are talking towards Nando's. I hear a familiar voice calling out behind me,

"Chikumbutso?"

No one calls me Chikumbutso aside from my mother, I go by memory at school, I have told her a number of times never to call me Chikumbutso but she never listens.

"Chikumbutso," She calls again louder this time which causes my friends and I to spin around. And just as I thought, my mother is standing a few feet away, her arms crossed, her mood a mixture of concern and anger. 'What are you doing here?"

She is in the company of one of her boss's twins- Chikondi.

"Who is she?" Anita asks.

"I will fnd you guys at Nando's let me handle this," I tell my friends.

"Okay."

When they left, I angrily stare at the woman I call my mother from head to toe. I wonder why this woman is so bent on embarrassing me like this. I swear I am ashamed of her; she doesn't look after herself like a mother should, she is always dirty and doesn't take care of herself, aside from that she is illiterate.

What was that all about?" I angrily ask.

"Is that a way to talk to your mother?" Chikondi asks.

"

"And who asked for your opinion?"

"What are you doing here Chikumbutso?"

"I am here with friends and please call me memory, you know I hate that stupid name."

"Next time you see me in public please pretend like you haven't seen me."

"You are ashamed of me?"

"Why wouldn't I be? Have you taken a good look at yourself? Maybe if you bathed, I

would be happy to be seen around you."

"Chikumbutso?" Chikondi yells, "what sort of child are you? Why would you speak to your mother like that?" "Stay in your lane rich kid," I click my tongue. Then I stare at my mother," I will see you at home and please don't embarrass me anymore."

With that I march off and join my friends at Nando's.

"You took long who was that?"

"No one important," I said.

"She looked angry and why was she calling you by that name?"

"Well Memory means Chikumbutso in Chewa. That woman is our maid, she is here to get a few things for the house. She was angry because she thought I didn't get permission from my mother before coming here."

"Oh, I see," Anita says.

"I am starving let's forget about that woman."

"I ordered for everyone; they should be bringing the food soon. And speaking of your mother, when are we going to meet her?" She responds.

I shrug," "You know my mother travels a lot and hardly has time for me." "Well you should invite us to your house at least," Jane says. "You've been to our houses but we haven't been to yours."

I swallow hard before I pick a glass of water in front of me and take a sip, "I will talk to my mum about having you guys over. Like I have said she is quite strict but

I will try and convince her that you guys are harmless."

"Yes, you should."

I sigh in relief when they bring our food, I don't want to continue this discussion at least not today. I still need to think of more excuses as to why they can't come over to my house.