CHAPTER 10: YOU ARE A LIAR!

      BLESSING POV

I woke up at the crack of down.

My heart raced like it was going to be uprooted mercilessly as I remembered what Madam Rossly told me yesterday.

I froze at the thought as my heartbeat increased erratically as if a hammer was inserted in my chest.

I knew I had to be strong because now my parents were not around so I had to stand for myself.

I gathered my courage and got out of bed, it was some minutes past five in the morning.

I took the towel that I was given by my mama yesterday she gave me everything that I would be using including my new uniform.

I was also given school shoes, something I had not worn in my whole ten years of existence in this world.

I couldn't wait to go and brag in front of those seniors who used to laugh at me that way if I would see them again.

After preparing myself, I went to wake up Jemimah whom we had become fond of each other so that she could prepare herself too.

When I reached there, I was even stunned. Jemimah was already ready and she was going through some brown paper in her hand which I couldn't figure out what it was.

I went closer to her and before I knew it, she gazed at my side as if to detect something then she smiled and beamed, "Blessing, you are here already?"

'Ooh my! God is full of wonders' I thought as I looked at her.

"How did you know it was me?" She pointed at her mouth to signal for me to speak silently as most of our dormitory mates were asleep.

"St here I will tell you" I sat closer to her as she explained to me that she was reading what was written in braille for people who could not see!

I became big headed to know more and that I would continue with my yesterday's plan.

I smiled to myself for my stupid plan which might not work.

Jemimah (A beautiful blind pupil, kind-hearted and curious)

An hour later, Jemimah led me to a long building and she explained to me that it was a dining hall where we would be taking our meals from.

I felt excited to hear that we would be eating thrice per day.

 As a child, it was not easy to contain a liking for something. I jumped as if I was to be given candy but when I remembered what I was to face next I shivered.

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Finally, It was time for my check-up.

That was a few hours after our breakfast. Jemimah directed me to that building after I explained to her what was awaiting me. She even supported me as I explained my plan to her and she was happy that she took me there anxiously.

My heart was pounding hard as we headed to the building. I looked like all my blood was being drained all at once as  I felt cold all over my body and it was still during the summer season.

"Don't worry, okay? Just be strong for me, I don't want you to go back. Just go there and execute our beautiful plan and come with me okay?"

"Okay sweet pearl" I assured her as I smiled. I tried to act strong so that my new friend would not be worried about me.

She took me to the door without getting lost.

I was happy for her that she was able to mister all the directions here and she couldn't see. She was a gifted girl.

"Jemimah! go to class. We don't need you here. Hey! let her go to class. You are the one needed here not her"

Suddenly a voice coming from inside interrupted our emotional conversation. I took off  Jemimah's hand from my shoulder because the last thing I wanted was to make Jemimah hated by her teachers.

"Don't worry, I will come. Go to class I will follow you, sweet pearl" I smiled at her to ease the tension.

A smile that did not reach my eyes and walked inside the lion's den. My heart was going to escape from my body from the pounding it made. Why couldn't it just follow what my brain tried to direct it?

It was starting to disturb me physically that I was not able to control my breathing.

'Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath out' I sang inwardly.

"Sit here. Are you afraid of me? Because as far as I remember, I had not to bit anybody before" The woman who was short and beautiful said.

She had introduced herself as madam Faith. I bit my lower lip hard that I tested a steel-like liquid. I sat near her facing down.

"Look up!" She blurted out while tapping hard on the table.

"Are you sure?" She exclaimed. But then I remembered what Jemimah told me and stood my ground. "Yes madam. I can't see at night" I said stubbornly with a lot of confidence that came like a miracle.

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     AUTHOR POV

She laughed at the naive girl and sighed hard.

It had been a long since she was called to this school to deal with people like the kid before her. The girl's eyes said it all that she was six over six. This meant that she had a full sight but why is she trying to deny her blessings? Many people wished to have her sight but here, she was lying for no valid reason.

Maybe she had her reasons but it did not concern her anyway. She had seen many here who wanted to be fed freely so she would just check her and go.

    BLESSING POV

One hour later, the results came out as I sat on the bench outside the checking room.

"Hey! kid come in" I was still shaking tremendously.

'Why did I even make the mistake of lying back then when I had the opportunity to escape this terrible place?' I asked myself as I walked in following the woman.

"Shame on you! You are a liar! You shouldn't be here. Go where you came from! We have seen many like your parents who do not want to raise their children by themselves but want others to do that for them. Shame on you again! You went as far as planning with your evil parents to lie that you can't see at night? You are unbelievable and shameless. I had not seen a kid like you before. Sadly, a little girl like you can lie like this. But maybe you got that from your crazy parents who like free things. If they could not bring you up themselves why did they have to give birth to you?"

That was it. Madam Rossly had succeeded in breaking down my self-esteem completely as she yelled from behind me attracting the attention of all the children in the school.

I felt like vanishing into a thin layer.

The insults were excess.

She went as far as insulting my innocent parents in front of me. The excitement that I had since I met Jemimah, vanished all at once.

I felt heartbroken and only murmured the words, 'Forgive me my Almighty God. I don't want to be blind because of my stupid behaviour'

I planned this to help myself stay here unknowingly to me that it would be misunderstood to be me wanting to live on people by pretending to be blind!