#YOU (Hashtag You)

#YOU

(Hashtag you)

Chapter 1

Taking the public transport to school was something very alien to Elly but after today, it wouldn't, because she would not just board a bus to School, she would also have the over-hyped experience of entering the almighty Keke.

Elly waved at her younger brother Buchi and grimaced at her mother while heading towards the gate. She stole a quick glance at her Dad who was opening the door to the driver's seat. He didn't notice....thank goodness

Everybody was about to leave for the day. Her Dad was heading to the new site at Amansea while her mother would drop Buchi at school before leaving for Hardcastle.

Her mum would go with Buchi while her Dad would drive alone. Normally,she would ride with him but today was different, strange and awfully unfair.

Why was she being punished for helping a fellow human being, a vulnerable one at that. She was just doing what her dad had taught her and now he's the same person punishing her. "Elly...you went too far" he had said last week Monday after Principal Thinrod suspended her for one week.

Today was the second week of resumption and Elly had gone to school only once. That was last week Monday before she was suspended for fighting with Alisa, the proprietor's daughter.

Alisa was extending her wicked and intimidating claws to Esther, the new student who got into BEFA high school on scholarship. Telling her that the likes of her belonged to the community secondary school and not at BEFA when Elly stepped in to defend her and things got messy as Alisa's minions made sure they ripped off Elly's new hair.

Principal Thinrod used his thin rod on them and dismissed them with one week suspension each. Esther was spared, she was clever enough to stay clear of the fight..... scholarship girls are always clever .

Elly got home that day and Mr. Kay Richard could not believe his ears. He was more disappointed in himself than he was at his daughter.

"Did I not raise you better than this Elly " was the question he kept asking that evening. The question was more directed to himself than they were to Elly even though he attached her name every time he asked it for all the nine times he did.....Elly was counting

"You're grounded for the next one week you'll be a'home and from next week you'll trek to school for exactly one week. I know I taught you to always stand up for yourself and for others but Elly ..... You went too far" he had said and shut the door behind him that Monday evening.

Elly walked close to the gate and looked back at her mum and brother who were staring back at her. She wasn't happy that she made her dad who was her closest family member unhappy but she was particularly happy she would experience what it feels like to be in a public bus and probably see people exchanging words with the conductor or the almighty notorious Keke drivers. .... you only read those things in novels or see them in Nollywood films.

Buchi waved back at her and her mother nodded. She understood the nod,the woman had given her money for transport fare to school the night before. According to her she wouldn't want to wait outside and carry her after her father had left for Amansea, she also believed that Elly went too far too and should serve the punishment. She was just worried she would be late and it would not look good that after being suspended for a week for fighting, you return to school and return late on your second -first day.

Elly nodded back and as Buchi rushed to hug her she realized how blessed she was. She had a mother that cared so much about her,a father that never stopped correcting her whenever she strayed, a loving plump brother who adores her and simply enjoys being her brother and an adorable big house that looks like it was built for a family of ten. Looking at the house drifted her mind to the incident at Principal Thinrod's office after the fight.

Esther's parents had also come on Principal Thinrod's invitations. Even though Elly wasn't expecting Principal Thinrod to invite them,she was happy seeing them. She always wanted to see people from the other side of life. The people that Buchi Emecheta described as second- class citizens even though they're still in their own country.The people who lived in one room that serves as a living room, bed room, kitchen and even bathroom for the children. The people who come to school with public transport and most times exchange words with bus conductors.

Esther's mother was most grateful that her daughter would not be suspended, she worried it might affect her scholarship. She thanked Elly for standing up for her daughter and wished she was spared too, but Principal Thinrod was always Principal Thinrod.

The sound of Mr. Richards' car jolted Elly back from her reverie. Buchi was detaching from her now and giving her that childish smile that says...I gat you sis.

She smiled back and stepped back as Halu ,the security guard came to get the gate.

Mr. Richards drove out without even taking a glance at her. This has never happened before but Elly knew her dad was a disciplinarian in the strictest sense of the word. He'd make you so uncomfortable till you do the right thing or served your due punishment.

"Anyways, this is a beautiful Monday morning to have a beautiful Monday experience".... Elly thought to herself .

She nodded at Halu and eased herself through the gate just after her mum turned the car to face the gate.

"Small madam, I no dey follow oga comot" Halu chipped in with surprised eyes.

"No Halu, I'll be going on my own" Elly replied and quickened her gait because Halu was a big talker that would go on and on even though you might not make sense from what he'd say if you give him audience for one hour.

Aside from Saturday exercises, today was the first time Elly was stepping out into the estate street on foot. She was wearing slippers as the road from her house to the main tarred road of the estate was all muddy...thanks to yesterday's downpour .

Ngozika Estate Awka is not your regular Nollywood Lekki estates, at least not yet.

Most of the roads were still under construction and as a government owned estate, once under construction, is always under construction. Much work was done on the major road that stretched out through out the length of the estate. It was tarred, wide and seemingly promising to be durable. But the adjoining roads that connects people from the major road to their homes was left raw,untouched...they haven't lost their virginity.

Elly treaded carefully as the neatness of her school uniform depended on it.She chose the left side of the road that seemed it battled with the rain and almost conquered as it looked less muddy than the right side and walked away the strangeness of the day, choosing to guard jealously the gut feeling she's been having since yesterday, that today was special....And in a way she was right,or maybe not entirely.

She wore her headphone and nodded away as Titiana Manaois's turning page echoed through the speakers.

As she drowned in the ocean of the music, a sudden wind rushed past her and almost immediately, a muddy water came splashing down at her, soiling her peaceful ocean of songs.

She immediately removed the headphones and realized that it was not her peaceful ocean of songs that was soiled but her perfectly ironed uniform, her mauve skirt. She looked up and saw a bicycle lying few yards away from her, the rider was trying to lift it up...."He is obviously the sudden wind that rushed past me." Elly murmured amidst clenched teeth .

She walked briskly to where he was, intending to scream the whole world down on him but before she got close, he turned and Elly was faced with the strangest sight she has ever beheld.