Chapter Seven

"Sorry, but I can't do that." Joshua said for the umpteenth time. He was clearly getting annoyed with the older woman who sat opposite him.

"You can't or you won't?" Principal Ebere asked as she reached for a can of peppermint bubble gum. Throwing some balls of it into her mouth, she offered Joshua some which he refused.

"Take anyone of your choice." He said as he pushed the chair backwards, getting ready to leave.

"Sit down, Joshua." she ordered," I don't remember saying you could leave."

A thin frown spread across his lips as he reluctantly complied with the order. The leather office chair was soft and comfy but his joints were aching from sitting in the same position for too long. It was of no use keeping him here, there was practically nothing the Principal would say that would convince him to tutor her niece. He barely had time to study by himself talk more of tutoring someone else.

"All I ask is for you to take her on some subjects. It can't be that hard." The woman said again, clearly not ready to give up convincing him.

"And I said no." he replied.

"Why is that?"

He raised a questioning brow. "I don't owe you any explanation. It's my decision to do what I want." Standing up he asked. "I believe we have nothing more to discuss asides from tutoring your niece?"

The woman sighed and shook her head. Joshua was one of the few students who could defy her orders and get away with it. The remaining few usually had strong financial backing that made it impossible to touch them but Joshua's case was different. He wasn't from a rich or affluent family but his brains was what made her overlook certain misconduct. He had always represented their schools in countless international competitions and won heavy cash prizes and tokens worth millions for the school. The scholarship granted to him by the School's Administration was far too little a compensation for all the prize money he had won in their name. In other words they needed him more than he needed them.

"Please Joshua, think about it." She said as she saw him heading for the door. "My niece was once bright like you but after losing her mother recently, her grades started dropping."

"If your that desperate, why don't you find someone else. A teacher maybe?" he suggested dryly, clearly not touched by the tragic story he just heard.

"Well it's hard to find a teacher that has knowledge on all the subjects. All of them specializes in one." she explained. "Plus your our brightest student and I believe she would understand better learning from a student like herself."

Joshua hesitated for a minute before reaching for the door knob. "I am sorry but I don't do charity."

"How much do you want?" she asked.

The boy turned around, she finally had his attention. "A hundred thousand naira should be fine."

"Goodness a hundred thousand naira is too much just for tutoring, Joshua." the woman exclaimed.

"I thought you said you wanted your niece to learn from the best." he drawled. "If you can't afford it, I best be on my way now."

"Wait—" she called him back before he would leave." A hundred thousand naira is fine but—"

"But?"

"You will have to keep tutoring her until a week before the final exams."

He shrugged, "Ok."

"Alright. I will have the money transferred to your account first thing tomorrow morning." she scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "That's the name and homeroom of my niece. I suggest you introduce yourself to her."

Collecting the paper from her, he left the office. A frown crossed his face when he saw the name written on it.

" Chikamji Ubah." He tilted his head. The name sounded familiar. And although he didn't know every single student in final year, he could tell a new face when he saw one. This Kamji of a girl was no doubt the one he had saved her ass earlier today in their Biology class. The crazy girl who had mistook him for someone else and created a scene by hugging him infront of everyone.

Squeezing the paper in his hands into a tight ball he threw it away. He was tempted to go back into the Principal's office and tell her there was no way he was teaching her psychopath niece, but the money attached to the job was a mouth watering offer. He glanced at the silver chain watch strapped around his wrist. It was almost five o' clock. School had been over few hours ago, there was no need to go looking for the girl now. She must have probably gone home.

Just as he was making his way out of the empty halls. He suddenly felt light headed and nauseous. He slowed his pace looking for anywhere he could sit or lean on as he knew what came next. The pain came quickly before he could even reach the steps. He released a groan in agony as the pain in his chest escalated. Placing his hands on his chest, he took long and deep breaths. He had been having symptoms like these lately but none lasted as long as this one did. It was high time he visited the hospital to be examined but he wasn't sure he would be able to afford the cost for the check up.

The pain was slowly beginning to fade and he was somewhat relieved that no one had been around to witness what had happened to him. He sat there for a while in slow recovery before the Principal's niece had shown up asking for directions. And as if the previous headache that came with chest pain he experienced earlier wasn't bad enough, he had to put up with her insisting he was someone else. Just what was Principal Ebere thinking throwing her insane niece at him? It was clear that what the girl needed was a doctor and not a tutor. He wasn't some psychiatrist that could cure her lovely niece.

The house was reeking with alcohol when he stepped in and the faint smell of cocaine still lingered in the air. That meant only one thing, his mother was home. He found her passed out on the sofa in the living room, snoring loudly. She worked as a gas station attendant and wasn't meant to be at home by this time of the day. There were some papers scattered on the floor and he bent to pick them up. The first was a letter from the gas station where his mother had worked saying she had been fired for misconduct. Joshua sighed she must have been caught smoking on the job again. This was the third job this week she got dismissed. Who the hell smokes in a gas station? he thought. Did she know how risky it was? The whole building could catch fire and cause a major explosion but his mother who was a chain smoker won't listen to a word he said.

The rest of the papers were bills. Light bills, House rents and so many others Joshua had never heard of. He was going to pay off part of the rent with the money he got from the tutorials. The house rent was long overdue and eventhoug the landlady had been very patient enough, Joshua could tell it was only a matter of time before they received an eviction notice.

Feeling hungry, he walked into the kitchen and was greeted with empty pots and stoves. it wasn't like he was expecting any food. He couldn't remember the last time his mother cooked. Two years ago? Maybe even three. Grabbing a can of coke from the fridge he downed it in few gulps. They were out of food stuffs too as he noticed the cupboards were empty. With his mother losing her job there was practically no source of income and it was only a matter of time before they ended up in the streets. He thought of getting a job after school but he was certain he won't find one that would pay a decent amount to cover the bills. He had exhausted most of the prize money he had won from representing Westlake in various competition by paying for their feeding and rent last year. His mother losing her job made little difference as he had always been the one footing the bills. She had always squandered the money she got on alcohol and drugs. As he was lost in his thoughts there was a knock on the door.

"Joshua, Are you in there?"

He bit a curse at the familiar squeaky voice. It was the landlady, Agnes. She was probably here to ask about the rent. "Good evening Agnes." he greeted as he opened the door. A little petite woman in her mid fifties stood at the other side.

"I am sorry about the delay in paying the rent . I promise you will receive the money tomorrow." he began to explain.

"You mean the house rent?" Agnes smiled. "It's ok. I am not here for that."

"Oh." Joshua chided himself for making assumptions. He opened the door wide enough for the small figure to enter into the house.

"I brought you some food." She said as she placed a large flask on a stool. "Goodness when was the last time you cleaned this place?" She asked rubbing a finger on the dusty furniture.

Joshua could hear his stomach growling loudly at the mention of food that he barely paid attention to what she was saying. He had brought some dishes out of the kitchen and helped himself with a large quantity of the yam porridge from the flask. The rest of the food he kept in the fridge for his mother. She was probably going to be hungry when she woke up and he will heat it up for her later.

"You must be really hungry." Agnes noted as she watched him devouring the food. "Where is your mother?"

He couldn't speak as his mouth was filled with food so he used his head to gesture to his mother who still laid on the sofa sleeping.

"Is she sick? The landlady asked with a worried look.

"She's fine Agnes." he assured the older woman." She just got fired from her job that's all."

"That's bad. She must be feeling really bad." the petite woman said.

Joshua said nothing and continued eating. On a normal occasion, he didn't like bringing in an outsider into his private life but Agnes was different. Sure she could be a little bit nosy most of the time but she only had their best interest at heart. She had been the only one who had accepted him and his drunken mother when they had nowhere else to go. She had rented out the upper half of her house and had been more than generous with the rent. So if all he had to do was to let the old woman pry into their lives, he was cool with it. He could tell she was just lonely and needed company. But he couldn't complain one bit when he always got free delicious food from her everytime she dropped by.

"Oh. I almost forgot to give you this." She brought out a flyer from her purse and handed it to Joshua. "There's going to be a two weeks bible study at my church. You should come."

"I'll pass." he didn't bother to take a look at the flyer she had given him. Agnes was always trying to get him come to one church program or the other. And eventhough he had never attended even once, she still wouldn't give up.

"Why?" she demanded. "You should try and come atleast once."

Joshua sighed. Why was everyone questioning his decisions lately? He had the right to decide what he wanted to do or not.

"Because I have to go to school and work."

"Work?" The landlady lifted her brow. "Do you still work at that restaurant? I thought you said you quit."

"No. I got another job." he explained. "I act as a private tutor for this kid at school."

The elderly lady was disappointed "Oh. Is that so?"

He nodded. "But don't worry. I might drop by sometime." he said only to have Agnes beaming.

"Really! That's great." she exclaimed in delight. "Just give me a call whenever you decide to come.I promise you won't regret it."

"Sure." Joshua replied, feeling bad that he had lied to her. He had no plans on

going to the church.

"I best be on my way now." Agnes said as she headed for the door. "I don't want people looking for me at the shop."

After he was done with seeing her off, he changed out of his uniform and went to his room. Opening a drawer he brought out his laptop. A fine layer of dust coated the surface showing it had been long he had used it. Wiping off the dirt, he booted the device. He had never wanted to resort to this but he was in desperate need of cash and this was his only option. The bills weren't going to pay themselves he needed to make money and quick. He had snuck into his mother's room and took some wraps of her cocaine. He needed it to stay awake if he planned to do an all nighter.

Rolling the first stick of the drug he lit it and took a long drag before releasing a thick puff of smoke in the air. He didn't like smoking but what choice did he have if he wanted to stay awake all night. After burning few more sticks, he could finally feel the effect of the nicotine kicking in. Cracking his knuckles he positioned his long slender hands on the keyboard. His conscience was lost. It was time to make money.