Esse - Episode 7

 

All the senior secondary school girls, had their hair weaved in the famous all back. Some in dee-dee, while some in weaving; some had base, while some didn't. The only people who didn't have their hair in the recommended hair style, were some of the SSS3 girls, who left their hair unmade. The girls also styled their beret in different ways. I laughed quietly to myself, when I saw the different funny way our juniors had styled their beret . Some had it hanging on their head and covering half of their face, some had it simply placed on their head making it look like a plate, some wore it to cover their both ears and some wore it in funny indescribable ways. Funny girls. All SSS3 girls had a way we did ours, we styled ours in the senior girl style; neatly worn, and slightly bent to the right.

"Mr. Demeji have land oh!" Dumebi being the tallest boy alerted all the SSS3 students, so they could quickly tuck in before Mr. Demeji arrived. All the boys started hurriedly tucking their shirts in, and some girls.

I lifted my head to look at Joseph to see if he was well dressed. He was the school instrumentalist in general. He played all instruments the school had, so I heard. When I looked at him, he was already looking at me

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. He smiled immediately our eyes jammed, I quickly turned away and acted like I didn't look at him. Why are you still being shy? You guys are friend nah! Ah no nah, even if we're friends, looking at him for no reasonable reason would raise thoughts in his mind. I don't want to give him impression oh abeg. "Sorry for the delay, something happened last session, that's why the prefects weren't appointed. So today we would appoint the prefects," our ever chafing principal brought me out of my thought.

I lifted my head as he started calling out the prefects. "Head boy, Joseph Awolowo," he said with a wide smile. The students started clapping excitedly. "Stop!" There was silence everywhere. There was a pattern in which we clapped, but when the female students got too excited, they clapped anyhow. "Now clap," he commanded in a firm tone, meaning anybody that does the opposite now won't like his or herself. The students clapped in the expected pattern. "Head girl, Ifeoma Okoye." The students didn't clap as excited as they did when Joseph name was mentioned, I shaked my head at their reaction.

"Esse Bassey, Health prefect." I was brought out of my thought, at the mention of my name. Me? Health prefect? I'm not a science student! Oooo, they did not see head girl to give someone, it's nah health prefect they're giving person. The students applauded in the expected pattern, but a little louder than they have, but not as loud as when they applauded for Joseph. I walked out, slowly.

After all the prefects had been called out and given their badges, the principal asked Joseph to give a speech. "Good morning," Joseph said in a calm charismatic voice.

"Good morning," they all chorused.

"I don't have much to say, in fact I have almost nothing to say. But what I want to ask for is your cooperation. If you cooperate with us, you'd make this tenure the best ever." The students applauded in approval. He smiled happily as he returned the mic to the principal, who was smiling widely also.

"SS1, give us a matching song," our principal said, looking at the SS1 students.

"Oh my home, oh my home!" Came from a student, and before I knew it everyone had picked it, and were all singing.

The principal held the new prefects down a little, letting us know we were to start our duties immediately, and specifically telling me to come out of my shell.

Amarachi jumped on me from behind. "Come out of your shell," she whispered in my ear, before using her right hand to hug me close as we walked to class. I chuckled, and pushed her away a little. She thinks she was kidding, or simply repeating what the principal said, but deep down I know I have to let myself out of my shell. The problem is how? She laughed, and hugged me back. I didn't push her again, since we're already in front of our class.

Mr. Simon was already in class. Amarachi and I walked in, and straight to our seats. Amarachi took all the materials she needed for her creative art class, and left. The class was really scanty. We had only ten people doing music.

"Okay, let's move closer," Mr. Simon announced. Everyone picked up their things and moved forward, but I stood up and went to my cupboard. I searched for my music note, and textbook. Immediately I found it, I quickly went to sit down. "Today, we're starting the 'History of Western Music'. But we'd be focusing on the classical period. So...it's from what year to-"

"1750 to 1820 A.D," I quickly cut him. It was a thing we did in music class, the first person who could decipher the question before he finish asking, would get an 'MOM' meaning master or mistress of music. He gave 'POM' also, but it was only once a student had gotten it, and that was me.

"It's a lie," Ada shouted as she jumped from her seat. We were music rivals, but I had beat her plenty times. But, Ada would never give up. I laughed at her.

Mr. Simon laughed. "She didn't even let me finish, so how is it a lie?" he asked Ada, smiling.

Ada stamped her legs on the floor continuously, as she grumbled. "That's not fair oh! She cheated. She did," she said, pointing at me as she pouted.

I laughed at her again, but that was when it dawned on me. What's the use of being the best in music, when I'm dropping the subject? I became silent.

Mr. Simon kept on giving me strange looks as I let Ada answer all the questions.

Class was almost over, it remained less than a minute. I'm happy, I want to escape these strange looks Mr. Simon is giving me.

"Hey what's wrong?" I reflectively turned to where the question came from, and I was jammed with Joseph. Wow! When did he move? Why is he sitting behind me? Wait! What's his concern?

I frowned before replying, "It's none of your business, mind yours."

His eyes became very wide, he looked at me like he had seen a ghost. "Wow! I'm sorry oh." With that he stood up, and went back to his former seat beside John.

Was I rude? Yes you were fish! Argh! This my mouth ehn! Jeez, I just messed up thing with Joseph now oh! He'd hate me. Ah! I need to tame my tongue. But it's not my fault nah, I didn't want him to know, I don't want anyone to know. No one.

"Esse, see me during break," Mr. Simon said as he left the class. He has notice too. Should I tell him? Or should I not? No, I will. He might provide a solution. But...in dad's cases are there solutions?