Palm lines - Episode 4

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The environment was still tensed.
"Detention should be a place where you reflect on what you've done" I broke the silence. I noticed I just scared the hell of out her. 
"I don't want to reflect"
"Well I am paid to make you reflect" i retorted. "Do you realize what you did? You injured that girl, Endwell, she had to be taken to the clinic"
"It was just a simple fight"
"So that's how you do? You cause simple fights everywhere you go to ok ?" 
"I don't"
"Why have you been making trouble?"
"All I want is to be alone and these idiots don't want to leave me alone" she cried . "Are you doing all this to get attention?"
"I said I want to be alone. What's so hard to get there? They mock me because of it, is it a crime to want to be alone?" She asked and I felt like I could relate with her on that 'being alone' part, especially when you're trying to hear yourself speak. 
"There are times, you need people around you. You think it's fun being alone? Wait till you're old, you'll realize there's a reason why humans are called social beings" I answered based on my perspective.
"Do you want to get expelled?" I asked, "No. Then I'll have to stay home till they find another school for me.  I don't mind being here till night time"
"Why?"
"Do you know how it feels to have a father who doesn't fucking care about you or a step mom who you hate so much? No! You don't know, no one does!" She yelled and i rolled my eyes.
Story of my Life.
"Firstly, no foul words in my detention room and two, I do know how it feels" I revealed, "Oh please" She rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"I grew up in a polygamous home, my father got married to three wives

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. Wife no. 3 is his favorite because she gave birth to three boys, mom had four girls and altogether we're all  thirteen so yes I do know how it feels to have a dad who doesn't give a damn about you and yours doesn't even beat mine." I answered and Sharon opened her mouth in shock. That seemed to have calm her down. 
"You're young and I'm not going to promise you that it gets better with age, it doesn't. My dad still doesn't give rat ass about me but you have to let it slide or else it will consume you. All those anger you're building up, it not good for you. You're going to end up having wrinkles at age thirty. How old are you?"
"Fourteen" she answered,
"And you, how old are you?" She asked and i hesitated. 
"I'm thirty four years old"
"How many kids do you have" she asked then she quickly glanced at my fingers. I guess she noticed there was no ring on it.
"Oh sorry" she answered and i waved it off. 
"It's nothing, I get that everytime" she answered then fell into a deep thought for a while.
"See! I told you your frustration is still learning. Whenever you're frustrated, just know that there are many more frustrated persons than you. What you consider as a big problem might be someone's least problem. It's not something to worry yourself about" I advised and i in turn advised myself. 
I've had a hell of a week with my anticipation of Mr. Right. I'm done killing myself, i had a new goal to just live life and let God's will be done. 
"You're also trying to convince yourself right?" Sharon asked and i nodded chuckling and she smiled.
How quickly she read through me.
"My sketch book?" She asked.
"Magic word"
"Please give me my sketch book" She asked and i gave to her. "See! Did you loose your tongue by saying that?" I asked and she shook her head chuckling.
"Be nice once in a while and try not to transfer anger on people that's another thing I've learnt over the years"
"Okay. What's your name?" Sharon asked and I smiled. My full name makes people laugh everytime. I've always learnt to keep it short.
"My name is Miss Ifechimererika Nwachukwu" 
"Huh?" She asked and we both busted into laughter. The look on her face was priceless and very funny.
"It's Miss Erika for short" i answered and She smiled.
"What does it mean?" 

 


Three days later, two SS1 students were caught making out in the toilet. Tinuola Reiner was blamed for making the move on the boy. She didn't deny it.

 I gazed at her for a while during detention.  I was still a virgin in SS3, I didn't understand these new generations and their crazed hormones.
"Why did you do it?" I asked, "It's during school hours"
"He said he'll teach me maths if I sleep with him" she answered. "He's still a virgin and he has a very tiny thing for his big brain." She answered and I cleared my throat. 
Too much information.
"You know what they say, God doesn't give everyone complete things, there has to be one but" she added and I scratched my hair.
"So you don't feel remorse for what you were caught doing?"
"For what exactly? I have s*x anytime I want to"
"You're still a kid, your mom should watch over you and cater for you" "Mom..." She paused.
"I don't understand my own mom, between the two of us, I think she's crazy"
"Don't say horrible things about your mother, no matter how annoying she is, she's still your mom" 
"You don't understand, it's not an insult. Mom is crazy, she thinks she has powers" she paused. "Mom gives me my freedom, I guess I'm used to it"
"How long have you been having s*x?" I asked in curiosity. "For seven months now. I lost it to a senior when I was in Jss 3. He's no longer around, he's in a polytechnic now"
 "How old are you Tinu?" I asked and she sighed. 
"Fourteen" 
"Jesus!"

As a result of the  situation, I felt like I needed to speak to the parents of the girl, so I escorted her to her home.

 I met her mother, Mrs. Reiner, she was seated at the dinning and was about munching on a fried yam and stew. I demanded that Tinuola leave her mother and I alone and she did.
"Should I serve you?" She asked and  I shook my head.
 "Thank you Ma, I'm okay" i answered then i paused. How was i going to let this woman know that her daughter was having sex, I thought of a more diplomatic method to use.
"Mam are you aware that .." i paused surveying to see if Tinuola was there. 
"That what?" She asked, "Your daughter is having s*x?" I added and Mrs. Reiner busted into laughter. "Is that what you came here for?" 
"Yes ma'am, well not exactly" i replied a bit confused why the mother laughed.
"There's nothing that escapes me." She answered and i wondered what she meant by that.
 "They're young blood, they just wanna have fun" she grinned.
"Your daughter was caught making out with a guy in the toilet and the best you can say is...." I paused trying to contain my anger. 
"Mam she's corrupting the boys, I even got to hear that it's not her first time."
"She would stop eventually and she would end up getting married to a Pastor" She answered pulling my palm. 
"What do you mean?"
"I meant what I said Miss..." She paused, she wanted to know my name .
"Erika" i answered while i watched Mrs. Reiner twirl her fingers around the lines on my palm then she laughed looking at me.
"She'll get married to a pastor. I haven't told anyone this, and I haven't told her either. Don't tell her" she winked at me, "It will change the course of fate" she answered.
She was beginning to smile and act crazy. I became worried so I pulled my hands away.
 Mrs. Reiner pulled my hands again. "Calm down Erika, you're becoming too desperate" she added.
"I don't understand"
"The right one is going to come, stop trying to force it" she added then laughed.
"How do you know?" Erika raised her brow in shock. 
"I read palms"
"That's not real" 
"Seriously?" She scoffed. "At least I'm more real than that useless prophet you met and that water you used in bathing yourself? It was just salt and ordinary water. Waste of ten thousand naira. Assuming they even went to the beach to get good salt water" she commented and i rose up in shock. 
"And you knew all that from reading my palm?"
"Yes and yes, he's fake! Sorry to say but not everyone is gifted to see what the future holds it and not everyone can read the palm, but eledumare had given me the gift. The future is in the palm of our hands; there's more to that expression than the surface meaning" she answered stretching her hands at me, she wanted my consent so she could go ahead.
"Give me your palms" she requested and i slowly moved close to her. I presented my it to her. I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do but i did anyways.
"Ehya, your sister is getting married. I see you frustrated than ever. It's not entirely too late for you. The time is near already, you're going to smile"
"So I'll get married?" I asked and she nodded.
"When?"
"Calm down Erika, with this busy body, you'll end up with the  wrong person. You'll need patience. You missed him already, you asked God for a sign and he gave you one and you missed it" she answered and i opened my eyes in shock. 
How in the world did I miss him? When? 
 "God, what kind of life is this sef?"
"Aren't you tired of blaming God? I see you planning to leave him, planning to go astray." Mrs. Reiner chipped and and I cried. 
"That was weeks ago. It was just empty threats"
"Nothing should warrant you leaving God. I'm a Christian and I worship the gods of my fathers too. One should never get tired of doing the work of Eledumare. He's our source"
"It's as if I'm wasting my time"
"You're going to smile soon my dear, don't worry" She moved her fingers along a line on my palm. "That's the marriage line"
"That line has always been there"
"What do you know?" She laughed at my naivety. "You're talking marriage, I don't have a boyfriend oh, no one has looked at me in a long time as if I'm not attractive."
"You'll meet him soon"
"When?"
"Soon" she picked up a fried yam chewing it. 
"How soon? How will I know him? When will I meet him? At least give me a clue" i begged and she held my hands again. Her oily hands rubbed against my palm.
"The day will be marked by something grey and something embarrassing and gifts " she answered but i shook her head even more confused. It seemed like a riddle i needed to crack.
"Can you explain more better?' I requested and she chuckled.
 Tinuola walked in that moment.
"Oh my God, mom!" She yelled. "I told you not to do this things when people come into the house, it's embarrassing!" She yelled and her mom raised her hands in surrender,
"I didn't do anything"
"Seriously?" She asked turning towards me. "Miss Erika, did  she say anything weird to to you?" She asked and I rose from the chair, "I have to go" 

****
The parents teacher association meeting  was fixed on a Friday. Messages has already been sent to parents so they can grace the day and give comments, complains and way forward for more improvement.
I woke up that Friday with, stomach ache, it almost felt as though she was on my period. My normal ritual was  to walk into the toilet and urinate, after a close observation of my urine, i realized my period would probably not come that day. 
I felt weird, like I should have seen my period that day because I was having the symptoms.

I quickly took my bathe, then i wore a white print shirt on a yellow skirt. Dorcas walked into my room with a package. "What's this?" I asked and she smiled. 
"It's a gift"
"For who?" I asked, "For the woman of the year" she answered and I creased my brow in thought. "Kechi? It's not her birthday today"
"It's yours" she answered and I shook my head.
"It's not my birthday"
"I meant the gift is yours"
"Why?"
"Cause you're my woman of the year." 
I collected the package then unwrapped it. It was a perfume. 
"I don't have body odor" I insinuated and she shook her head. "It's just a gift, I swear I didn't mean it that way."
"Thanks" I replied then I pulled get close for a hug.
Dorcas insisted she make me up before i leave. "You cannot just go like this nah, you said today is you guys PTA meeting right? What if you meet one hot s*xy single parent? 
"In your mind!" I yelled and she laughed.
"On a serious note oh, don't go looking so....."
"So what? Do I look that bad?"
"You look married"
I waved my hands in surrender, I had no choice but to wait, besides I had time.
The moment i walked out of the compound, I waited by the road side for a Keke, just as I was about to walk in, I hear a loud tear sound. 
The fabric of my skirt had been hooked to a rusty part of the Keke.
"Jesus!" I yelled.
Then I walked out removing the fabric from a pointed rusty edge. I turned back to the obvious tear.
"Crap!" I cussed then stylishly walked back into the house. 
Dorcas was on a call. 
"Yeah don't worry, I'll be there" she looked at me in shock. 
"Aren't you going to school again?"
"The most embarrassing thing happened!" 
"What?" Dorcas asked and i turned my back at her. 
"Oh...how did that happen?"
"Is it not the nonsense Keke I entered into" I grumbled, "I'll be late to work. I'm supposed to resume in twenty minutes."
"My uncle's wife just called, I have to help her out with somethings" she rolled her eyes.
"You don't like her?"
"Not like I don't like her, she's...." She paused. "Do you want to hear gist or you want to change into something else cause I'm confused right now" Dorcas laughed and i joined in rushing into my room to change up.

****
After the taxi for to the school, I paid the money to the taxi driver but he refused to collect it from me.  "Madam you really fine oh, no need to give me money."
"Thank you Sir" I  replied the fifth time then I stepped out. 
I haven't even taken up to five steps when my heels broke and I landed flat on the ground. My wig was on the floor along with my honor.
"Jesus, what kind of day is this?" I asked. 
"Sorry Miss" I heard a man say behind me, i turned to him, from his grey hair to the white lace he wore, i could tell he was a parent of one of the student.
His hands were stretched at me.
I held his hands then I jerked up groaning. He looked at me strangely, I felt weird, suddenly I started dusting the sand off my buttocks.
"Are you okay?" He asked after a while and I nodded. "Yeah.. just having a really bad day" I answered removing my heels.
He picked up my wig giving it to me and I rolled my eyes in shame. If only the earth would open up and swallow me.
"Jesus!"  I shut my eyes in embarrassment.
"It's okay you don't have to be embarrassed" he said and I felt even more embarrassed. 
"Thank you Sir.... Are you looking for your ward?" I asked, "No.... I just dropped off my daughter. Are you really okay? You might want to have a doctor check that leg, it might have been sprained. I can take you"
"And risk losing my job?" I scoffed. 
"I'll survive" I answered.
"Health first"
"Sir I'm okay. Thanks"
"I didn't do anything" he answered and I removed my slippers from my hand bag, putting it on.
 "Have a nice day Sir" I walked away with my shoe in my hands.
"You too!" He yelled and I heaved a sigh.
This has got to be the most embarrassing day ever! I exhaled then walked into the assembly in time for the national anthem.

****
"Ehya, which kain useless thing be that one?" Miss Oloche complained after i had explained the whole thing to her. 
Dorcas walked into the staff room smiling and holding another black heels. "Good morning" she greeted Miss Oloche.
"I told you I wanted flats, I don't want another embarrassing moment" 
"This dress would not look good on flat so suck it up and wear it, it's just one bad day, it'll get better"
"I just can't wait to get home and just sleep this whole day off!"
"I really don't want to be in your shoe" she answered, said hey goodbye then walked away.
 Shortly after, there was a knock on the door.The staff room door was opened, Miss Oloche and i turned over to see Sharon holding a book. 
Miss Oloche hissed.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. "Come back another time, don't come and disturb someone's life, don't you have a class?"
"Gen" I cautioned, "I want to talk to Miss. Erika not you, stop acting as if it's you I came for" 
"She's even acting rude"
"Please let me talk to her" I answered and Miss Oloche rolled her eyes. "This girl is too rude for my liking" 
"Sharon apologize to her"
"I didn't do anything"
"You were rude, apologize"
"Urgh! Sorry"
"Sorry what?" Miss Oloche asked and Sharon blinked her eyes. "Sorry Miss... I don't even know her name"
"Oloche?"
"Seriously? You're from Benue?" She asked, "How do you know? Wait, you're from Benue too?" Miss Oloche asked and she kept quiet.
"See, that's even more reason to like her" i concluded and miss oloche hissed, "We're not always rude oh, Benue people are gentle oh. You better change" she advised leaving the both of us.
"Are you really from Benue?" I asked and she nodded.
"Have you ever been to your village"
"Yes, every holiday! It's better than being at home" "Why are you here?" 
"I needed company"
"You do know that I'm a teacher right? And student- teacher relationships have extents" I asked and she nodded. 
"I just needed to see you and talk"
"I hope your parents are ready for the PTA meeting?"
"That's if they'll come. My step mother would not even show up"
"Are you serious? How about your dad?"
"Business over everything, can you imagine that I came late because of him because he had to attend a meeting" Sharon sat on a desk and i chuckled.
"That's not fair at all. He's your father, he should make time to come"
 "He won't,"
"What if he does?"
"Wanna bet?" Sharon asked i laughed. "You look pretty today" she commented and I instantly felt shy.
 "Seriously?" She asked, I have been hearing similar comments from other teachers and students.
"Maybe it's the make up"
"Are you sure? You're glowing," 
"I'm already blushing, you guys should not make me feel uncomfortable" I brought out a mirror from my bag looking at my reflection. 
By twelve, all students had been sent off. The PTA meeting was supposed to start by two but I was still in my office avoiding the principal who would definitely want me to lead in praise and worship. 
When I stood up, I clashed into somebody.
 "Oh" I muttered surprised to see the handsome man. I haven't seen a man so handsome in a very long time.
 He was dressed in a white shirt, black trousers and a grey suit over it.
 "Hey" he smiled at me. 
"Hey" I smiled back.

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  • Views (9183)
  • Likes (13)
  • Comments (14)
  • Rating (4)
  • Benedicta Osei Arhin picture
    Benedicta Osei Arhin
    So now which of the "greys" is the one hehehe...more episodes dear
  • Confy-Dencie picture
    Confy-Dencie
    Lol, abi ooo... Which of the 'greys'. The grey hair or the grey suit
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    Incoming oh@ Benedicta.. lol
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    Lol@ Confy-dencie.... You'll see
  • Pamela cube picture
    Pamela cube
    Now I can't figure out which of the greys....
  • Njoku Chinenye picture
    Njoku Chinenye
    Well done dear Patience is always the key but is never easy waiting
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    Hang in there Pamela, you'll figure out soon
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    # true_talk oh@ Njoku
  • Ronke Adetula picture
    Ronke Adetula
    Mrs Reiner is indeed a palmist but that doesn't mean she should not correct her child.
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    Well there's a story to everything @Ronke.. thanks for the commen
  • Essien Eno picture
    Essien Eno
    *comments
  • Michael winful picture
    Michael winful
    Hey na, Krika time don reach for blessing, but!! fit dey insid e if she doesn't play her part well, and one thing that still bothers me is that this her period thing, make e no cause another wahala o!!
  • Ademola Monday picture
    Ademola Monday
    you have really got a bad day
  • Lo is picture
    Lo is
    She should have realized by now... This is what d palm.reader was talking about... I like color grey now too...n y do I believe one of the grey us Sharon's father
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