Tears Of Summayah - Episode 8

 

Sumayyah rose up from bed very tired early the next morning but she still managed to clean the compound and start breakfast. After she finished her chores, she took a shower and got ready for school. Hajia Fatima was already in the sitting room when Sumayyah passed through on her way to the kitchen. She was surprised to see her daughter already dressed and ready for school.

"Mom, good morning," Sumayyah greeted her.

"Haba Sumayyah, don’t tell me you want to go school! Remember you aren’t well enough yet.” 

"Mum, I am okay now," 

Hajia Fatima walked up to Sumayyah and felt her forehead and whole body. Satisfied with what she saw she pronounced: “Alright, but be careful and don't stress yourself at school, ok?"

"Mom I won't,"

“That’s my girl.” Hajia Fatima got her purse and gave Sumayyah some money for lunch and transport.

"Thank you, mummy," 

"Please be careful, ok?" Hajia Fatima called to Sumayyah’s retreating back.

"I will!" Sumayyah said over her shoulder.

……….

At the school gate, Sumayyah met Jennifer, who had also just arrived and was talking to some of her friends . Sumayyah didn’t want any trouble, so she hid her face with one of her notebooks and tried to pass through the gate without being seen

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. Her efforts were futile however, because Jennifer had already spotted her. She immediately dragged Sumayyah into a nearby bush and covered her mouth, so she couldn’t scream.

“I want to warn you, girl. If you so much as tell anyone that I had a hand in what happened to you, you will suffer a fate worse than the last time. Do you understand?” Jennifer whispered menacingly, digging her freshly manicured nails into Sumayyah's chest.

Sumayyah nodded her head, fear evident in her eyes.

“Good” Jennifer's spat before she strutted away, leaving a trembling Sumayyah staring after her.

Sumayyah remained in the bush for a while to regain her composure before she entered the school and joined the assembly. After the assembly was over, the students were ordered to march to their various classes. Sumayyah was just settling into her seat in the classroom when one of the school prefects, Fareedah, came to inform her that she was wanted by the principal. Going by what Azeezah had told her the day before, she could very well guess why the principal had summoned her.

Sumayyah dropped her back pack on at her desk and went with Fareedah to the principal’s office. 

“Here she is sir.” Fareedah announced when they arrived at the office.

“Thank you, ASP Fareedah. You may return to your class now.”  When the door closed behind Fareedah, the principal turned to Sumayyah and asked her to sit, which she did.

“Your name is Sumayyah right?” The principal asked gently.

Sumayyah nodded with fear in her eyes.

“Please don’t be scared. The school authorities are investigating an incident, and we have reasons to believe that it concerns you.” The principal paused, then continued. “I have a few questions for you, and I would appreciate it if you answer them truthfully.” Sumayyah nodded again. She already knew what questions he intended to ask her. Her trembling hands rattled on the desk, so she linked the fingers together and placed them in her lap.

“I would like to know what happened to you in that uncompleted building where your friends found you.” 

“Sir, I don't know where to start,” Sumayyah replied in a voice that shook.

“Start from the beginning.” The principal prodded gently.

“I-I…” Sumayyah licked her lips nervously.

“Were you assaulted by Jennifer and her friends?” he asked in a soft tone.

Sumayyah knew that she had to lie to protect herself from Jennifer. “N-no, sir. I-I went to that- that uncompleted building because I was f-fed up with life.” Sumayyah’s lips trembled and she looked down at her feet. “I tried to commit suicide sir.”

The principal was shocked when he heard that, but he did not show it. He believed she was lying, but still he had to be certain. “Why would you want to kill yourself, Sumayyah?” he inquired cautiously.

“Be-because of my illness” Sumayyah lied through her tears. “I am sick and tired of being in and out of hospital, so I decided to end it once and for all.”

The principal sighed and shook his head. “Are you sure about this? Remember, you don’t have to be afraid of anything… or anyone”

Sumayyah wished she could tell the principal the truth, but the memories of what Jennifer had done were still very fresh in her mind. She did not wish to experience such humiliation and pain ever again. “I am sir.” She looked up, into the principal’s brown eyes. “Like I said I was really frustrated with my life”.

The principal sighed. He had no choice but to accept her story. “Alright, I believe you. But you shouldn’t have done something as rash as that, even if you were frustrated. Thank God you didn’t succeed.” The principal looked at Sumayyah and spoke firmly this time. “When you get home today, inform your parents that I would like to meet with them tomorrow.”

Sumayyah began to cry harder. If her parents ever found out, all hell would break loose. “Sir, I am begging you. I don't want to get my parents worried. I WILL NEVER try such a thing again!”

“But if truly you tried to commit suicide, I think your parents should be aware. We have to discuss counselling and…”

“Please sir. I know now that I was wrong. Don’t tell my parents please.” Sumayyah pleaded 

The principal regarded her for a while. “Alright, I won’t inform them. But you must promise me that you won't do that again.”

“I promise sir.” Sumayyah was relieved.

“Ok. You may leave now.”

“Thank you, sir “Sumayyah walked out of the office feeling better than she had in the morning. At least Jennifer would leave her alone now that she had kept their secret. 

………………

During break, on their way to the cafetaria, Sumayyah told Azeezah everything that happened with the principal.

“So you just told him that you tried to commit suicide?” Azeezah asked in disbelief.

“Yes, I had no choice. I even had to beg him not to inform my parents…”

“Good afternoon, lovely maidens,” Jamiu greeted jokingly. He had been in class and he spotted the girls walking down the corridor and had immediately rushed out to meet them. 

Sumayyah ignored him and kept on walking. Azeezah on the other hand, stopped and tugged at her friend’s hand so she was forced to stop as well.

“Good afternoon,” Azeezah replied smiling

“Sumayyah, I bought this for you to help you regain your strength,” Jamiu said handing her a wrapped parcel.

“Thank you, but I don’t need anything from you,” Sumayyah said and looked the other way. 

Azeezah laughed nervously and pulled Jamiu aside. They both whispered for a while and Sumayyah saw Jamiu hand Azeezah the parcel. 

Jennifer, who was standing a few feet away, watched Sumayyah and Jamiu, and her heart blackened in jealousy. It was obvious to her that Jamiu was already losing interest in her and was now focused on Sumayyah. So, this girl wants to snatch my boyfriend from me. She thought. That will only happen over my dead body. Jennifer went ahead and devised an evil plan. She wrote on a paper that Sumayyah seduced Jamiu so that he would fall in love with her. The note was plastered on the notice board and all classroom doors.

After the thirty-minute break, the principal addressed all the final year students (SS3) and gave them their timetable for WAEC examinations, which was starting in two weeks' time. He counseled them to do good and be good ambassadors for the school. The students were happy because they would finally leave secondary school and would have no cause to wear school uniform. The principal dismissed them after his speech and they left for revision and practicals.  Jamiu walked back to his class, while chatting with some of his friends.

“Hamzat, I am really happy because I am finally going to write my exams. I pray we all come out in flying colours.”

“Amin, I am happy too.” Hamzat replied

“Jamiu, have you copied your notes?” Fareedah suddenly asked.

“Yes, my notes are all up to date. That reminds me Hamzat, my Agric note is with you”

“You had better get it back from him on time. You know he is a slow writer.” Fareedah teased Hamzat.

“Look at the fast writer. You do know I am faster than you,” Hamzat said before they all burst into laughter.

“Stop arguing, and let’s go for our revision classes," Jamiu said.

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