MARIE'S HIGH - CHAPTER FIVE

PA MY FOOT!!!

"Big sis, I've been so worried about you", Gbemi led me inside the house when I was done with my useless adventure "Did you catch that bastard?", she patted my back so I'll be able to breathe normally after running too much.

"No", I lied.

"Too bad", She was angry. "I was hoping you'd teach him a bitter lesson!"

"Where's Bola", I turned to ask no one in particular.

"She's with her new friends who bought me an ice cream", Segun answered yet focused on playing wort cards with his elder brother who kept cheating him and winning.

My ganga mood was activated because Bola drove me crazy. How could she have gone out without caring about my welfare while I was out there defending her! She didn't even think about the safety of her siblings!

But upon realizing being angry did me no good, I became calm. I didn't want to give myself an unnecessary headache or high blood pressure.

"We have a problem, big sis", Gbemi said, shaking like a feverish patient few minutes later.

"What is it", I relaxed on grandma's recliner, trying hard to keep calm.

"The camera..." she wouldn't dare to look me in the eye.

"What the heck is wrong with it?" I howled.

"I swear I tried to protect it but these annoying boys got hold of it and it fell from their hands while they were fighting over it", She explained to me.

Confused about what to do, I told them to leave my sight for their respective bedrooms after which I locked them up. The boys thought wailing would make me forgive them but it didn't work!

A DJ was playing "Owanbe" by Simi, my favorite Nigerian hip hop artist but I couldn't dance. It was a beautiful Saturday morning indeed! The clouds were as clear as a glass fiber and had the brightest of all sunshine. There were thousands of heads in our home including those of family members I haven't met before or not seen in a while, grandma's childhood acquaintances, former colleagues, and Marie's high students.

In the party spirit, I grudgingly agreed to wear the cord lace styled by Bola for "the oye girls" and the two grown women in our family.

As my family walked downstairs majestically so the celebration could commence, we were welcomed with a standing ovation.

Thereafter the DJ played "Baba" by kiss Daniel and our guests moved to the dance floor holding their partners. While attempting to escape, a cool hand held me back and asked me for a dance. I couldn't resist the urge to dance with him because he was DJ Freaky and Rose didn't hesitate to hit me with the party chair closest to her.
Then, everything turned blank.

"Grrrrrrrmmm", the doorbell rang, and ended the ridiculous dream I was having. Grudgingly, I left for the main gate, hoping grandma hasn't been standing outside for long so she won't get mad at me.

"You're so cruel, Nifemi", I was glad it was Bola who had been there instead " I've been waiting outside for almost an hour!

Ignoring her like a plague, I locked the pedestrian gate with the intention of running back inside. Just then, we heard the horn of a car which made us realize uncle B was back so we opened the main gate for him. Thank goodness I came out earlier else Bola would have been in big trouble and blamed me for that.

I thought exchanging pleasantries with grandma and uncle would mark the end of the day's journey but I was wrong. We were just getting started!

The kids haven't done their assignments...

They were yet to eat dinner...

They were supposed to take a shower before going to bed...

The house was disorganized... bla bla bla. Grandma ranted.

Good lord!!!!!! What did she think I was? Miss perfectionist?

"Gbemi, can you please get my calculator upstairs?" I asked her while helping Segun and Tominwa with their assignments.

"Sure", she went to get it.

"And what're you go to do with that?" Bola meddled from the kitchen. I don't know why for heaven's sake she couldn't mind her business but I had no choice than to remain calm.

"I'm solving maths" I defended myself.

"It's not your assignment, Nifemi", She said like a pro to make me look incompetent. " You have to come down to their level".

"Since you're an expert in this field, it'll best for the kids you take over", I returned the boys' textbooks to them." I'm not good with explanation".

"Of course", Bola came to the living room holding a sieve." They're not your siblings so why should you care?", she hissed.

"Behave yourself, girls", grandma watched us from the second floor." Don't force me to buy canes for your sake!"

Bola said something in a low tone and returned to her work station.

Kids are generally difficult to handle but my siblings were extraordinary. They had brains that couldn't comprehend things on time. I had to explain a particular topic severally yet they didn't get it. At some point, they slept off then wandered around like they were sleep-walking. Only God knows where they got their genes from because I was as brilliant as my late mum.

"I can't do this anymore", Gbemi eventually packed her books in her pack back angrily.

"Are you not scared of canes anymore", Tominwa laughed.

"Shut up, idiot. They don't use canes in our new school" Gbemi said cheerfully.

"Mummy said she'll not allow you to go to school again if you fail your common entrance again" Segun reminded her.

Ohh my!! I didn't know it was that bad!!

"And we'll have all the candies to ourselves", the duo jumped in excitement and sang for her," olodo rabata, oju eja lomo je....(Dullard, all you know how to do is eat a fishes' eye)."

"How dare you!" she ran after them with the intention of beating them.

"Stop it", I screamed.

I still hadn't gotten over the fact that my own cousin failed her entrance examination.

"You get back here, Gbemi", I commanded her. Looking away shamefully, she sat beside me then I helped them in the best way I could.

"And that's all for tonight", I yawned.

"Dinner's ready " Bola announced and the kids quickly took their seats in the dining room.

"Goodnight, everyone", I started preparing to leave for my room.

"You have to eat first ", grandma insisted.

I expected her to forget Bola's offense because most old people tend to have short memories but I was taken aback when she warned her never to try such again! As punishment, she confiscated her Infinix Note 5 with a promise to release it in two weeks' time if she behaves herself.

The first thing on our Wednesday agenda was sports. I never developed an interest in watching or playing football, cheerleading, racing, basketball, and other sports but Marie's high made aerobics compulsory for all students with certain punishments for anyone that violates the rule so I somehow found myself in the gym dumbfounded.

"Hey, Nifemi", Timmy walked up to me there. "What are you staring at?" he inquired.

"Nothing", I got a hold of myself. " Hi"

"Twale!(I hail you) You sure look like someone who exercises regularly", he said sarcastically.

"Shut up, Tim" a tall girl with broad shoulders and glitters on her navel hit him on the chest humorously. "Hi", she extended her right hand to me, " I'm Jane. Welcome to our club".

"I'm Nifemi", I told her.

"Alright", she gave me a brochure for the gym and outfits."So what equipment do you use?"

"I've never used any before", I felt embarrassed.

"It's okay", she smiled as though she knew what was going through my mind."we all started somewhere ".

"Let her use the treadmill, she likes running" Timmy said from the spot where he was helping an obsessed teenage girl to follow her exercise routine.

"I was talking to a she, not you, dummy", Jane eyed him.

"I'll go with what he says", I said grudgingly.

"I win", Timmy lifts up his hands lifted his hands triumphantly.

"Why now", Jane covered her face.

My first experience with the treadmill wasn't so bad. I was scared of using it alone so Timmy had to hold me, while Jane jeered me up with other members of my new club. I started slowly at first, carefully took every step I added a little bit of strength and confidence.

"So where's the number?", Timmy requested in the elevator we took while heading to our homeroom.

"What number?" I shrugged.

"It's freaky...Thought you duo had an agreement", he reminded me of the awkward agreement I made with him.

" Oh, yeah", I affirmed.

"Is there any way to avoid this?", I didn't feel good. " She's just a child. I don't want any bad thing to happen to my niece".

"Wow!" he opened his mouth widely." I didn't see that coming", he sighed. "I'll see what I can do. Just give me the number first.

" Thanks" I scrolled down my phone book for her contact. "Oops, I can't find it!"

"Really", he checked it on my behalf but didn't see anything either."Can't promise anything though. See you soon", we parted ways.

When it was time for our literature time, I walked into the class with confident hoping that Mr. Jeffrey will hear my plea as he did the other day and strip me of the "unwanted rank" so I'll be free like a cageless bird but I was surprised to see the class empty unlike a few days ago when it was filled to the brim! The last straw that broke the camel's back was that he blamed me for it.

To justify his accusation, he remained me of my post which was unfortunately official while I hid under the fact that I didn't know the genesis to revelation of being a class rep. Eventually, he punished me for not performing my duty which was to ensure everyone made it in time for class and didn't leave any room for my allies to plead forgiveness on my behalf.

Meanwhile, Freaky walked in the middle of class arrogantly yet acted humble to Mr. Yemi who gave him a smile equivalent to crocodile tears. The former also tried to divert the latter's attention to the nice suit he was putting on and sought permission to lend it on a date he was anticipating. Surprisingly, the latter agreed and allowed him walk to his seat freely.

I was disappointed at Mr. Jeffrey because I didn't expect a Marie's high teacher to be biased.

To save my previous data subscription,  I went to the computer room to get personal information on my literature teacher during one of our recess periods. He was said to have received several awards for being MH's best teacher in Literature, the best teacher generally and the school's most disciplined teacher so what he did back then didn't speak well of his personality.

After we were done with academic activities for the day, I found my way to Mr. Jeffrey's office so he'll assign me to a department to work for, as punishment for ignoring his order. There, I met DJ Freaky and assumed they were collaborating to make my school life miserable.

"You're here", Mr. Jeffrey spoke when he finally noticed I was in his office.

" Yes sir", I faked a smile.

"Before I introduce you to your department head", he cleared his throat. "Here is Jones, your new P.A", he was referring to my number one enemy in Marie's high- DJ Freaky.

"You expect me to take orders from this riff-raff?" he protested.

"Yeah or you'll have yourself to blame for it, my son", he patted Freaky on his shoulder and dismissed him.

"Let's meet at 4:30 pm at The Place ", he said to me and slammed the door behind me.

After we both left his office, Mr. Jeffrey introduced me to the sanitation department head who assigned me to clean the whole of the literature room, his office, and my homeroom for the next two weeks.

"Eh, big sis", Gbemi tickled me in my homeroom, causing me to fling the mop I was using to clean its tiled floor.

"Oh, stop it", I laughed uncontrollably.

" You really look cute when you're laughing", She pretended like she was taking a shot of me.

"Really?" I wasn't sure of that.

"I'm not kidding", she offered to help me with my work but I declined her offer. "Why are you dressed in a janitor's uniform when it's time to go home, anyway?"

"Because she finally knows her place here", said Rose, the chief executive officer of the Marie Angel's squad.

"Excuse me", Gbemi folded her arms."I don't know if your parents did but mama taught me to never interrupt people's conversation rudely".

What Gbemi did was like digging a hole and unknowingly throwing me in there. If only she knew!

"How dare you disrespect us?" Gbemi held Michelle's hand before she could succeed in slapping her and twisted it.

"Stop hurting me, kiddo!", She groaned as I begged my younger sister to stop what she was doing even though I enjoyed it a bit.

"Nice one!" They left us alone.

"Can you see that I'm indeed an expert when it comes to dealing with bullies?", she expressed feelings of pride and satisfaction. "They won't trouble you again, I promise".

"Just shut up!" I shouted at her. "You made things worse for me. Who asked you to defend me?"

"No one has to. It's my duty to protect you as my sister", She gave me the answer I didn't expect.

"You're too young to do that. Focus more on passing your entrance examination!" I made her join others at the parking lot. Both grandma and Uncle B knew I wasn't going to go home early since I called to tell them about what happened.

When I got home, I had to litter my bedroom with clothes of all sorts just to find the perfect outfit for an appointment with my sworn enemy. Couldn't remember the last time I did that because I found comfort in staying home as a snail does in hiding in its shell. It was my favorite check shirt with black jeans and the new pairs of black canvas grandma got me when we went shopping some months back that finally got my attention. With a little ironing of my outfit, body spraying, and the application of my Adidas antiperspirant to bring out my desired scent, I was ready to face the storm ahead of me.

"Are you sure you're not going on a date?" grandma teased me.

"Come on, sisi", Bola laughed. " Who dresses to a date like this?"

"How do you know?", I smirked.

" Have you ever being to any?" grandma gave Bola an intimidating look.

"Er", she was probably giving herself more time to cook up a lie. The truth came out of her mouth anyways" Mum usually goes", Hearing Aunt Simi's name, grandma advised me to keep being a good girl and return home on time because she didn't want to talk about her.

Uncle B had business plans in the same area Freaky asked us to meet so he drove me there. Taxi rides were expensive and it was the only medium of transportation accepted in our estate. While we were stuck in terrible traffic, uncle B decided to have a private discussion with me for the first time. He first talked about the argument between Bola, admonishing me to take things easy with her because she was emotionally disturbed about her family's separation and letting out her frustration on me then he narrated his similar ordeal. Due to lack of money and a good job, his marriage crumbled, his kids were taken away from him while his wife re-married. If grandma had not accommodated him and got him the car he used to do business and transport us, he would have committed suicide!

I felt sorry for Uncle B because of the things he went through. Yet, I knew no amount of apology could make up for them. I also admired grandma for the help she rendered him.

"Good evening, miss", An attendant greeted me as I walk into the restaurant.

"Hi", I greeted her as well.

"You're Miss Nifemi, right?", she asked, making me wonder how she knew my name.

"Yeah, is there a problem?"

"No, miss", she smiled." Dj Freaky made a special reservation for you".

Tick tock.......five minutes

Tick tock......twenty minutes

Tick tock.....fourth five minutes

Tick tock..an hour!

DJ Freaky wasted an hour of my precious time before he joined me on our table wearing a crazy jean with a red Adidas v neck top, red and white trainers, and dark goggles probably to prevent being seen with a girl like me. Without acknowledging my presence, he sat down. We both wanted juice, but he couldn't afford to take the same drink with me so I switched to diet coke and added chicken and chips, thinking pride was going to make him foot my bill. I was wrong because he personally took my atm card from my purse and made the attendant deduct a sum of five thousand naira from it.

After taking a few sips of his drink, we took a selfie at his command, he also made a waiter capture us then stood up to leave. I begged for his help with performing my duties as a class representative but he told me "Google is just a click away", took Bola's number through threat, and ordered to give me a brief explanation of whatever I do before the day ends, without giving me his phone number or requesting for mine.

For hours, I stared at my computer screen while making researches about the duties of a class rep. Some of which are representing the subject teacher during emergencies, reminding students of their class time schedules, helping students with difficulties on the subject, taking complaints, assignments, projects for submission, and so on.

Close to successfully creating a wattsap group for all literature students, an employee came to inform me that they were about to close then I realized it was already dark outside and had twelve missed calls on my Android device which was in a silent mode, with no airtime and low battery. Immediately, I quickly packed my things and took to my heels but along the way I came in contact with Marie's angels were in an all-black outfit- hood, hair, legging, shoes, gloves, and lipstick!