MARIE'S HIGH - CHAPTER THREE

THE WALKING DISASTER
"The correct answer is a paradox", he wrote the word with blue ink on our whiteboard. "You're wrong, miss Shola", he diverted his attention towards her as well as others in the class, who were hastily waiting for him to pounce on her. I felt proud of myself for getting the answer correctly yet afraid of what he'll do to my only allie in the school at that point in time.

In the middle of nowhere, Mr. Yemi called my name again and addressed me as one who do to the Queen of England, "What should I do to miss Shola?"

"Please pardon her, sir", I pleaded on her behalf.

"Alright, the new class representative has spoken", he reached for his black leather briefcase on the teacher's desk, "class dismissed!"

Class representative? I didn't know the responsibilities of such a person and wasn't interested in any school post anyway so I didn't really take him seriously.

After closing hour, in the school's car park, my eyes scanned through the likes of Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, and others, as I was looking for the spot where Uncle B parked his car. Coming out of these rides are either nannies or parents who came to pick up elementary kids. High schoolers preferred riding bicycles which were safeguarded in different racks, walking home with friends, or driving their mini sports cars. As I spotted Uncle B and my siblings walking towards my direction, I made a sigh of relief because I was extremely tired and eager for a nap. My annoying siblings at it again convinced him to allow them to trek home for their friends' sake. I didn't do anything to stop them anyway.

After ringing our doorbell for the fifth time, grandma came to open the door for me with rubber gloves in her fair hands and apologized for coming late because she was trimming the plants in the garden then goes on with a story of how the gardener she employed swindled her and left her precious garden unkempt. When she finally realized neither my siblings nor uncle B came home with me, she was alarmed. She was too bothered about Uncle B since he was already a grown man.

With anger, she yelled at me for leaving them, knowing fully well that they were new in our neighbourhood. I used my tiredness and fake headache as a disguise. Relentless, she got me some panadol extra from our medicine box with a bottle of water to ease my pain so I could narrate the events that happened in school but before she returned from the store where she went to drop the implements she used in the garden, I make a quick escape to my bedroom for a long-awaited nap.

Far away in wonderland, as I was about to unveil the face of my prince charming, an excruciating pain from my abdomen brought me to my knees till he disappeared then my memory reminded me I didn't take lunch in school. After calling myself a fool for such a stupid imagination, I counted the our new stairs as I climbed down lazily, waiting to get some of "sweet-smelling savor" coming from the kitchen. By the time I got there, the moon had taken over the clouds which made me realize I had slept for too long.

Besides that, grandma wasn't in the kitchen preparing dinner, Bola and Gbemi weren't watching Indian telenovelas on our flat-screen TV, Tominwa and Segun weren't running around the compound with Scott, and Uncle B wasn't washing his Honda accord in the car park. With a sad look on my face, I repeatedly paced the house and searched every hole just to catch a glimpse of them and confirm if they're playing tricks on me or it's true! Thereafter, a note appeared on the glassy center table which made me a lot better. The words below were written in it:

"Dear Nifemi, I didn't disturb you cause of your headache. Since your siblings refused to return home on time, your uncle and I decided to search for them. I want you to remain calm, pray we find them as soon as possible, and take care of our home till we return.
Your loving, grandma".

As the note fell unconsciously from my trembling hands, I imagined how aunt Simi would have joyfully scrap off each strand of my hair if something terrible happens to her kids. I switched on the TV for distraction but it failed to do so I turned it off and reminisced on the events that happened in the car park - how I failed to look after my own siblings because of my selfishness. I wanted to blame myself for what happened but changed my mind. After all, I didn't beg them to be a part of the complicated and lonely life I was already used to. I wanted them to leave badly. I also wanted grandma to take on her another job so she won't have my time anymore and Uncle B to return to "go knows where" he came from. I wanted to explore the independence I once had even more.

While I was lost in thought, my charging phone rang consistently in my bedroom till I finally realized and rushed to get it. On the screen, the picture of grandma which she took at a summit in Abuja appeared. I immediately unplugged it and answered her call quickly, hoping to hear the news that will eradicate my worries. Unaware of the prevailing weather situation, I dashed into the heavy outpouring of rain to open the main gate and Scott followed behind, wagging his black stroke brown colored tail blissfully. Thanks to his loyalty, didn't have to go through the cold alone.

With wet clothes stuck in the laundering machine, sweaters or hoods and pajamas on, we sat in the dining room fifteen minutes later to have some steaming potatoes and fried fish sauce for dinner. Grandma also made us hot Lipton tea with milk to make us warm but I didn't take it because of our food combination.

"From today henceforth.." grandma gave my siblings a stern look..." you're not allowed to go out alone", she ordered Bola to raise her bowed head. "Your big sis, uncle, or I have to be with you".

"It makes no difference if Nifemi's involved", she gave me a challenging look. " If she cared about us, we would have followed us", she tried to instigate her siblings against me.

"You should never blame anyone for your mistakes", Uncle B made a disapproving hand gesture, "besides I had faith in you that was why I let you go".

"She had a headache", grandma said in my defense, "Don't just go about blaming innocent souls for your foolishness!" she insulted Bola and that made me feel bad for lying to her.

"Fine. I admit it's all my fault", she stood up furiously, " I'm a bad girl and this sly, pretentious.....is the best granddaughter in the world", she dropped her plate carelessly in the kitchen sink then slammed her bedroom door ignoring grandma's order for her to come back which ceased as uncle B told grandma to let her be.

On Tuesday, Bola left the house pretty early. Then, grandma had not woken up to have a prayer walk around our new home and observe the beauty of the morning cloud in her porch. Due to her unreasonable act, Gbemi had to do both of their house chores. Forced to a good big sis yet again, I helped her out, impressing grandma unintentionally.

"Good morning, babe", Shola waved from her desk and came to sit on mine as soon I got to our homeroom.

"Hi", I told her while unpacking.

"Thanks for yesterday", she showed me an article written in my honor.

"You shouldn't have done this", A blush found its way right to my puffy cheeks. "Thanks, anyway".

"It's nothing", she hibernated her HP laptop and returned it to its bag. "I almost forgot!" she pulled me closer for a tight hug, "congratulations on your new post.

"Does something like that really exist here?", I asked her confusingly.

" You're so funny ", she laughed. "Spare me the drama. currently, you're trending on all Marie's high social media platforms!"

When she mentioned the word, "social media, I couldn't remember if I still had accounts on their apps because I was a dormant user. Yet, Google was my best friend since it made my daily researches easy.

"I'm damn serious, Shola", I removed my android from my backpack's smallest pocket. " Does it really exist? "

"Yh, it's exclusive to Marie's High. Each subject teacher has one", she affirmed.

"There must have been a mix up somewhere", I stared disgustingly at an ugly picture of me posted on the school website, beneath the article written about my new post "he doesn't even know me well...must have been a joke".

"I've known Mr. Jeffrey for a while and he's not the type to joke with stuff like this", she ditched me for other girls who I was unfamiliar with. "He must have seen something special about you as I did", she announced, making me feel embarrassed. Yet, she winked at me when she was done with her public declaration.

Since it was impossible for me to read and understand in my noisy class before our lessons began, I took note of the events happening around me. The first scene that caught my attention was Rose and a group of students talking about her vacation in Rome. I couldn't help but admire her glowing fair skin and natural pink lips each time she answered various questions from students who cared to listen with poise, confidence, and panache.

She was a great storyteller and attention seeker!!!

"What can I do you for, miss spot full, fat legs", other students in ther homeroom made fun of me as Rose walked up to me with a saucy face. "You've been staring at me all day long", she sat on the spot where my hands were resting on my desk and crossed her fine legs.

"Ouch!" I groaned, still, my classmates continued to make mockery of me. Not even Shola could stand up for me.

"Oh, does that hurt?" she felt no iota of pity for me. "That's what you get for trying to infect me with your ugliness".

"Common baby, the poor girl just wanted some attention", Freaky laughed. " And still can't get over the fact that you're my girlfriend".

"So ridiculous!" she pointed her well-polished fourth left finger towards me scornfully. "This filthy slut warns to compete with me?" her right palm landed on my cheek.

"Oh, that's amazing, rosy" Cynthia remarked while recording a video.

"You should be awarded the best slapper of the year", they did the high five gesture. Unable to control my emotions, I cried.

"Don't tell me she's crying", Michelle said, and her statement was accompanied by a series of laughter. "Grandma, where are you?" she mimicked a child's voice.

Shamefully, I walked out of the classroom to wash my swollen face in the toilet and get some first aid treatment for my injured fingers but it appeared nowhere was safe for me in Marie's high. Even away from the four walls of my homeroom, students kept staring and saying nasty things about me to my face. They accused me of trying to seduce Dj Freaky on my first day.

"Hey, it's nice seeing you again", I bumped into Timmy at the school clinic while escaping from another set of haters ganging up against me.

"Hi", I replied impolitely to make him leave.

"You'll get through this", he smiled "Lemme get you a hand balm", he disappeared and returned with one as he promised.

" Thanks", I replied.

"It's okay to cry here. No one's gonna laugh", he applied the balm on my broken wrist and massaged it gently. I laughed as he did so even though I was in pain

" And congratulations on your new post", I wished he didn't mention that.

"You need to take me to Mr. Jeffrey's office", I pleaded with him, afraid of getting another round of physical assault for a post I lacked interest in.

Marie's high staff quarters had different offices and departments, I would have certainly got lost if Timmy didn't accompany me there because my guide book was ripped apart by Rose's supporters. Besides, Mr. Jeffrey's office was far and when we eventually got there, he wasn't around. The sign at the top of his door indicated that he was taking a class. After checking my led wristwatch, I found out we didn't have enough time to make it to our next lesson and didn't want Timi to be punished for my sake.

Even though Mathematics was the least of my favorite subjects, I still didn't want to miss the class or become a teacher's enemy so as soon as I entered my homeroom, I went on my knees, to plead forgiveness from my new Maths teacher. He ignored me at first and kept on teaching others but when it was twenty-three minutes remaining for change of class, he ordered me out. He wasn't even interested in knowing the reason why I was late for his class.

As I was about to leave the class completely chattered physically and emotionally, a feminine voice pleaded with him on my behalf. I looked back for my savior's face which turned out to be Aisha's, whom I least expected. To prove she was on good terms with him, he listened to her.

"Thank you, sir", We chorused.

In the library where I sat quietly during lunch, every single word in "she stoops to conquer" by Oliver goldsmith amused me. While I was anticipating Tony's reaction when he got to know the barmaid he fell in love was also his arranged fiance, Shola hastily took the book from me, disrupting my fun.

"Don't tell me you're not eating today also", she dragged me from the wooden chair I was sitting on.

"I'm not hungry", I replied.

"Can you at least buy me a hot cup of tea as appreciation?" Aisha made a demand that got me hooked.

"Of course", I escorted them out of the library to avoid getting another red-eye from the librarian.

"Thanks for helping me earlier", I told her on our way to the school's biggest cafeteria.

"Shola forced me to do it", she confessed.

"It's not a big deal", Shola didn't succeed in covering her mouth to stop her from saying those words.

Going to the school's biggest cafeteria didn't turn out to be a good idea. There, I felt Esau's pain when he sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. The food displayed served by the school chefs in cool outfits were quite tempting. Their different dimensions, colors, and shapes almost pushed me to spend the last dime in the new savings account Grandma got me - Jollof rice garnished with cube size carrots, sweet corn, and green pepper, soft golden brown fried plantains stylishly arranged on a plate of boiled beans with stew, doughnuts with chocolate or strawberry frostings and others.

"What can I do for you, miss", One of the attendants at the counter asked me.

"I'd like to buy a hot cup of coffee", I told her slowly to avoid making a blonder that could make me the center of ridicule. Despite the fact that my voice was low, I was glad she got my order correctly so I didn't have to repeat it and probably make a mistake the second time.

However, the real tragedy happened when I bumped into Rose when returning to Shola and co's table. She was so engrossed in operating her Iphone that she didn't notice I was approaching and I couldn't take my eyes off the meals that interested me.

A/N
Can't thank you guys enough for the love and support you show Marie's high. Who agrees with me that knowing how to order for what you really want and not get intimidated by some annoying Nigerian attendants is a skill that deserves recognition🤣