A Child's Struggle

~4~

It was a busy morning in the Bamidele's home. Mr Bamidele rushed out to meet a friend who just arrived the country for a business conference. Mrs Bamidele was preparing to take Toluwani for her dance lessons then attend a seminar her friend was organizing. Toluwani loves dancing so she attends a dance school not too far from home. Her mom prepared all necessary things like her food pack and took her to the dance lesson. She then headed to her seminar venue. The seminar was in two parts, the morning session and afternoon session. There was one hour break between the two sessions, so Mrs Bamidele used that time to pick up Toluwani from her dance school and drop her at a friend's shop.

It was really a long and stressful day. Mrs Bamidele returned home later in the afternoon by around 3pm after picking up her daughter. She was cleaning up the house when she remembered she had not called Mrs Treasure concerning Raphael. She quickly picked up her phone and dailed the lady's number. Luckily she picked on the first ring. After all the greetings from the both end, Mrs Bamidele explained to her how Raphael had not still picked any of her calls. She told Mrs Treasure to check up on her son and make sure he is not doing anything extra curricular especially football. The lady promised to do it when she goes to school on  Monday.

                                Bells High School
                                  Monday, 12pm

Immediately the bell rang, Mrs Treasure got up and went to Raphael's class in order not to miss him. She went earlier in the morning but he was not in class. When she inquired from his class teacher, Mr Ogbu complained that he normally skips class especially his core. The man said he had tried talking to Raphael but he behaves like he is forced to learn. Mrs Treasure understood immediately why Raphael is behaving like that. She knew his parents are putting pressure on him to study business instead of arts that he really wants. The class teacher also told her that if she wants to see him she should come once the break bell goes so she can meet him before he leaves the class. 

She was just reaching the class when Raphael was about leaving the class. He wanted to see his friends in their class. Infact they bumped into each other.

"Ooops! Sorry ma. I'm very sorry. I didn't see you coming." He apologized immediately.

"No problem. Thank God I saw you. I was just coming to check up on you. I came here earlier on and..." She kept on narrating how she came and he was not in the class. She had asked him to move to the rail in the building so they can talk without distractions.

"Ma, I went to see the... to the", he kept stuttering not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry ma" he finally said.

"Your parents are spending on you, I know you don't want to be in this class but the fact is that you have no choice. By the way why did you cut call on your mum the other day?" She asked him.

"It was time for my football training and any second I waste can cause me my elimination. It's not like I can even explain to her why I have to cut the call. It would just lead to another matter all together. That's why I chose to cut it without explaining anything." he replied as he was getting tired of the discussion already.  He kept on glancing at his wrist watch watching how the break time was gradually coming to an end. What pained him the most was that Mrs Treasure did not care at all. She kept advising him on how to focus on his studies than the football. His face showed his interest in the discussion was 0%. You could say he didn't even hear anything she said. After much talking, she finally released him. That was already five minutes to break over. When she walked away, he hit the rail in anger and entered back to his class. There was no need going out again.

The way Raphael practiced for his football training looked like he was pumped from somewhere. He was really determined not to get eliminated.

It was another Wednesday and the time for training had reached. They were just about 20 remaining and the beauty of it was that 10 were from SS1 and the other 10 from SS2. Coach Femi made them play a normal football match against each other. The  game ended on a 3-2 with the SS2 on the winning side. Automatically all the Ss1 were eliminated. However, during the game, Coach Femi noticed how well the two boys that scored the goals for SS1 played, so he decided to keep them. The boys were Raphael and Roland. Roland is a dark skinned boy who loves football also with all his heart. His skills are nice and he is almost meeting up to Raphael. Raphael was so happy that he kept smiling through out the training period. That was the first thing he told his friends when he saw them.

After they lined up from the dining hall to the school building for prep that night, there was a black out. The prep coordinators asked them to stay outside for some time till the light would be restored. Many of the students began to cluster into groups of discussions, some of them standing while some sitting on pavements. Favour was looking for Raphael because she had not seen him through out that day. She was actually bothered. She was still looking for him when someone held her eyes from the back.

"Okay who is that? Leave me please." She begged as she tried to pull off the persons hand. "Bright if this is you stop it now pls, Collins, Raphael..." She kept on blabbering different names.

"I wonder how many years it will take you to master the feeling of our hands", Raphael said as he released his grip on her eyes.

"I sha knew it was one of you", she tried defending herself.

"Whatever. But were you looking for me?" Collins asked as he made a cute face smiling at her.

"Gross" she said making an irritating face. "Please I was not looking for you, I was looking for my dear Raphael that I've not seen today" she moved beside Raphael holding his hands and looking at his face.

"That's why I love u so much", Raphael said as he held her closely.

"Seriously are we watching this?" Collins asked Bright.

"Hell no" Bright replied as they began to walk away while Favour and Raphael laughed.

"Hey wait. I actually have something to tell you guys." Raphael said as he walked faster to catch them up still holding Favours hand.

They chose a corner to stay where there was not really noise. Raphael explained to them what transpired in the football training and how he was chosen.

"You are making us proud. Keep it up man" they told him when he was done with his narration. They were still discussing about other things when the light finally came up and they all went to their various classes for prep.

                                ***

Raphael was going down the stairs of the school building as it was already school over when a junior student met him.

"Senior Raphael, Coach Femi has asked for you in his office now"

"Do you know why?" Raphael asked as he prayed the man has not changed his mind.

"No senior", the boy said and left as teacher was calling him.

On reaching the Coach's office, he met Roland there already. Roland was also told that he was called so he rushed down too.

"Good day Coach", Raphael greeted slightly bowing. "A student said you sent for me. His brain kept racking to know why they were been called together.

"You guys can sit.", Coach Femi said as he pointed the chairs. "I called the both of you to tell you something important as regards the football competition. You both know you were meant to be eliminated but I still gave you guys a chance. I need only 11 players exact so both of you will have to compete for who will take that position. Don't worry even if you don't make it you still have the opportunity of being among the substitutes. I will be picking those for it later on"

"Seriously" they both chorused as they looked at him.

"Yes. I have to do it like this because I can't remove any of your seniors. Today is Thursday so by next week I will be checking you guys. So prepare"

"Sir please next week is CAT. It's starting on Wednesday", Roland complained.

"Ok. Then I will check you upper week Wednesday. Just try and manage your time. You can go now" he told them as he faced some documents on his table.

When Raphael and Roland got outside the office, they simultaneously started glaring at each other, their ears talking battle. 

I kept to my words😊
I will try to be posting daily despite by tight schedule.

Hmmm
This story is getting interesting.
I wonder who would finally be chosen for the game. I bet if any of them lose they can kill themselves 😂😂
@

Rapheal
@Roland