Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 9 : "hooge" step.

    I walked out of the counsellor's office with a strange mixture of excitement and fear.
Her words kept replaying in my head.
“You can write an undertaking, promising to do well in your first-term examinations. If you do, you may be allowed to move to the Science department.”
My heart had practically leapt out of my chest when I heard that.
Finally.
There was hope.
Then one little thought brought me crashing back to reality.
“Wait, ma... what happens if I don't do well?”
The counsellor's expression changed.
“Well, in that case, you'll have to repeat SS1 at the end of the session.”
I nearly choked on oxygen.
Repeat?
There was actually a chance I could repeat a class?
That was one of my worst nightmares.
I suddenly realised how risky this decision was.
But then again, I wasn't going to get anywhere in life if I refused to take risks.
I could do this.
I trusted God.
And, more importantly, I trusted myself.
I would study harder than I'd ever studied before. I would let my determination carry me through.
And even if I failed...
Well...
Repeating wouldn't exactly be the end of the world.
I was still relatively young for my class anyway. I was fifteen, which was slightly younger than most students in SS1.
So technically, I could survive repeating.
I paused.
Wait.
Why was I already planning for failure?
I was supposed to be speaking with faith here.
Be positive, Doyin.
Be positive.
“I'll do it,” I said firmly.
The counsellor nodded.
“Alright.”
She handed me a letter.
“Take this to the Vice Principal Academics. You'll need to come with a parent or guardian. He's the one who has to approve and sign the undertaking.”
I took the letter.
“Thank you, ma.”
For the first time since seeing that Commercial list, I felt like I had a fighting chance.

***************

My mother answered the call after the third ring.
“Hello?” She said.
“Mummy?”
“Doyin? Is everything alright?”
“Yes, ma.”
Phones weren't allowed in school, so I'd borrowed my housemistress's phone for a quick call.
“I spoke with the counsellor about my department.”
“And?”
“She said I can write an undertaking and move to Science if I promise to do well in my first-term exams.”
There was a brief silence.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes, Mum.”
I didn't even have to think about it.
“You know I've always wanted to be a doctor. I can't just give up on that dream now.”
She sighed softly.
“Well... if it's really what you want, then go ahead and sign the undertaking.”
That was one of the things I loved most about my mother.
She let me make decisions for myself.
She didn't try to force me into a particular career or mould me into the person she wanted me to become. She gave me room to figure things out, while still supporting me when I needed her.
I knew that wasn't the case for everyone.
I'd heard stories about parents forcing their children into careers they had no interest in simply because they thought it was the best choice.
Then, years later, those same parents would wonder why their children had become distant.
I was grateful my mother wasn't like that.
I only wished she had more time for us.
“Mum?”
“Yes?”
“The counsellor said I need a parent to come and sign the undertaking.”
“Oh.”
My heart lifted.
“Can you come?”
There was a pause.
“Doyin... I'll send your uncle.”
My heart dropped.
“Uncle Bode?”
“Yes. Uncle Bode.”
I pictured him immediately.
Tall.
Lanky.
Forty-two.
And permanently equipped with motivational speeches nobody had asked for.
Of course.
Why had I even allowed myself to hope?
“Why can't you come yourself?”
“Doyin, you know I'm always busy at work.”
“I know, but—”
“And this week is especially hectic. The year is almost over, and there's so much to sort out.”
I sighed.
“I would've asked your father to come, but you know how he is.”
He wouldn't even let you sign the undertaking.
I kept that part to myself.
I really didn't want Dad anywhere near this situation.
“Please, Mum.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
She sounded genuinely apologetic.
“But I can't leave work right now.”
I knew there was no point arguing anymore.
“Okay.”
“I'll tell Uncle Bode to come early tomorrow morning.”
“Alright.”
She paused.
“And Doyin?”
“Yes?”
“Do your best, okay?”
I smiled.
“I will, Mum.”
When the call ended, I handed the phone back to my housemistress.
At least it wasn't Dad coming.
That was something.
Night Prep
Dinner was over.
We were given our usual short break before night prep, and normally I would have used the time to chat with someone or just wander around.
But not today.
My brain had been running on overdrive since morning.
The placement.
The undertaking.
My department.
Uncle Bode.
Repeating SS1.
Everything had been fighting for space in my head.
I desperately needed sleep.
So I decided to find an empty classroom where I could close my eyes for a few minutes before prep began.
Most of the classrooms were empty because the students were outside playing games on the field.
After searching for a while, I found one.
Perfect.
I pushed the door open and switched on the light.
Then I froze.
There were two students at the back of the classroom.
A boy and a girl.
And they were very obviously busy.
They immediately stopped when the lights came on.
My eyes widened.
Oh.
Oh, no.
I had walked in at the worst possible time.
I couldn't even make out their faces properly because they had been too busy kissing to notice anything else.
I immediately turned around.
“Sorry!”
I don't even know why I apologised.
I hadn't done anything!
I switched the light off again and practically sprinted out of the classroom.
My heart was pounding.
My goodness.
What had I just seen?
I needed to erase that memory from my brain immediately.
Unfortunately, my brain had other plans.
As I walked away, I remembered something my mother had once told me.
“Doyin, don't let any boy touch you. You'll get pregnant.”
Of course, I knew that wasn't how pregnancy worked.
But suddenly, my imagination decided to betray me.
I pictured the two students standing in front of a decorated hall at some future baby shower, surrounded by balloons and gifts.
I nearly groaned.
Doyin, stop.
I shook my head.
Should I report them?
Or should I mind my business?
The classroom was in the SS3 block, so they were probably seniors.
Reporting them would probably earn me a reputation I didn't want on my second week.
Besides, this wasn't exactly my first encounter with students doing things they probably shouldn't be doing.
Boarding school had apparently come with an entire catalogue of activities I had never asked to know about.
I decided to forget it.
Or at least try.
I found another empty classroom.
This one was actually empty.
Thank God.
I walked inside, placed my head on one of the lockers and closed my eyes.
Just for a few minutes.
That was all I needed.
“RING! RING! RING!”
I jolted awake.
My head snapped up.
For a moment, I had no idea where I was.
Then I heard students outside.
I scrambled to my feet.
“What time is it?”
I ran towards the prep hall.
But when I got there, students were already packing their books.
Some were even leaving.
I stared at them.
Then at the clock.
My mouth fell open.
No.
No way.
I had slept through...
the entire prep session.
I stood there in complete disbelief.
So much for my brilliant plan to study harder than ever.
I hadn't even made it to the first page.