Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 9 : "hooge" step.

    I went out of the counsellor's office with a level of hope in me. I remembered her words clearly.

"You could write an undertaking promising to do well in the first term examination if you are eventually put in the science department".

My heart leapt for joy when I heard this but mellowed down when I thought of something.
"Wait, what would happen if i didn't do well?".
She looked at me intensely this time.
"Well,then you would have to repeat ss1 at the end of the session."

I almost choked on oxygen. Repeat? There was a chance I could repeat? That was one of my worst nightmares. I just realised I was about to take a huge and risky step.

But, I wont get anywhere in life if i didnt take occasional risks like this. I could do it. I trusted God and I trusted myself. I would read very hard and let my determination push me.

And even if I failed, repeating wasn't such a bad thing. I was still quite young for my class. I was still fifteen, which was a little less than the ideal age for my class. Repeating might not do any harm.

Wait,why was I thinking like that? I was supposed to be speaking with faith and be positive. Repeating shouldn't be part of the agenda.
Be positive Doyin, be positive.

"I'll do it " I said.

"Okay". She said and gave me a permit letter that would allow me to see the vice principal for academics with my parents because he was the one to authorise the undertaking.

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

"Are you sure about this?".My mom's voice hammered over the phone. Phones weren't allowed in school so I used my house mistress's phone to make a quick phone call through to my mum.

"Mummy, you know i've always wanted to be a doctor, I can't decide to suddenly change that dream, not now."

She sighed. "Well, I mean, Since its your passion, go ahead and sign the undertaking".

That was one thing I loved about my mom, she allowed me to figure things out myself, while backing me up and supporting me in every decision. That was probably one of the things that contributed to my boldness and determination.

She never forced me to do anything against my will. I had heard of several stories of children who had been forced to study what they didn't want or didn't have passion for because their parents were trying to shape them into a mold that only they approved of.

Then in the future, they are the same people who would wonder why their children behaved like they didn't want anything to do with them.

I was so glad my mom wasn't like that.
I just wished she had more time for me and my siblings.

"Mum, I was told to bring a parent to come sign it, I can't sign it without parental supervision" I said, hoping and hoping that she would be the one to come, not my Dad.

"Well, in that case, I'll send your uncle to come sign it". She said.

"Uncle Bode?" I asked as my mind pictured the tall, lanky, forty two year old man who loved giving pep talks, which i despised so much.

"Yes, your uncle Bode" she replied.

Yup, I was wrong when I thought this time would be any different. Even back when I was at a baptist boarding school,on vacation days, I used to follow my cousins home before my parents came to pick me from their house the next day.

But at least, it wasn't my dad that was coming. I couldnt imagine how that would've gone.

"why can't you come yourself?"I asked.

"Doyin, you know that I'm always very busy at my workplace. And this week is even an extra busy week because the year is running out. I would've told your dad to come but you know how he is". She said.

"He won't even allow you sign the undertaking in the first place".

I never wanted him to come in the first place. I said within me.

I tried and tried to beg her to come this time but all my efforts proved abortive. I really didn't have the energy to take in all the unnecessary talk and obnoxious comments from my uncle.

Before cutting the call, she told me that she would tell uncle"pep talk" Bode to come to my school very early the next day to sign the undertaking.

Night prep

Dinner time was over. It was time for the short break that usually comes before the night prep.

All the dilemma I had today didn't give me enough space to think talkess of sleeping, So I used this opportunity to recover some lost sleep.

I searched through the classroom area for an empty class to sleep in. Most of the classes were scanty because everyone was outside or on the field, playing moonlight games. I just needed a completely empty classroom.

Soon enough, I found a dark, empty classroom and switched on the lights, but I was shocked to see two students, a boy and a girl, making out on one of the long lockers,in  a corner at the far end of the room.

Some people had found other things to do during the prep break apart from playing or sleeping like me.

They were in a deep kiss and the boy's hand was in the girl's skirt, searching for what I didn't know. They stopped abruptly when the lights came on. I had blown their cover and apparently interrupted them in the middle of the fun.
I couldnt make out their faces because they were so deep in the kiss that they buried each others face.

I quickly turned around as soon as I saw them. I would have to work very hard to completely erase this memory.

I switched the lights back off and ran out, utterly disgusted by what I saw.

I remembered my mom used to tell me that if I let a guy do so much as to touch me, I would instantly get pregnant.

Of course, I didn't believe that, but as I was walking away from the class, I couldn't help but imagine the both of them at their colourful baby shower, welcoming a beautiful baby into the world.

I was still in shock. Should I report them or just forget about it?
The classroom I caught them in was in the 12th grade block. So they were most likely seniors. Reporting this would just put me in more trouble. I was so confused and tried to shove the thoughts and the sight away from my mind.

This wasn't my first encounter with something like this though. I had seen even worse at my previous school. Boarding house students have always been known for these kinds of shenanigans.

Still lost in thought, I found another empty classroom which I went into and placed my head on one of the lockers, and before I knew it, I had slept off.

Ring!! Ring!!! Ring!!!!

The bell rang loudly and woke me up from my nap. I quickly stood up and staggered to the prep hall, but saw people already there and even packing up their books.

It was then I realised that I had slept through the whole prep !!!