On That Day

CHAPTER 16 - VITANE

THERE was a boy, on the streets, heading towards Waves International, in a certain morning; tall, dark, short-haired, black-haired, black-eyed, double-jawed, and Greedy. He wasn't really greedy, no, he didn't covet; nothing like that. I say he was Greedy because he had eaten at east three apples– big ones in fact– instead of the traditional middle-sized one or two; therefore, his neck was just a land full of ridges.

The morning, that morning, was cold, and so was he: he adapted automatically to any given weather. He was cold – this time– because Waves International was his new school, and he had heard of one who hated newcomers – J. Draxler.

This Draxler – an obnoxious person, with a nose taking half of his face, as the sound of 'obnoxious'  suggests – to make things worse, was reputed to moving with Absalom, a very cold guy.

Very cold, Absalom was. He once told his tutor that he didn't feel like talking, that he ain't going to apologize, also told the Proprietor, Sir. K. that – uhm, never mind that.

Byl will bear me witness, because Byl says truth. There are three that'll bear me witness- Byl, and Draxler, and Scythe, and the three agree. But, the point here is, to make matters worse, the newcomer-hated moved with Iceman Absalom.

Vitane is the name. All things are not new under heaven – the one created a year or so ago; so Vitane, also spelled Vitan, was the typical fellow you meet in the street, wearing the typical clothing you wear in your street, and speaking the typical words you speak in your streets.

The first day went alright: no sighting of Absalom, and hardly a glimpse from Draxler. But soon after Vitan joined the drummers who drummed during morning assembly, Draxler noticed that there was a new boy. Now, the drummers were out-and-out madmen, so Draxler kept away from him. But after Vitan drummed a particular beat which caught Drax's ear, and also showed no signs of any sort of mental disorder, Draxler asked him could Vitan – or what's the name – teach him that beat? Then this Vitan, who had no kind of throat blockage or nose blockage or ear blockage whatsoever, started to cough violently, and sneeze, and claim he didn't get what Draxler was saying. On this note, they parted.

''You're foolish! – You're mad! – You're stupid! – You're crazy!'' the person then added, as an afterthought: ''You will die!''

''Who said that?'' said (Mr.) Roland.

''It's . . . emm . . . it's . . . '' faltered Timi, not the one in Nursery Two.

''Is who!''

''I don't know, Sir''

''You're making fun of me?'' (Mr.) Roland said, sternly: ''Get out of my CLASS!''

Timi sulked and walked out.

Scythe grinned at Samson, and signaled to him to pass the game

''Now, class, we are going to – What's it? That box? Scythe!''

''Oh, Sir. It is just – my padlock. My padlock, for my locker''

''OK. We are going to be treating – before I go on'' said (Mr.) Roland, looking over the students' heads slyly: ''Will someone tell me – RIGHT NOW – who was that person that had the guts to say that they ('cos I flogged them for failing their test) would capture me, tie me to a Palm Tree, and start flogging me?''

There fell a silence on the class

(''The guy's in a bad mood'' whispered Scythe to Joseph)

''It is her, Sir'' said someone, pointing to Tina

''Ehn!'' said tall Tina: ''I wul giveyouslap now''

''Stand up. Get OUT OF MY CLASS!''

She walked out

''Now, we are going to be dealing with – Who's laughing?'' he turned to face them

Scythe frowned. Samson Frowned. Tom inadvertently laughed

''GET OUT!''

He walked out

''Now, we are going to face this topic – why are there few people like this today?''

''Rain fell''

''Okay. Now, let's continue –''

The Bell sounded.

''Oh! My time is up – who could be messaging me now?'' he brought out his phone, then looked up, surprised:

''Flavius! You are updating your Profile in my class?! GET OUT!''

He went out, and it remained only Samson and Scythe.

''Scythe, go downstairs and get me my Math Textbook from Miss Phil''

''Ok, Sir''

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''Your brother is finer than you -'' said Traits to Draxler

''Shut Up'' Draxler screamed : ''You this Witch!''

''You are calling me a Witch?''

''Yes?'' Draxler was hoping a fight would break out when Qudus came to talk to him aide:

''Look, Draxler''

''I'm looking''

''Look: Did you hear that we are having a Debate at closing time?''

''Eh-eh?''

''With Primary Three C; we are also going to do extra-kulikuli (it's Bosun, or Senior Bosun that called it that) activities. The Debate is: Nister, Johnson, and Parrot-Mouth (that girl that can't shut up!) vs You, Mistral, and Saheed''

''Okay, thanks''

''By the way: if you help me see Lade's notebook, pls, return it''

''Yeah-yeah''

''DRAXLER!! DRAXLER!!''

''Ma?''

''You are calling someone a witch here. Where di' you see witch from? Go and kneel down outside!''

No use protesting, Draxler went.

Primary Four C was outside, practicing some songs, ''By the Rivers of Babylon'' and ''Heaven Came Down, and Glory . . .'' . Soon, Mr. Olaoke saw Draxler and asked him to get up.

''Miss Phil sed I shul kneel down''

'Get up. You're obeying tha' one?''

He got up and went to practise with them. It took him no time to notice Vitan among them. After some talking, they were acquaintances.

At closing time, the Debate was done. Draxler did poorly, Mistral did average, Nister did well, and Johnson said nothing at all. The scores were even. After this, JSS1 guys started coming downstairs. The Field Marshal was singing ''Jehovah Shama - Jehovah Nisi - Jehovah Elohim - Jehovah Adonai.'' – God knows the correct spellings – using it to rap, and people were cheering. Then, some in the Primary 3 class sang: ''Whether the weather be fine, Whether the weather be not'' (which Friday harshly criticized), and ''Peter Piper picked a peck of Pickled Peppers; a peck of Pickled Peppers Peter Piper picked . . .'' 

Lastly, the Proprietor, Sir. K., announced that the First, Second, and Third Positions in each class would write an exam, and he who reaches 80% in that exam would henceforth pay only half of his/her school fees.

Here, my narration ends, for now. In the next chapter, I will pass the baton back to Draxler, to continue his story.