EXODUS

2

The door creaks open and ushers in a different looking Grace. Replacing the bubbling student is a sad looking girl trudging up the stairs though still in the school uniform. She moves to the last room on the row and goes in. Dumping her school bag on the bed, she slumps on the gold bedding-covered diva bed and unbuttons her school shirt. She removes the shirt and moves up to the wardrobe at the end of the room lifelessly flipping clothes on the hanger. She finally settles for a multi colored midi gown and walks into the bathroom.
   Returning a few minutes later, she appears in the gown and returns to the bed this time to fumble with her bag. She unzips the bag and brings out 2 higher education notes and a big Deborah Harkness ideal sized novel. She opens the smallest space and tears open a packet of pinpop. Picking 5 pieces, she exits the room.
   The incessant sound of running water from the kitchen draws Grace's attention and she walks into the kitchen. Instinctively, a woman who's back features look exactly like that of Grace stops the running tap and turns to face Grace. She raises her eyebrows and gives a questioning look.
   "What's up with you this time? That face sure isn't good looking."
Not responding, Grace moves to the refrigerator and picks up a Lipton drink and heads out. Mrs Ojo refuses to let her leave without giving a reason for her sullen look.
   "What is wrong with you? Is there something you're hiding?" A concerned Mrs Ojo asked.
"I'm okay." Grace replies still on her way out. Her mother not willing to be defeated follows her out to the little family library. "You know what you're doing is not going to help anyone. I checked with the spy today and the person said you played as usual. The person even said that you held a tutorial class for the J.S.S 2 students today. So what's wrong now?" She questions looking at her carefully.
  'Whosoever this person her mother calls the spy is, is in so much trouble if she discovers him or her. Is this not infringement on one's personal right?' Grace thinks as she turns to face her mother.
"I think it's high time I made my displeasure known. I really don't appreciate whatever relationship who share with this spy as you refer to him or her. Sincerely speaking, why should you have a spy monitor me? I mean...." She is rudely interrupted as her mother flares up.
"Oh please. Don't tell me that. You mean to tell me that nothing is wrong with you? Nothing is wrong and you go to school sad in the morning and return the same way in the evening. And when I check, I get to know that you're the school's popular girl, the junior's favorite and the teachers' girl. What am I supposed to make of that?" It's obvious her mother is really persistent on this topic.
  Resignedly, Grace sighs and looks up at her mother, "What do you want from me?" she asks.
"Tell me what's going on. And let me see if I have a solution."
  "And if I insist that nothing is wrong?"
"The spy will be asked to increase their job. So you better open up." Mrs Ojo turns to return to the kitchen and shouts from there. "You better take a wristwatch with you because if you forget dinner I won't allow your siblings to remind you."
  "Who cares?" Grace murmurs. She enters into the library and shuts the door after her. Moving to the round center table she settles down on the chair next to it.
  "If this woman thinks guilt tripping me will make me talk then she sure has a lot to do." Unlike every student who is serious about academics, she places the school notes on another chair and draws Deborah Harkness' 'Book of Life' closer to herself.
 
We're progressing family. But then, it actually looks like Grace is wearing a disguising spell anytime she's home or is it when she's at school she puts it on? We gotta find out.

Yours In Ink; Bethel ™