Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 18: A piano tale

"Could you lend me your lipgloss?".Victoria asked me as I was getting ready for sunday service. I was already dressed up in my spanking white church gown which would soon be off white, according to the old students.

Of course, it wasn't oversized again. I had slimfitted it alongside my uniforms when I went home for the break. That didn't mean they would stop calling me 'sackbag doyin' just yet.

"Yeah, check my locker". I replied, pointing at my locker, beside my bed.

"Hmmm, i see you are no longer living up to your nickname, sack bag doyin, I'm impressed, the clothes you wear are actually fitting". She said, sarcastically.

"Hahaha, very funny, I'm dying". I said, returning the sarcasm.

"Whatever. I need your face powder too." She said, dipping her hands into my locker and turning everything in it upside down.

"Why not borrow my whole locker, since you don't have any thing of your own". I said, laughing.

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"Have you considered joining the choir?". Victoria asked me as soon as service ended and students were filing out of the Chapel.
She must have seen me staring hard at the choir stand during the service.

What she didn't know was that I wasn't staring at the choristers. I was staring at the saxophonist, who was bolaji. I didn't know he played the sax, so I was shocked to see him on the altar, arms tensed, mouthpiece carefully placed in his mouth, playing pike his life depended on it. It made me admire him a little.

It also reminded me of the days my Dad used to play clips of Fela-a renowned musician who ruled the music industry decades ago- on the television in the living room. He would sing along with the rhythms of his songs, his baritone voice filling the air and my mom would complain that he was being too loud. He would then brush off her complaints with a loud laugh.

Basically, He was jovial when he wasn't overbearing.

Michael,who was the quirky drummer boy, must have caught me staring from where he sat because he sneered at me halfway through the service. I smiled in response.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Well, you've been staring at the choir stand since praise and worship. It's either you are interested in the choir or someone in the choir". She said and winked at me.

"Cut the nonsense and lets get back to the hostel". I said, picking up my bag to leave.

"Wait, I think Michael is approaching us". She said.

And so is bolaji, I said in my head.

"Hey, doyin". Michael and bolaji said at the same time as they approached us at the same time.

"Hi, Micheal, Hi senior bolaji". Victoria greeted them, but blushing at the second name.

"Um, he doesnt like people calling him 'senior'". I corrected her.

"Oh, hi bolaji". She said, blushing even more.
I stared at her. That was definitely weird.

"What?" She said, staring back.

"Nothing". I said, saying nothing more.

"So you aren't going to greet me, doyin?" Bolaji asked.

"Hello". I said smiling.

Michael shrugged.
"I'm not even going to ask you If you know him because It's pretty obvious from the way you were drool- Ouch!" He yelled as I stepped on his toes aggressively before he could complete that statement.