The following week, I resumed with my newly sown uniform, washed and pressed with a new metal iron my mum got from the market for my sake. My hair was well combed, and I left home with the cock's first crow at dawn. I didn't put on my socks until I got to the school gate. Anything to look good and punctual. I learned my lesson on the first day of attending Afikpo Community High School.
We were having mathematics when Mrs. Igwe brought in a new student in mufti. Once they stepped in, Jeremiah turned to a boy called Simon Okoroafor. Suddenly, our mathematics teacher glared to the back, and they paused at once.
"Good morning, Mrs Igwe. You are welcome to J.S. S 1C! May God bless you, ma!" we chorused while standing.
"Good morning, brilliant students." Our principal politely replied. "This is Don Matins Chima-Okoh. He is new here, at Afikpo and he studied at Pampers Private School, Lagos. Please, try to get along with him." She advised and looked around.
"Is there any space for our new student?"
Gazing back, I realized that they filled the class with students in pairs and there were no empty seats.
"Maybe he should go to the next class." Jeremiah hatefully hissed beneath gritted teeth.
"Jeremiah!" the head teacher scolded her son with a frown. It was the first time of hearing her call him Jeremiah, and not his pet name, Jerry. "How many times have I warned to keep shut whenever an elder is talking?"
He just spun away, uninterested in her lectures. Mrs. Igwe exhaled briefly and faced the new student. "Don, sit wherever you want until break. I will arrange a new desk for you." She smiled, and he nodded before she stepped out of the classroom.
Lost, Don's eyes wandered the class, and we watched him stroll to Jeremiah's seat. "Can you please move a little?" He asked Aluma.
She rolled her eyes at him in a glare and I sensed she was a detrimental person when I caught her expression from where I sat.
I couldn't help but wonder why he sat with them, among every other student in the class.
In my classroom, they arranged the desks in ten rows and nine columns. If added, the desk at the tenth column would be for the new student. I sat with Miracle in the fifth row and Jeremiah's desk was beside us at the left.
As soon as the math teacher began teaching, Don took out his new exercise book to write. However, Aluma pushed Don, making him uncomfortable. I'm sure he sat on one butt, and decided to keep quiet and endure instead of complaining.
Once Miss Nkechi, our English mistress, stepped in, Jeremiah pulled out of his seat. "This place is so tight, I can bearly seat." Jeremiah blurted at the both of them.
"Is it my fault the principal brought an elephant to sit with us?" She explained, disgusted at Don.
The noise caught everyone's attention, Miss. Nkechi had to interfere.
"What's going on here?"
"Ask him!" Aluma blurted before the teacher even completed her question.
Don watched them calmly, as if mistaken. His eyes gazed at their furious faces. "What did I do?"
"You make us uncomfortable, spoilt kid. I wonder how they managed to accommodate you at that Pampers school in Lagos! And why do you smell like fish?"
"My grandmother sells fish," he admitted.
Some students murmured while others laughed at Don's enormous size and immature attitude. He began to pack up his books, knowing they both didn't want him there.
