MISERIES

WELCOME TO HELL

TOBE

I exhaled calmly, letting the smoke cloud my sight, letting the fog in my head cloud my every thought. I felt it set in. My head was light. My thoughts blank. The music playing the background slowly faded. I felt myself drown into the state of emptiness.
No thoughts. No sound. No pain. No emotions.

I could still see my mum in the background.  Shouting.
I thought. Probably because of the state she met me in.

She walks over to where I was shouting, hitting, cursing. I could see her veins popping. She slapped me across the face. Nothing. I felt nothing.
I felt numb. She hit me again, cursing.

I felt nothing once more. I couldn't even hear her. No matter how loud she got, it was like I put her on mute.

A few moments of absent puffs later, my thoughts started getting clearer. The fog clouding my brain disappeared. All my emotions flooded back to my body. The excruciating pain of the several slaps I had received hit me like a tsunami.

I could hear her voice now. Barely, but I could still make out the things she was saying to me.

"You are a disgrace, Tobechukwu! Ha!"

"What on earth do you think you are doing with your life!? Am I a bad person for trying my best to bring you up single-handedly, giving you everything you need and wanted without batting an eyelid? Is this the payback I get for taking care of you for 16 years and counting..."

I didn't want to hear her anymore. The more I hear her shout, the more vivid the image of my Principal and the two police escorts showing up at our doorstep becomes.

I felt it all. The shock, the guilt, the anger, the sadness, fear, and anxiety. I felt it coming  with full force like the wrath of God.

Remembering the conversation that took place in my living room. The news. The cause of the news. Everything. The way my father left the house without even sparing me a glance to explain myself. The way my mum burst into tears and the look of disappointment I got from my Principal.

Right now, all I feel is anger.
I'm angry that my dad didn't even care to hear me out. I'm angry that my mum is here shouting at me for what I didn't do; I'm angry that my Principal is angry and disappointed.

And I'm even angrier that no one even gives me the benefit of doubt. I sure as hell know that I was framed.

I didn't do it. I know that.

But do they?
***********
PRINCESS

"MUM, I didn't do it, I swear! I don't even know what they are talking about. Hey Principal! If this is some kind of joke, I'd suggest you better speak up now cause this isn't funny!! How on earth is this even - mum you know me, you know I'd never do such a thing! I-I would never even think of some -"

"Oh Princess, would you just shut your mouth for fucks sake?! Just... shut it." She looks at the bewildered threesome with a more serious look.

"Look, I know my daughter, I know she can be a handful sometimes, but-but-but don't you find it a bit absurd that my daughter can be involved in something this-this treacherous!"

My mum knows my  strength as well as my weakness. My mum knows the extent to which my excesses could go. She would know all this afterall, it's her spawn that's in question.

She looks over to where I  sprawled across the room, hugging my daddy's legs like some kind of lifeline.

Speaking of my dad, he hasn't even uttered a word. I'm sure he's thinking of something that would get me out of this mess as soon as possible. He is not one known for bursting out in anger whenever trouble comes. He was more calculated when it came to matters like this. That is why he is more of a problem-solver than my mum, who always acts with emotions.

I just hope that my dad can figure something out.

But by the look on his face, he seems troubled.

That's not good.
************
LANRE

I couldn't help but space out in the middle of the stuttering explanations, the constant shouting, and sarcastic laughter, the crying, the overexaggerated Heis!  and cursing. My mind wandered from the new 120 terabytes 2600mb 4k display dual thunder bolt 3 to the new chic in my school, who was apparently a young model.

One slap. One slap was all it took for me to come back to earth.

"Lanre! Were you even listening to all these accusations laid on your head? You do know that if this goes south, you are on your way to juvie or, better yet, reform school. Do you know the gravity of the offence being laid on your shoulders? It's sickening how someone would do that, and to think that my own son is likely to be a culprit is quite disheartening. Do you not understand where this is leading, Lanre Afegbon?"

Me, getting into juvie or reform school? I couldn't be less bothered. There should be some tough ass chics in juvie or reform school. And if I wanted out that much, I could probably hack into any computer and let myself out.

I understand the implications too well.

And I honestly couldn't care less.
***********
IFE

He just sits there.
He was just there with that annoying smirk on his face. He's enjoying this. He's enjoying the torture that I'm going through.

I feel the blow that was sent to my rib. I could barely scream; the pain engulfing all the energy I had to scream out in pain and frustration.

He doesn't care. Well, he did. But right after my mom died, that care was as dead as she.

He had never hit me once. Leaving all that torturing for his close friends. Most especially Uncle Ben; his right-hand man.

Well, this beating had been going on longer than expected. Most likely, it has to do with the obviously false accusations laid on me by the principal. Daddy made sure I wasn't present when the conversation was going on. But given the thin wall that separates my room from the living room, I could make out all the things they were saying.

And all could do was widen my eyes in shock, my mouth agape. And as I thought it would, I was minutes away from passing out.

I know that I didn't do anything that they are claiming I did.
But that didn't mean my dad did.

AMINA.

"Yeah, thanks for dropping by." I slam the door on their backs. I scoff as I walk into the kitchen, where my mum is characteristically doing the dishes. Unbelievable. 

I can't help but sneer at the sight. As if I knew. She can't care less. She's just acting like nothing happened.  Like the principal didn't just come in here to drop an accusation that's either gonna land me in reform or juvie.

That's all she ever does. Do the dishes, sweep the house, or drown herself in one chore or the other. And that's because she's on leave. 

Every other time, she's either working a double shift or staying at a friend's or attending a hospital fundraiser.

I know that I can be a handful. That's crap I can be a handful of handfuls.

But even hell knows I didn't pull that stunt. I can't even think of being involved in something that would send me to an even more insufferable prison than the one I'm  barely managing to endure.

Acts of violence on a girl? Physical and sexual harassment? Stash of cannabis discovered in my locker? All caught on camera.

When? Where? How did this happen?

I have no idea.
But I'm about to go to reform school  with four other accomplices for it.

Just great.

*****

That's it for chapter one.  Yay.✌✌