PAINS into GAINS

CHAPTER ONE

Jessie's POV

School wasn't really fun for me. I was bullied, taunted and my feelings were disregarded. The words they spat echoed in my head everyday, regardless of where I was or what I was doing except making straight As. I hated school and everyone in it. The teachers, students, even the air surrounding the premises, I hated.

Little explanation was needed for the inexpressible joy that swelled in my heart. It was the last day of school and that was it for me, goodbye teachers, goodbye bullies, never sad to be rid of your annoying faces.

I was done with secondary school.

Unable to contain my excitement, I skipped to the nursery section to pick up my younger brother Ephraim. My brown hair was in a high ponytail and it swayed in rhythm with the movement of my body. My black chiffon dress also seemed excited to be leaving this hell hole. It danced and went high, past my knees and I had to bring it back to earth each time.

I reached the nursery section and used my eyes to scan through the crowd of kids for Ephraim. I spotted him quickly became, he was the only one jumping and waving his hand frantically in the air. My face broke into a grin and I waved him over. He picked up his lunch box and broke into a sprint towards me, his school bag fastened on his shoulders and back.

I watched him maneuver his way through the crowd, straightening his black checkered shirt each time it appeared wrinkled and smiling each time our eyes met.

"Jessie!" he squealed, the J coming out as a G.

"Hey kiddo!" I greeted with a smile,picking him up and twirling. His loud laugh filled the air and I couldn't help the huge smile that grew on my face. I returned his feet to the ground, took his hand and led the way home.

Our house was just around the corner, so, walking wasn't really a big deal.

"How was school today, Ephraim?" I queried and peeked at him from the corner of my eyes. I knew he hated the name Ephraim, but his reaction was something to see.

He scrunched up his face. "I told you, Jess. It's Raim, like Raim."

I couldn't help but laugh at the way the R sounded like a W.

"Alright Waim, how was school today?"

"We drew anything we liked," he gushed.

I tried my hardest not to laugh at his pronunciation of drew. Duew.

"And what did you draw?"

He stopped walking, took off his school bag and opened it. He pulled out his drawing book and handed it to me. I flipped through the pages expecting to see a drawing of a football, but what I saw left my mouth agape.

He drew four stick figures and labelled them Mom, Dad, Jess and Me.

It didn't look good and the words were everywhere but it's the thought that mattered and I appreciated it.

"It's beautiful!" I breathed out.

"That's nice to know. Let's head home, alwite?"

This kid is five?

"Can we wun?"

I returned the drawing book to his bag, zipped it and returned it to his back.

"Loser does all the chores," I stated and he broke into a sprint. I chuckled and skipped behind him.

He pushed open the brown door and rushed inside screaming "I win!"

I stepped into the house shutting the door behind me. "Wow, you're so fast, Raim. You could be the next Usain Bolt."

"Hey! How was school today?" Mom asked with a bright smile.

"Good afternoon, Mom," I greeted and hugged her. Ephraim didn't reply, he had his attention at the pudding on the dinning table.

Mom laughed lightly before asking him to change and come back to eat.

I drew a chair at the table, sat down and picked up a spoon to eat but mom was quick to slap it away.

"That includes you, young lady."

Groaning, I stood up from the chair.

Moms.

#EDITED