A Silver Lining (#Wattys2018)

chapter 7|penalty

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'Do or do not ,there is no try'

'This chapter is dedicated to Jidderh_K

Song of the day: Halo by Beyonce
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It wasn't every day, I informed my  mother of my intention to go to school, on Saturday for football.  She was seated at the dinning table, in a short floral dress, taking small spoonful of oatmeal.

I hate, oatmeal.

"Are you sure you are going for football" She had a knowing smile on her face, she stirred the oat meal and took another spoonful of it. "Or you and Jessie, have planned this, let's lie to your mom, and go there".

I laughed hard, she was imitating Jessie's voice in a conspiratory manner. I was going to tell her, that Jessie was not going to come for this match, she said the there was no thrill, that the houses that were competing lacked good players.

"Just come home on time" her smile dropped,  "let's make some spicy pasta".

"Dad doesn't like too much spice" I reasoned, as I tied the shoelace of my black and white stripped sneakers.

"Oh, he would love this one, trust me".

I faced her, with feigned interest, she chuckled. "That's what you said the last time, and dad emptied the water dispenser".

"I won't add much pepper, you'd be there too, and he'd love this one trust me, I got the recipe from the famous chef on YouTube".

Trust mom, to always same the same thing over and over again. Mom, could not get enough of spicy things, or pasta. Even, if we both ended up cooking it, she would still add more than the required pepper. I walked into the kitchen and stuffed my mouth with some pancake.

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I checked my phone, as I got down from the keke napep, the time was thirteen minutes past nine, the inter house sport was slated to run from nine to eleven in the morning.

But with the growing noise and chatter emanating from students, walking to the sport arena, I doubted if they had commence the competition.

The sport arena, was designated area for playing all kinds of sport, in Star academy.  Usually, we had sport on Tuesday, as per the school's time table, but most competitions, whether internal or external (that is, if my school decides to host other schools for a sport competition) took place on Saturday.

I reached the blue gates of the sport arena, it was just some few meters behind the main structure, which is the school. The blue gate of the sport arena had our school logo on each half it's gate. The gate was wide open, and students in mufti, and some in their games wear, especially gold and pink flocked into it.

The place, where football competitions or practice was built in a circular form like a stadium with rows and rows of chairs on it's numerous steps. Inside, this circle is a wide area, which is the football field. It is the standard rectangular shape, divided into two by a long white line, atop this line is a small circle. The extreme ends of the field, had a goalpost each.

At individual end was our volleyball, baseball, and basketball courts. In between each court, were the circular lines for sprinting.

I was lucky to find a vacant seat, the whole place was crowded. The inter house sport, was between two house, the pink and gold. Star academy had four houses for sport namely; Blue, Brown, Pink and Gold. 

I saw some teachers from where I sat, they were directing some students out of the football field. After some minutes, we stood up, just as the players were entering the field, we sang both the national anthem, and the school's anthem.

Whatever, the football coach was saying to the students flew past my ears, as I saw Asiwaju approaching me.

"I could have asked for your number" he lamented and slumped into the empty seat next to me.  I wanted to tell him, that the occupant of that seat, a boy in junior secondary had asked me to watch the seat for him, but the tired look that graced his face, stopped me.

"I have asked almost everybody I know if they have seen you" he continued,  "Even the principal".

I laughed against my better judgment, smiling at him, I enquired, "What did the principal say, when you asked him".

He took a swig of water, from a water bottle that I did not even notice he had brought with him.
"Ah, Mr Jibril, have useful man, he gave me all the information I needed to find you".

"You are a horrible liar" I confessed, laughing "He'd just order some teachers, to throw you—no fling you away from his presence".

We had a good laugh after my statement. I could not even imagine, an encounter with a principal, it would surely be like a sneak peek to hell. 

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The competition ended, an hour and thirty minutes later, they exceeded the slated time, considering the fact that they started the competition late. It commenced exactly ten on the dot, which was after we sang the national and school anthem.

I couldn't even say, I watched the match, my attention span did not exceed the fact that Asiwaju entwined our hands together. At intervals, he'd explain something, where it was why one boy was rushed out of the field, or one boy had to face six other boys to play the ball, with all his explanation and my functionary nod, I did not grasp a thing.

The only thing, I got to know, from the football match, was that Gold house won, and Ahmed, one of my classmates played, a pivotal role, in the winning. They whole stadium was ablaze with the chanting of Gold house and Ahmed.

They ended the match, pink house against gold house, two - three.

I wasn't even bothered that anybody could see us, as myself and Asiwaju exited the school premises, hand in hand.

All that mattered, was the fact that we took a detour of buying and eating ice cream. And when we stood by the roadside trying to get a keke napep for me, he pulled me in for an embrace. I did not expect it.

Sidelines

Hey 💖

Do you like pasta?

What kind of pasta do you like,  I will definitely pick macaroni over spaghetti.

Keke napep, is a tricycle, most usually for transportation.

So, the ship has left the port!!!!
And it is sailing ⛵️ ⛵️ ⛵️  ⛵️......

Can you suggest a name for Asiwaju and Aramide.

Don't forget to hit the vote button 🌟🌟🌟

Thank you!!!!