The Foreign Adventure

ADVENTURE 5

“Peem! Peem! Peeeeeeem!”
The school bus yelled causing all the students in Deconfidence setters to look out the window instantly. It was the long awaited day of the arrival of the oyinbo children and the students were over excited. It was already 4:16pm meaning it was time for prep. The whole classroom area was noisy and the Prep prefects were too distracted with the event to go and pacify the students. The bus came in with five figures excluding Mr. Cyril and the huge man. The junior students’ heads were practically glued to burglar proofed windows like they had seen a shiny object. The senior students acted more mature sparing few glances at the window while chatting about other things or reading, meanwhile, this was a façade to mask their own excitement. That day most of them wore their best set of compound wears. The boys wore their slim fitted trousers and fitted check shirts while the girls wore their shorter check gowns and styled their berets in different ways other than the standard way approved by the school. Everyone wanted to make a good first impression.
   The foreign students finally stepped out of the bus and became the centre of attraction. Aside the students who were obviously gawking at them, The Patrons, Matrons and even the security guards marveled at the special breed of creatures. The students couldn’t help but marvel at how matured they looked. They were far taller and bigger than even some of the school staff that seemed intimidating. Erika scowled feeling self-conscious.

“Well this place sucks.” Whitney let out hiking up her skirt.

“Compared to the other places I’ve seen…this is Harvard.” Ruby responded examining the uncompleted buildings and the rusted zinc roofs.

“Okay students let’s get your things to inspection.” Mr. Cyril announced from behind the trunk. Rory felt a little uncomfortable noticing the dozen of eyes watching them from the classrooms. He shifted from one foot to the other before stylishly going to hide behind Brandon who was looking at the whole place in disgust. They got their things and walked along the stony pathway leading to the largest building in the school. Unlike the others it was the only painted building visible which was a bright yellow and maroon. Besides the building were two haggard women behind two plastic tables that were fused together to make it look longer. Both women chatted lazily with each other as though they had other important engagements. One of the women looked younger than the other and carried a giggling baby behind her back. The other woman reminded Brandon of those old witches with pointy hats, long noses with moles that flew on magic brooms. His eyes widened as they arrived at the check point and the woman scowled at him.
“What is worrying this one?” she inquired adjusting her skirt which had strayed towards the wrong direction. She was a thick woman of average height; she had a little hunch and wore clothes that swallowed up her body. Her skin blended perfectly with the black scarf she tied on her head totally concealing any strands of hair. Brandon remained silent but Ruby snorted at the grammatical error that just be fell her ears.

“Welcome Sa.” Both women chorused fixing their gaze on Mr. Cyril who could only waved back at them totally engrossed with the work transferring Whitney’s boxes from the bus to the check points. The huge man quickly went over to the woman carrying the baby on her back and tickled the baby’s chick causing the baby to erupt in a frenzy of laughter.

“Tunde mi.” she greeted.

“ifemi.” He replied still playing with the baby at her back while the woman just shook her head grinning.

“And how is my little girl doing today?” he cooed and the little one pulled at his overgrown beards enthusiastically causing the father wince. The students were quite taken aback by this side of the man. Brandon most especially realized that no matter how tough one was, behind all that is the fluffy and vulnerable side that surfaces ever so often.

“Alright please line up girls to right and boys to the left.” Tunde said before clearing his throat and fixing his attention on the students. They all lazily shuffled to their various positions with their luggage.
“Is that these children don’t know how to greet ne or what?” the older woman asked with irritation quoting her tone.