The Good Girl

Chapter 1

Things couldn't get worse.
Walking home under the roaring rain was the last thing I wanted after being left by the school bus.

Of course thanks to my dearest literature teacher who found after class time as the most appropriate time to "perfect" my essay.
My essay was totally fine. She just felt that it's was pretty muchlike that of all my classmates...and obviously didn't expect that from me. She wanted something over the top...you know that Shakespeare English and all.

So after I went to the staff room, I stood there for what semed like forever and after 25 minutes, she showed up at the door swallowing remains of whatever.

She talked and talked and I had to bear the burden of her peanut butter breath and pretending like I was actually paying attention. Jeeez.
I just kept nodding in agreeance to I what she said...-whatever it was coz I honestly picked nothing.
I was too worried given the fact that the bus had left 15minutes ago...

She only realized I had a home to go to when the drizzle started. she acted like she didn't know she had kept me long and finally let me off her grip.

By the time I got home I was dripping wet. Even my books got wet.

When I opened the door, mum was on the kitchen counter going thru her phone book turning pages while she held her phone in the other hand.I didn't really understand why she had to keep her phone numbers in the book when she could keep em in her phone.

She turned behind to see who it was.
"Thank goodness you're back..;I was about to call your teacher". She said as she came rushing toward me while clutching her kitenge dress.
"I actually thought you had been kidnapped." She announced

"Really mom. I can take care of myself." I weakly smiled.

"And what happened to you" she stopped where she was as though if she came any closer she would catch an epidemic. Her face contorted.

"The bus left me mum" I dropped my bag as I closed the door behind me.

"Did I forget to pay the bus fee again?!"

"O no mum...it was Tr Hellen. She kept me for consultation"

"Passed 5:00"

"Yeap...AND you know I couldn't tell her, coz you know... shell tell the whole staffroom am growing horns..."
Yeap. I almost hated my life. Having to keep up the image. Tryna perfect and all. It wasn't easy. Being obedient... Clever...exemplary. That stuff.

I wanted to be like my friends but somehow I got lost in my studies that they became too impo tant for me. And it was like I couldn't go back.

"Sometimes I kinda wish I bought that Mercedes" my mum pointed out.
That's what she always says. That's what she always does
Making wishes. She never really feels the need to use her hard earned money for doodads like cars...or even a dining table...after all, we were only two.

I just ignored and walked over to the couch to throw my dead beet body as my mother walked back totje kitchen.

"Oh no you don't" mum said as though she had caught me from the side of her eye.
"I had a little argument with the dry cleaners' last week and I don't think we'll be mending things soon. So don't get the sofa smelly"

That's my mum. Picking Arguments with the neighbors all the time whenever she felt her rights were violated, or she was cheated, or when her comfort was being disturbed.
She is a difficult woman. Just like the average African mother.

I simply slumped and walked upstairs to my room to take a shower...a proper one... and get out of my wet clothes.

After the nice warm shower, I got on some warm clothes and put on a thick turtle neck sweater and some thick socks because after walking 35 minutes in that rain I was probably going to catch pneumonia if I didn't dress heavy. No kidding. With poor weak lungs like mine anything could happen. I lay on top of my blue duvet just for 5 minutes to rest my head. I convinced myself.