Asàké

9

"I'm tired, you people want to kill me..but before you try that I will send you back home to your parents. God.. Kneel down" the principal screamed as he pushed us outside to the field. We knelt, the hot sun bathing us.

"Alex, come here.. Your mum was here last week and here you are again.. You are paying for that child's hospital bills" the principal screamed and Alex stood frowning, his hands in fists as he walked to the principal.

"twenty four... Twenty four strokes of cane" the principal spoke as he pushed Alex down and Mr Phillip brought a long thin cane to the principal who rolled his sleeves.

I jerked when the first stroke of cane landed on his buttocks. his face became red immediately with veins dancing on his head.

harmony who was beside me, turned to me and our eyes held she sighed and turned back to faith who was by her side.

"they've started... I'll say John was involved too" harmony said.

"why?... Don't do that you know nothing would come out of it" faith replied turning back to Alex.

"it's not right John started it" harmony said almost in tears.

"Alex brought it on himself Abeg harmony leave me.. So what if they're flogging him.. You know nothing would happen if John would be involved.. Stop all these things you're saying abeg" faith said already irritated.

"wharr I think is that John is a fucking sissy and he better stop hiding behind his father's wealth" amaka who was beside me said to them while holding my arm.

"would you shut up" faith said, her eyes shooting daggers.

"here you go supporting your boyfriend, you bias bitch" amaka said hissing like a snake while harmony sulked.

Faith rolled her eyes and said nothing. When it reached the tenth stroke I knew I couldn't bare it.

"sir" I called out, my heart pounding and my hands shaking. The principal turned to me and laughed.

"what do you want, you think I'll release you because you're a new student?" he asked while everyone stared at me.

"no.. Alex wasn't the only one fighting..john started it" I said and turned to harmony who was already staring at me.

"this girl talks too much" faith said while I received stares from the rest of the class. The principal laughed.

"oh.. Is that true? " he said and laughed again.

"Ehn well... Since he did well.. Ehn John come out.. You'll be given five strokes of the Cane  for committing Nuisance in this school" the principal said laughing like he had ran mad.

"naso e go be" one boy tega said shaking his head.

"the rest of you to your class... Alex and John see me after school" he said and walked away.

I stood up and dusted sand off my knee.

"Eku ise o, the saviour of alex" faith said folding her hands, her eyes capturing my form before she turned around and walked to where our class was. Harmony who was beside her smiled at me and gave me a thumbs up before running back to the class.

As people walked in to the class they either Tapped me or winked and I felt Good. Adunni walked up to me and held my hands as we walked in to the class.

Right in front of the class was Alex who walked up to me.

"oya clap for your self.. Let everyone clap for the new student asake who is brave enough to fight for the less privileged" he said an eyebrow up as he stared at me.