Against All Odds

Chapter Eleven: I am Fine,but you're not

The days flew by till it was almost time for the sisters to finish their exams. The junior west African examination council examinations known by its acronym waec had drained any form of fun activities out of Obi and Chioma's lives. They mostly  studied and went through past questions.

One of the village festivals was coming up popularly known as iri ji, a festival where yam was roasted and eaten by the villagers and other activities were carried out to entertain the villagers like wrestling, acting and drama.

Most of the families had refrained from attending and taking part of the ceremony ever since the number of Christians began to increase.

Chioma and Obiefune were anxious to witness the celebration because they had never seen anything like that. The pair grew up in the city and the only celebrations they were inured to were Christmas, Easter and new year celebrations. Except for public holidays observed in the country the children were not exposed to any form of traditional ceremonies.

Most students in the school were excited to leave school just to attend but unfortunately it was the manual labor day or sanitation as the teachers called it and they all had to keep the environment clean as well as the school farm that needed weeding.

The junior students were mostly involved in the difficult tasks leaving the lesser ones to the seniors, such privileges came as one advanced in school. Class one and two students were tasked with sweeping and cleaning the classrooms, cleaning the school toilets, class three students were taken to the farm. While the senior students dealt with staff rooms and the school field.

Weeding the farm was not an alien experience to Obi, she had planted, weeded and taken care of their farm ever since she was 9. Chioma on the other hand had no experience whatsoever relating to farm work. It was not up to five minutes of work before Chioma yelled and complained of a small blister that was forming on her hand. Amused as well as concerned obi took it upon herself to weed both her portion and Chioma's.

"Drop the uprooted grasses on the mounds, so that they can decay and add manure to the soil!"
senior chiwendu barked

She was the labor prefect and it was her job to inspect the students while they slaved themselves away. She was taller than most of the girls in obi's class yet her pleated skirt seemed to have been made just to suit a younger student. There had been rumors that she was involved with teachers but Obi paid very little attention to gossips. Chioma on the other hand disliked the girl because she was always slipping her notes to give to her brother who was in a lower class than she. Obiefune was very handsome but anyone who was not Obi was not suitable for him.

Chioma recollected the number of gifts her brother had claimed from the girl and wondered how she made the money she was determined to waste on her brother.

The senior was ebony dark with her hair plaited in corn rows, a very endowed bossom and hip with a fairly beautiful face. She had been walking from one part of the farm to the other barking orders to the students.

"If we heap these grasses here, they'll grow, they won't die."

Obi objected clearly trying to stop them from making a mistake that would drive other students to farming in no time. The season was not favorable and those grasses would sprout instead of dying and decaying as Chinwendu assumed. That much experience she garnered from years of farming.

Obi's suggestion was not taken well, Chinwendu's countenance told her.

"Are you now the instructor? Do what I told you to do"

Obi and the other students turned and continued to work. Chinwedu turned to leave then remembered something and called Obi's attention.

"You still have the energy to talk which means you've not been working!"