Sunrise and Sunset in Florence

Chapter Three

Mike was giving me that knowing smile again when I got to my seat.

     "You lucky devil, who would have thought your chances of making friends with that girl would have been so assured and smooth," he said with a grin.

     "God surely knows how to work his miracles, I guess," said I and we both burst out laughing .

     The rest part of the afternoon in school was less interesting. I and Mike walked a little way and parted as we didn't live in the same area. I and my family have been living in an estate in a Government Reservation Area(GRA) ever since my dad got a seat in the State House of Assembly. He was seldom at home when when he's around he always made sure to spend some quality time with us. It was just the four of us, dad, mum, myself and my kid sister, Katie.

     I never liked going home in the school bus as it was always too crowded, so like always, I hailed a cab to take me home instead. My kid sister was already home watching some cartoon on the Tv. She always comes home before me as she was still in primary four.

     "Welcome, brother Raymond," she greeted.

     "Thanks Katie, how are you and how was school today?"

     "It was fine, thank you. We had a debate and my team won," she said excitedly.

     "Oh that's wonderful, dear. I'm sure it was all your doing, that sharp clever tongue of yours. Keep it up."

     "Thank you, brother Ray."

     "So where's mum?"

     "She's in the kitchen preparing lunch."

     My sweet mother. She means everything to me in this world. I love dad too but if asked to choose at any day and any time, I'd always choose mum. She loves and cares for us a lot and would never see us in pains and be comfortable until she helps us find comfort.

Last time she travelled and was supposed to be away for a week but the moment she heard I'd fallen ill, she came rushing back home on the fourth day.

She was always employing private tutors to come coach me at home during weekends but I never seem to get the hang of book work. Like it was never my thing. I still didn't know what my thing was.

     I dropped my school bag on the chair and went straight to the kitchen. Mum was at it again on some delicacy. The aroma was swiftly finding its way into my nostrils, all to remind me of how hungry I'd become.

I hurriedly climbed up the staircase to the kitchen and found mum in her apron.

    "Hi, mum."

    "Raymond, you're back," she answered happily, turning towards me. I went forward to receive her usual hug. "Hope school was fine today."

    "It turned out great actually." Her face came into my head again. That pointed nose on a perfect face with a set of eyes like pearls. I didn't realize a smile had drawn spontaneously on my face as I was thinking of her.

    "It must have been really really awesome because the kind of smile on your face right now, you have never returned from school with such a smile," mum said sarcastically, holding me away from her and looking straight into my eyes with a cunning smile.

     "It's nothing, mum."

     "I see. Anyway, you're just in time for lunch. But first, you go and freshen up."

     "Alright, mum."

     "Help me call Katie to come help me set the table."

     I walked out of the kitchen and towards my room. I called out to Katie to go help mum and she reluctantly got up. Kids and cartoons.

     That night after dinner we all saw a movie together but I was the first to leave, telling them I was going up to my room to read. Mum made a remark about today being such a great day for me while dad just stared at me in amazement. I told them I planned to try harder this session as the final school leaving examination was fast approaching. I got to my room and I picked notebook after notebook in search of the one most interesting to study. None of them meant anything to me. Mathematics used to be my favourite subject but along the line I guess I just gave up all of them altogether. Next thing I knew it was morning.

     My alarm clock rose me up and I got off the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I made up my mind to have a better talk with my new found friend Lizzy.

You were supposed to go to school with the purpose of learning, but that morning I was going for another entirely different purpose. I laughed at myself. The thought of it got me excited that I whistled and sang when having my bath that morning. My mum even had to comment on how excited I'd been since the previous day.

Dad was already out of the house when I got to the dining table. Typical. We had spaghetti and eggs for breakfast and I set out for school.

     On my way to the school, there was a terrible traffic jam for about thirty minutes. The bus driver had to climb down to confirm what could be causing such a jam. I was already running late for school. We were later told that there had been a fatal accident along that road that morning and the burnt trailer was been hurled off the road, which was the cause of the traffic jam.

The road was cleared at last and the bus I was in continued its journey. We passed the scene of the accident, filled with burnt debris and bloodstains. It all got me thinking about how transient life is. At least a family must have started mourning a lost one by now, a victim of the horrible accident.
    
At last we got to school and I met the school assembly was already on. I hate going into the school by that time. I loathe the attention it draws. So I waited until the assembly was over and then I sneaked in.

     "Stop right there, Raymond," Mr. Nosa, the school principal shouted. "What do you think you are doing, coming so late to school?"

     Mr. Nosa was quickly walking towards me, with a cane in his left hand. I know he wouldn't use it on me as the senior students never get flogged. He was wearing a baggy trouser belted round his stomach almost up to his chest which was very funny to look at. I tried not to laugh.
    
"I'm sorry, sir but there was a terrible accident along the way which caused a traffic jam. That's the reason I'm late, sir," I replied.

     "Are you sure that's the truth?" he asked suspiciously, bending his head so as to look through his glasses.
     "Absolutely, sir."

     "You may not have so much in your brain but I don't know you for telling lies. I believe you. Now go to your class."

      Why in the name of God did he have to say that? Damn it! I looked around to ensure nobody else heard the kind of outrageous remark that old fool just made about me. Thank God there was no one.

      When I got to the classroom I looked round but didn't find Lizzy. I walked up to my seat where Mike was already seated.

     "Morning, buddy. Have you seen her this morning," I asked.

     "Who's her?" replied Mike, confused.

    "Lizzy of course!"

     "Oh sorry, no I haven't seen her all morning."

     "Whatever could be the matter? She just resumed yesterday."

     "Stop worrying your head, bro, I'm sure she'll be here soon."

     God knows Lizzy was the reason I came to school that very day, just to see her pretty face again and have a little chat with her, get to know each other. I never failed to throw a glance of eager expectation at ever passer-by even while classes were on going, hoping it was the one I sought. We waited but she never turned up in school that day.

*****

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