The Star Child

CHAPTER ONE: EARLY DAYS IN SCHOOL

It was closing time in school and Ime decided to follow her friend to her house. There, she played, watched TV, ate and drank not minding the fact that her already furious and yet worried mother would not be happy with her. Ime came home a bit late. Knock! Knock! That was the sound of the door! Ime's mother ran as fast as she could to open it. It was Ime! 

"Good afternoon mum" said Ime trying to appear as calm as possible, 

"why are you back by this time? Three o'clock? Doesn't your school close by one o'clock on Fridays? What were you doing in school?" said Ime's mum who was almost unconscious with fright. 

The questions were too many, Ime did not know which to answer first, 

"You can't answer?" asked Ime's mum impatiently. Ime was astonished with the way her mother reacted, she saw nothing wrong in going to see her friend as far as her intensions were pure. All these she thought less than a second, then she replied 

"I went to my friend's house after school" stammering. 

"Why? Tell me why you should be in your friend's house after school instead of coming back home immediately", "I wanted to play before coming back home" said Ime almost urinating on the spot. 

"You need to hear yourself right now, you are not making sense at all! I am waiting for you at home and you're at your friend's house? Playing? Ime I am very disappointed in you, I don't expect you to do a thing like this with the training I've given you. I've never taught you to follow friends, neither did I teach you to visit people in their houses for no just cause, you don't know you might inconvenience the person? Now go to your room and change your uniform!" said Ime's mum furiously. 

Ime ran into her room and did as her mother said, but she still couldn't see anything wrong in going to see her friend after school. She thought her mother was afraid that she will get poisoned or harmed but she didn't realize that it was wrong to have gone out without her mother's consent "now, what will people say? Her daughter is too loose, she doesn't keep eyes on her daughter" thought Ime's mum "anyway, that doesn't matter, what matters now is that Ime knows the right thing and will not attempt it again," she continued. 

The next day, which was Saturday, one of Ime's classmates knocked at the door with so much enthusiasm and Ime opened the door only to find out that she came to inform her about a birthday party her other classmate was having that afternoon. At first, Ime felt eager to go, but she remembered what happened the previous day. It was like a test to see if she had learnt something from the incidence that happened the previous day, so, she decided to stay back at home and read for Monday's promotional exams. 

"After all, one cannot go for a party uninvited" thought Ime. Ime's classmate felt ashamed and at the same time disappointed in herself, she felt that if her mate should spend time reading instead of attending birthday parties, how much she? So she also, decided to stay at home and read for the coming examination,

 "promotional exams were not jokes!" she reminded herself. Ime wondered why her mother hadn't come out to see who was at the door yet, but she didn't realize that her mother was at a corner waiting to hear her decision about the party, but when she heard her decision not to go for the party, she felt proud of Ime. The next morning it was time for school and by half past six, Ime was still on the bed fast asleep. 

"Ime! Ime! Get up! Get up! Get ready for school!" said the already furious mother, who interrupted Ime's two (2) hour sleep after a long night of reading. 

"Or you don't know you have exams this morning?" she continued. Ime tired and angry reluctantly stood up and got ready for school. Ime got to school late and missed a paper, she was also delayed at the gate for more than an hour. Later, she was allowed to come in, when she got into her class, her teacher asked her why she was late and she narrated the whole story in suppressed tears. 

"Ime, for the mere fact you have been a good pupil, you will be given your exam paper to write with extra time," said the teacher with a smile on his face, Ime thanked her teacher and sat for the exam.

My dad always told me that life waits for no one, so, what you have to do, do quickly.

Ime learnt her lesson and the next day, she woke up very early so that this time she would not be late to school. That is why the saying goes EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER. When Ime came back from school she was so lightened, she greeted her mother with a wide smile on her face, her large eye balls flashed round with excitement and her long hair flew round the air as she twirled in happiness saying "this is the best day of my life!" Her mother laughed and said "Ime, I can see that I don't need to ask you how school was today" for it intrigued her to see her daughter so happy. "Mum, school was perfect!" exclaimed Ime. Then she hopped into her room to change her uniform as she hummed a song. After the promotional exams the principal addressed the pupils on the assembly ground.

"Good morning, pupils"

"Good morning, sir" greeted the anxious pupils

"We have come to the end of the promotional exams, I believe you all did well"

"Yes sir, we did" chorused the pupils

"Your speech and prize giving day/graduation for the primary six (6) pupils will be held on the 13th of July. When you return to your classes, a letter will be given to you, ensure you give it to your parents. You can go back to your classes with a matching song".

Immediately, from the background, a pupil raised a song, we are H-A-P-P-Y! And the pupils sang along. When Ime got back home, she rushed to the sitting-room and handed the letter over to her mother. Ime's mum opened the letter and read it with all attention.

Dear parents,

This is to inform you that the speech and prize giving day/graduation for the Primary six (6) pupils will be held on the 13th of July. All pupils are expected to come, we really hope you can create time from your busy schedules to be there, it will be a honour. Collection of results will be done on the 15th of July.

Time: 9:00 am

Venue: school hall

Yours sincerely

Principal

On the graduation day, Ime could not stop smiling. She thought, "so I'm in secondary school now?" When the graduating pupils were called upon, that was the happiest moment of Ime's life. She walked on her tip toes, her head up high, her hands in the air and she breath the fresh air. It felt like Heaven on earth, Ime was also called to collect the following prizes; best behaved, neatest, best handwriting and first position. In which, she walked like a victor to collect them, and in her mind said "was there a happier moment in my life?" When the event was over, Ime ran to her mum and gave her a big hug, "no, Ime, I should be the one running to hug you, you have made your father and I proud". On the day of the collection of results, Ime's mum accompanied her to school.

"Good day, Sir" greeted Ime's mum

"Good day, madam" replied the teacher

"Sir, I came to collect Ime Bassey's result"

"Oh! Ime Bassey, madam you have an intelligent daughter"

"Thank God" said Ime's mum with a bright smile on her face

"Here is her report sheet."

Just as they were about to leave, the teacher called Ime,

"Ime"

"Yes, Sir"

"Do not fail to read your books, we will miss you, be a good girl in secondary school, the Lord will go with you"

"Amen" replied Ime.

Ime's mum was so impressed with her performance, that she promised Ime Heaven and earth, even though she did not fulfill her promises, to Ime, her mum's happiness was more than any gift anyone could ever give her.

FOLLOW ME, AND I GUARANTEE YOU A FOLLOW BACK!!!