Saved by my nightmare (A Nigerian Story)

CHAPTER 26

Lagos, Nigeria
2014.

"......And with that, we send the 37th set of this great institiute forth into the world, knowing without a doubt that they will uphold the values and morals they have been given. Thank you" Claps resounded through the hall as the Deputy Commandant, Leuitenant Commander Salihu handed over the mic to the MC.

"That was a wonderful lecture from the DY, to conclude today's programme, i would like to request the presence of the Chaplain and Chief imam" The MC spoke, making way for the Chaplain to take his spot on the stage.

"Everyone please stand up, let's pray" The sound of chairs scraping across the ground broke the silence of the hall as everyone got up from their chairs.

"In jesus name" the Chaplain, O.S Bitrus shouted into the mic, as yells of 'amen' followed.

To her left, Maliya snickered as she saw what Rumaysa was doing.

While Maliya was more liberal, and stood up when they were asked to, Rumaysa would have none of it and refused to oblige to the Chaplain's request.

"What are you looking at?" Maliya asked Rumaysa, leaning down to whisper in her ears.

"See that woman right there, two chairs away from Blessing's mum" Rumaysa said, subtly pointing towards a woman some feet away from them.

Looking towards the woman, Maliya too burst into laughter, earning her curious glances from her set mates.

Standing with a white napkin on her curly wig was a middle-aged woman with a ridiculous amount of make-up on.

Her eyebrows were purple in colour and starkly contrasted with her fair skin. The arc of her eyebrows extended to the side of her face, just above her ears.

Her pimply face was free of any powder, but her lips were a different story.

Her top lip was painted a hot pink colour, and the bottom one the same shade as her eyebrows.

And though the way it all came together was totally horrendous, what made the woman's actions all the more hilarious was the way she was jumping up and down as she screamed 'amen'.

Her hands would flail in the air and she would scream 'amen' in a very high-pitched voice.

The woman standing next to her had shifted her chair away from hers, but still she didn't get the hint.

Soon enough, Maliya could make out snickers from near where she sat as everyone eventually noticed the woman.

Whether she didn't notice the stares or didn't care, the woman paid no heed to anyone and continued shouting at the top of her voice.

'She's clearly in the spirit' Maliya heard a girl a few chairs in front of her say.

"Yeah, the spirit of madness" Rumaysa muttered. Apparently, also having heard the girl.

Soon enough, the closing prayers were done with and the ex-37th set were officially graduated.

Trooping out of the hall while trying to avoid being knocked in the eye by different colours of hair, Maliya and Rumaysa sighed in relief once they made it out of the hall.

Whoops and cheers resounded throughout the whole school, it was nothing short of a mad house.

"Maliya" A woman Maliya barely recognised beckoned onto her.

Walking with a fake smile plastered on her face, Maliya greeted the woman and her two friends.

"Ahan, you travel?" The woman asked her, and Maliya bit back the gnawing need to ask the woman where she knew her from.