Scandal of Grace

39

Chapter Thirty Nine

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." - Matthew 6:13 (The Bible)

Listen to Free Indeed by Timothy Reddick. ❤

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"What if he already has a cake?" I asked my mum nervously. She was driving me to school in her car. The cake she helped me bake for Stephen was on my lap and I held on to it carefully.

"It doesn't get too much." She responded in her calm motherly way.

The drive was relatively short. I exhaled slowly when the car stopped and the School's gate came into view.

"Thanks mum."

"It's alright darling. Have a nice day at school. Okay?"

"Okay ma. And you too. At work, obviously." I smiled and waved her a goodbye.

She put the car into reverse and I watched her leave before turning to walk into the school for the first time this session. It was going to be a long one, I guessed.

First things first. I had to locate my new class and pick a seat. Our class teacher arranged us before but things were different now. We had some sort of liberty to choose where we sat.

I knew at first I hated Stephen sitting behind me. Now, I wouldn't pass the opportunity to sit beside him.

My pace increased automatically and I got a few number of stares because I had a box of cake in my hands.

But... Who cares?

I walked towards the SS 3 Arts building. The first class on the left was ours. I stepped in and glanced around. Only two people were around yet - Femi and one other boy.

"Good morning." I said to no one in particular but they responded anyway with similar greeting.

I was still thinking of where to sit, no doubt, in front when Catherine Johnson walked in with Shola.

I ignored them.

But they didn't reciprocate the action.

Or rather, inaction.

Catherine came right to me, Shola following not far behind. "Hey Gracie Gracie. What have you got there? You've never celebrated your birthday in school before. Am I right?" She slurred her speech in a very irritating manner that I almost puked if not for the environment and Stephen's cake in my hands.

"Good morning to you too Cathy. And no, the cake's not mine."

What a perfect way to start a session! Spot the sarcasm.

"Then whose is it?" She asked like it was her business.

I glared at her incredulously. She was trying to test my patience.

She suddenly raised a finger. "No you don't have to tell me. I really don't care." She shrugged.

I wanted to say something. Anything. At least, something that would make me appear less weak, yet, not sinning against God.

But no words came.

I was still thinking of how to respond when she brushed her shoulder past mine. Hard. The cake came tumbling down from my grasp.

My brain momentarily flew out of the window. But I heard the gasp of the other boys present in the class.

I stared down at the item that was once in my hands. The box cover had flown off revealing a disheveled cake separated in two. Mummy designed an HBD Stevie!!! on it. Now, the HBD was on one side and his name on the other. The letter S was smeared already and one could now read it as HBD  tevie!!!.

I subconsciously bent down before the mess. "Oh my God."

"Oops. Sorry?" Cathy faked an apology. How could she be so mean, so inhumane?

Stephen came in right then, hands in pockets, with Jeremy beside him.

I sighed, lifted the box and placed it on a table nearby.

"Gracie?"

I bit down on my bottom lip to keep myself from crying.

"Hey, what happened?" Stephen quizzed.

"I wanted to pick myself a seat."

"I mean.. With the cake and your sad face and Cathy's snickering face behind you."

I looked towards the back of the class and true to his words, Cathy was trying to stifle a laugh. When she noticed me looking, she blanked out and started typing away with her phone.

I sighed again. "Happy birthday Steve."

"Wait.. The cake's for me?"

"Yeah... Cathy pushed me and it fell off. I'm sorry. I guess I was just clumsy."

"No don't take the blame for her nasty attitude." Steve countered.

"Catherine, you should drop your childish behaviors." Jerry interrupted loud enough for her to hear. He was licking off the icing on the cake.

"Take your hands off my cake, man!" Steve swatted at Jerry's shoulder.

"Aw man. It's just a cake."

"It's a cake from Gracie. And not just a cake. Now buzz off."

I admired the connection they had, the chemistry. I smiled sheepishly at their little display.

"Grace, promise me you'd bring me a cake on my birthday too. Pinky promise?" Jeremy requested.

"I don't know about doing pinky promises but sure."

"I thought girls do that stuff. Never mind then."

We argued on where to sit for like ten minutes before coming into a compromise that second row it was then.  Stephen sat in between. I was on his left and Jerry to his right.

That was that before more students trooped in and once Jeremy went to the front of the class to address everyone as the class captain.

"Hello everyone. Happy resumption! As we all know that this is our last year in this school, let's make the most out of it. Go to the games, football games, basketball games, swimming competitions, the debates, all of it. Have fun. But don't forget to read your books! No one wants to be a disappointment. Right?"

"Right!"

"One more thing. Today is Stephen Adebayo's birthday!"

The whole class erupted in shouts and screams.

"So, he's going to come out here and we would all sing him a song and share the cake before we go to the assembly ground."

There was no point keeping the cake much longer. It might even get stolen if left in the class.

Stephen stepped out and faced the class. We all sang him a very off key version of the common happy birthday song while he smiled like the world was at his feet in that moment.

I was glad that he was happy.

On our way to the assembly ground, Stephen said to me. "I didn't think of getting a cake. I also didn't think you'd remember."

"I did remember."

"Thank you. For everything." He said again.

"I didn't do anything. Stop thanking me. I even ruined the cake."

"No, Cathy ruined it." Jeremy corrected.

"Alright. Whatever."

That was it before we joined the queue along with our other class mates.

In that moment, I decided to be a good friend to my friends and keep them close. That year, I determined to go to all the football games whenever the boys played.

Even Catherine Johnson was not going to stand a chance or get in the way.