Wolf Iron

Chapter 3 / Bad Gyal Chioma

"But the fact is, Mr. Obasi, this isn't the first time Chioma has been caught in the lavatory with a male student. Her behaviour is unacceptable. I'm afraid at this point, we have to consider very strongly her referral to a specialty school." 

Chioma sat outside the office door of Headmistress Barr, and listened to a soft and taut voice communicate a harsh and foregone truth to her father. She could already imagine her father's face. He would have have his eyes closed behind small rectangular glasses like he was an old and tired Nigerian Malcolm X, his arms crossed and grabbing at his worn and ashy elbows. 

"Ms. Eleanor, I know you don' set on your decision but please, give Chioma one mo' chance. E no matter she go to different school, if her teachers give up ona, she no go find success. Like we say, di sand wey dem dig from pit come out, no dey reach to fill am back."

Chioma rolled her eyes and tossed her braids over her shoulder.

"...Quite, Mr. Obasi, yes. Um, I really don't know how much more we can do. She has to stop her flagrant disregard for this school's policy on...P.D.A." Otherwise, our next meeting will be our last, I'm afraid."

"P.D.A.? What is P.D.A.?"

Chioma had stopped listening and was smiling at the boy who was working as an office assistant. They caught eyes and both of them sheepishly looked away, smiling. 

The office door opened and Chioma was suddenly dwarfed in her father's shadow. "Ngwanu. Let's go."

She peered back into the office to catch a forced, yet gentle smile from Headmistress Barr before leaving with her father. She knew the bell was about to ring.

"Okay, Pa. You have to leave now, all my fam, they'll pree you."

"Don talk dat talk with me."

Mr. Obasi held up a finger and wagged it reproachfully in front of Chioma. "Dis go be da last time I go come up to dis school and talk to her, uh? And for di mata of your punishment, we go talk at home after school." 

Chioma tutted and stuck her bottom lip out and her father wagged again.

"No. No mo' trouble, okay? See you at di home." 

The 12:00 bell rang and students engulfed the hallway, making her father's back look comically huge next to them as she watched him walk out of the school. 

"Hey Chia, was it bad, all that?" 

Chioma turned to see her best friend Nia standing next to her, fidgeting with her ponytail and her phone. 

"Dun kno Barr's just a wasteman, fam. She hasn't got anyone, so I can't have anyone, the twat, sh-."

"Booked!"

Books spilled out of hapless hands and the girls joined in on the laughter.

"Mandem, they go crazy on these new kids," Chioma said giggling.

"He's been new for like a year now, I think" Nia snickered. 

They watched as the boy scrambled to pick his books up and bookmarked it for the boy's lavatory. 

Chioma was about to turn around and head to class when she saw a strange looking girl she had never seen before walk into the boy's lavatory right after him. 

"Look at bruv," she mused and laughed.