THE EXTERNALS

Chapter Eigteen

From the far end of the food shed, Khadijat saw Janet speaking with Johakim so her focus shifted from the conversation we were having. More than anything else, Khadijat would have loved to confront Janet at that time, but I didn't allow her to do that since she had no evidence to prove there was a relationship going on between them. I wanted us to end the week peacefully so we would have enough energy to prepare for our upcoming midterm test.

It was my tradition to observe a fast on days I had tests or exams so I didn't cook the following Monday, to avoid getting tempted. Once I made sure the materials I needed to write tests for the three subjects on my timetable were in my brown school bag, I wore my black moccasin shoes on my not-so-white socks and headed for the second route I took to school every weekday. Since I studied my books overnight, I was confident about writing something meaningful in my scripts.

On my way to school, I met an angry Omma. She was angry at Master Gbenga for sending her home because she had not finished her school fees payment, even though her mom called the proprietor and pleaded with him not to send her home. As if that wasn't enough, she said our remaining classmates were also sent home because they were yet to complete their payment as well.

Indirectly, she was telling me not to attend school. She knew if I did, the teachers will make me answer our test questions alone and once they do that, they won't bother redoing it for others whether or not they pay up their debts later. In less than a minute, Omma convinced me to follow her home if I didn't want my neighbors to assume I was sent home because my dad couldn't afford to pay my school fees.

I felt guilty because I knew it was wrong of me to do what she wanted me to do. My dad struggled to pay my school fees so the least I could do to reward him was to avoid skipping school under any circumstances. I would have accorded honor to myself if I went to school that day. Any student who can stay behind in a classroom after others have been sent home for owing school fees is believed to be the richest among them in GMC.

"So which Korean movie do you want to watch?" Omma asked me when all that was left on her was a black tight and blue singlet, after putting off her school uniform in her room.

"Legend of the Blue Sea", I said while staring at her childhood pictures which were on a wallpaper.

"That one is with my neighbor. Let me quickly get it for you", she pulled out a red top from her Ghana-must-go bag and wore it as she was walking to the door.

"Wait for me oo", I didn't want to be left alone because her street was known to be filled with thugs and she was the only one who knew how to deal with them.

Unfortunately for me, her neighbor's stepson (the guy who paid for the printing of Jess' sportswear) was friends with her boyfriend and they were both chilling at his place so she decided to spend more time with him there. I wasn't comfortable sitting at a stranger's house yet couldn't bring myself to leave the apartment without looking back.

What the heck stopped me from doing so?

"Lily, are you alright? Is there anything you would like to eat or drink?" I still hated Omma's boyfriend but he was still nice to me.