THE EXTERNALS

Chapter Twenty

"A whole assembly perfect, is this the time you're supposed to be coming to school? How dare you even try to sneak in!" Master Gbenga's deep voice said to me the Monday after our mid-term break.

"I'm very sorry, sir", I couldn't bare to look at him because I was ashamed of myself even though coming late wasn't entirely my fault.

"You people sha like to tempt somebody. I've promised myself not to beat anyone this week", He hissed.

"Thank you so much, sir", I entered the class happily.

"What made you late sef?"He asked reluctantly.

"I'm just coming from the place I went to spend the holiday", I explained.

"Oh! Hope you brought something for me?"He said playfully.

"Yes, sir", I was glad I had the pack of Maryland cookies my eldest male cousin gave me the other day, though I originally planned to share it among my classmates.

My classmates weren't happy when they later found out the cookies meant for them were given to Master Gbenga but they couldn't complain because it inspired him to give out the questions (for his subjects only) that were going to appear in our upcoming examination. As the only person who traveled among them, my classmates made me tell them every detail of the things I experienced at my Aunt's house. They also wished they could travel but so many things were in their way. While some had siblings to look after after their parents went to work, others either didn't have money for transportation or any well-off relative to visit.

At lunchtime, Omma stayed with me in the class for the very first time. Her mom was home during the weekend so she didn't have to live on junk like she used to. She was forced to cook jollof rice and beans the previous night and bring the leftover to school so she didn't have to follow the rest to the food shed. When we both finished eating, I begged her to narrate some scenes in the second season of 'The Legend of the blue sea ' to while away time, and she did idialogigently. Then, all of a sudden, she changed our subject of discussion to Zach who claimed to have missed me badly and gave me the package he sent.

No, it didn't contain a flower bouquet or chocolate candies. The shopping bag he sent to me had four yards of Abada material and the invitation card to a wedding. Yes, it was the wedding his stepmom went to get its aso-ebi the other day, which gave me the chance to beg her to help me get Jess' sportswear as well. I was very happy about the gifts and the wedding because it was the first time I got an invite to a party that wasn't hosted by my family members but also scared that Aunt Tolani won't allow me to leave the house. Not after what happened that morning.

"You should have told him I'm never interested in things like this", I returned the shopping bag to her.

"You have to go to this one oo. I have collected sowing money from him and gave some to my tailor", She avoided my gaze.

"Why would you do that kind of thing without telling me first?" I yelled at her.

"What's going on here?" My loud voice drew Khadijat's attention.

"Ask her", I pointed at Omma and brought out a textbook that I wasn't planning to fully concentrate on from my backpack. It was only a ploy to make it seem I didn't have time to continue a pointless discussion.