A Drop In The Ocean

Part 11

She went to her wardrobe and pick a dress.

"Where are you going?", Kamsi asked as she dresses up.

"Back to school, I need to retrieve the phone"

"The gateman will not let you in"

"Then you have to come with me"

"To do what?"

"To distract him while I climb the fence from the back"

"Passers-by will see you and they will definitely stop or report you"

"You are right", she sighed, "and I will be expelled as well----what if you be the one to do it since you are no longer their student so even if you are reported you won't be punished anymore"

"I might be arrested" she said and Nonso puffed helplessly.

"So what do you suggest I do now"

"Nothing! Wait till you go to school tomorrow"

"Then I will go early, before the morning assembly begins"

"That's a good idea!"

********************

Nonso woke up earlier than usual and realized that it rained and woke Kamsi, "the rain will spoil my phone", she uttered in despair.

"Don't lose hope yet, who knows you might be surprised to find out that nothing happened to it", she consoled her and she hurriedly prepared and left for school. On arriving, she saw some teachers who were probably on duty as they share work among students, supervising them to ensure that everywhere was tidy before the school begin. She thought that this might be the best time to sneak to her hideout and take the phone so she went and was disappointed to see some students picking trash and Mr. Ezeh, their Christian Religious teacher directing them so she became scared that they might see the phone.

"Any problem?", he queried.

"No sir"

"So what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for Harry; I gave him one of my notebook yesterday"

"Has he come to school yet?"

"He said he would come early today and that was what prompt me to search for him"

"You can see that he's not here"

"Yes sir", she answered and left. She went in to her class and was surprised to see Nonye and Ngozi sweeping as they tied a handkerchief around their nose and mouth obviously to protect themselves from dust since everywhere were dusty, she acted as if she didn't notice her presence and never looked up even when she and Ngozi exchanged greetings but was busy with her sweeping. Nonso took her handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth as well, she looked at the sweeping roster that was pasted on the wall and saw that it was their turn. She couldn't wait inside any longer for them to be through as she saw herself covered from dust so she went out but stayed close making sure to be far from the dust that was getting out.

"Nonso", she heard Mrs. Peter's voice and looked around, she was surprised to see her as she stands some distance away from her, she must be on duty for her to be in school this early, she walked up to her, "good morning ma!", she greeted.

"I called you and instead of you to run and meet me you were busy cat walking, eh!". She shouted ignoring her greeting.

"Sorry ma"

"Sorry for yourself!", she scolded, "go and sweep the staffroom", she told her and was about leaving when she stops, "by the way! Did you come with the phone?"

Nonso was dumbfounded with the question, she needs to answer and also be fast with it because nobody will save her this time from her wrath, she knows Mrs. Peter so well and what she is capable of, everyone knows her as an action woman, she doesn't hesitate to slap, beat, hit or flog anyone that provokes her, "yes ma", she answered pronto.

"Let me have it!", she signaled.

"It's in the class ma"

"Where in the class?"

"My locker"

"Bring it to me", she told her and Nonso was thrown off balance for a moment, how will she explain to her that she lied and that it was not in the class but was hidden in the school backyard, besides she doesn't want to give it to any teacher but the principal himself, though he will definitely punish her for bringing the phone to school in the first place but it will never be the same like that of Nonye and her lover, the video is like an evidence against them, it is like a shield from her troubles, ever since she knew her dirty secret, she barely notices her nor talks to her talk more of troubling her, now if she gives the phone to her or Mr. Nnadi is just like giving Nonye back her power and she will revengefully use it on her and Kamsi without showing mercy, on the other hand, if she decides to report them to her,she might use it for her selfish interest against them and might never get her phone back, as she was about leaving for the classroom, she was stopped by Mrs.Peter, "not now! When you are done with the sweeping", she said sending her off to the staffroom. She cheered up and thanked her stars, at least that will give her enough time to think of her next move. She got to the staffroom and saw a junior boy sweeping, he was just starting, she took one of the broom placed against the wall and joined him, they were packing the dirt when the bell rang and everyone head to the assembly ground. Mr. Ezeh walked by and saw them as he was moving around from one class to another making sure that no student hang around the classroom, normally it could have been the work of the school prefects but since they are now in Senior Secondary 3 (SS3), they have been relieved from their duty and will be given to those in SS2 so as to give them time to prepare for their forthcoming senior West Africa Examinations Council(WAEC), "hurry up and move to the assembly ground", he commanded as he stand waiting for them, they finished and Nonso pleaded to go and drop her school bag in her class but he declined and waited for them to head for the assembly before he moved out to continue with his search.