A Drop In The Ocean

Part 12

Nonso got to the assembly ground and went straight to where their class was lined up and joined them, Mrs. Peter was the one conducting, she called a girl from SS1 to lead in praises and worship, after that, she prayed and then called on each of the classes to present their morning speech, when it got to Kamsi's class which is SS2A, none of them came out to represent, Harry who could have was not yet in school he arrived late when they were already kneeling down and joined them, it's now SS3's turn so he waited for their representative to be done and rushed out to give his speech in other to save his class from further punishment, Mrs. Peter pardoned them when he was done and moved over to announcement, "there is something I noticed among you students and would want to make a correction", she said and everyone became attentive eager to know what it could be, "does anyone here knows the difference between ma and ma'am?", she asked and everyone starts to murmur, "I didn't say you should make noise, I asked a simple question and if you know the answer identify by raising your hand if not keep quiet", she reprimands and they all became silent. Cynthia raised her hand and Nonso wasn't surprised at all, she knew she must say something, "who doesn't know Cynthia! Miss notice me!", she thought.

"Yes Cynthia!", called Mrs. Peter and they all listened.

"I think that ma and ma'am are the same just that ma is commonly used while ma'am is rarely used", she answered with a foreign accent.

Nonso doesn't like it whenever she forms that, she felt that she was only showing off her fake accent, she always does it whenever she speaks in public and sometimes in the class, so she heard from Kamsi, she's in the same class with her and she has a different opinion about her, a favourable one to be precise, she admires her confidence to express herself without shying, an attribute which she wishes to have.

"Wrong!", said Mrs. Peter and Nonso saw it coming, she rarely gets an answer right.

"Anymore attempt?", she asked and Mr Ezeh called on her attention on timing as he tap his right index finger on his left wrist and she nodded understanding his gesture, "alright I will give you the answer so as not to waste further time, ma means mother while ma'am means madam"

"Heeeey!", exclaimed the students as they start to make noise.

"What's the noise for?", she shouted and everywhere became quiet, "where was I---ok!", she recalled, "all I'm saying is that you should stop addressing the female teachers as ma but instead ma'am or does any of us resemble your mother?", she asked and they all chorused, "no ma!", and she continued, "you are still repeating the same mistake but let me warn you, if you address me as ma next time, I will ensure that...", she sighed shaking her head, "in fact you will be sorry for yourself, matching in song!", she said and a JSS 2 student introduced a song and they all joined in singing and matched to their various classes one after the other starting from JSS 1 except Nonso who head straight to fetch her phone,she realizes how helpful her bag will be in hiding it and was thankful to Mr.Ezeh for not letting her drop it when she pleaded. She got to the back and went to the blocks piled against the wall of the building, she saw that it was soaked wet and concluded that it will get to her phone as well, she reached her hand at the top and took out some pieces of block from the hole before bringing out the phone, she was so excited to see that it looks dry that means the rain didn't touch it, 'but what if it did but dried out', she thought as her mood changed, she tried to turn it on as that was the only way to find out and it turned on, "yes!", she exclaimed happily and put it inside her bag, she strolled to the classroom to find out that almost everyone has come, hanging her bag on the chair she sat down, her mood changing in to a mixed feeling as she fixed her eyes on the door expecting either Mr. Nnadi or Mrs. Peter to walk in any moment demanding for it or might likely send someone to call her, she prayed and hoped that none of it happened and that they will miraculously forget about it. All of a sudden Kamsi walks in wearing a mufti, the class became noisy as they rumbled, Nonye abruptly stood up, "all hail the slut!", she shouted in courtesy and everyone including her burst in to laughter, Nonso gave her an angry stare and she immediately swallowed her pride and sat down quietly, one of her friends nudged her, "since when did you became scared of her", she asked as the whole class was quietly and surprisingly staring at her to reply, she ignored her and gently opens her locker, bringing out a novel and bends her head pretending to read. Kamsi was pinned to the ground in shame, she was already halfway to Nonso's seat and couldn't move an inch anymore feeling numb, all eyes has been diverted back at her, as her eyes meets theirs she could feel the scorn emitting from them and descending on her, she couldn't stand it as it darted to the ground by itself,it seems like she is no longer in control of herself anymore, her feelings now controls her, the control being triggered by hurt, tears streamed down her face, she had promised herself never to cry for any reason but it's not possible since she's no longer in control anymore.

Nonso stood from her seat and went to meet her, taking her by the hand she took her outside, "I'm so sorry--please stop crying", she hugged her and Kamsi burst in to more tears,she doesn't know why her emotions always gets the best of her that anytime she's being consoled it makes her to cry even more.