Vagrants

Chapter 34

I got home late at night and Mother questioned me. I explained to her that I was working but she wouldn't believe me. I even tried to make her understand that the gridlock in Lagos was always heavy but she wouldn't listen to me. There's no way she'd take me seriously after what I did so I asked Aunty Kemi to make her understand while I go freshen up.

As soon as I freshened up, I slept off. I was actually tired and exhausted so I didn't have dinner.

The next morning, I woke up to find out that Aunty Kemi and Abisola had prepared breakfast for me.

"Why did you do this for me early in the morning?" I asked.

"You leave home very early and when you return, you won't eat. Who knows if you actually eat in school?" Abisola said.

"Thank you but still you don't have to..."

"You're pregnant. You need to take care of yourself." Aunty Kemi said.

"The pregnancy isn't showing yet so that means I can carry out my regular..."

"Even if it isn't showing, don't neglect the fact that a baby is in there." Abisola said. "If you don't want complications in your pregnancy later on, take care of yourself from a early stage."

"Doctor in the house!" I grinned.

"It's not about being a doctor jare. I've not even graduated." Abisola sighed. "You're carrying my nephew or niece."

"But the baby is illegitimate, why do you care?"

"Ah-Ahn. It's still family. Don't let the baby hear oh." Aunty Kemi said and we laughed.

They sat me down and made sure I ate before I left the house.

*

I got to school a little early so I had to wait for the students to come out of their hostels and for most teachers to arrive. As it is, we ex-corpers came earlier than everyone else. So, I wasn't alone.

I spoke to Cassandra for a while and then she introduced me to the rest of them, I was rather shy at first but we got along easily.

The school became full and the morning assembly took place while myself and other ex-corpers stood at the back of the students till the assembly was over. Then we had a brief staff meeting before we dispersed. I met with Mr. Akinola and he gave me the Economics time table for Economics.

I reviewed it and realized that we were to take the SS1 students during the second period. I had the first period to review my notes and so I did.

I got to class with Mr. Akinola during the second period and I greeted the students.

"Can someone remind me what we learnt yesterday?" I asked.

It was the same girl from yesterday and she was beginning to look like a Know-it-all in my eyes. I understood that she has an elder sibling in the senior class but I didn't like that she was always taking every chance to impress the teachers and students. I, for one wasn't impressed so I shunned her.

"Not you."

"Yeeee!" The class chorused.

"No, no. I'm not doing anything to hurt her, I want someone else to tell me what we learnt yesterday without reference to your notes but instead, your brains."

There was silence.

"Think. Take your time but not too much time. I know you can remember something."

Still Silence.

"Okay, what did I say about the keywords?" I sighed. "What are the keywords?"

Then they started raising their hands. I turned to Mr. Akinola and saw an impressed look on his face.

"Okay, one by one." I smiled. "Yes, you!"

"Social science."

"Human behavior."

"Ends."

"Scarce means." ...

I was impressed by this and continued asking them questions to jog their memory from yesterday's class before I decided to carry on with the class.