Ada came into the classroom and came straight to my seat instead of hers
"Ella I have gist "
Well what is it? hope you didn't get in trouble because I know you well well I asked her hoping she didn't get into trouble over the course of last 15 hours.
"You no trust me ?"
She winked mischievously, well what can I expect from a sixteen year old girl
"I trust you ma wetin happen which gist you get " I asked giving her my full attention
"You know Justin abi?"
Yes I know him is he not the transfer student from Dunamis high?
"Yes that Justin I saw him at the back of the schools building with Jessica the church girl"
You don't mean it, is she not the self proclaimed Virgin Mary without the virgin birth? So she knows how to be with guys and around the school premises at that?
"She get mind, well Mr Isaac will be here soon for the torturous math class, hope you were able to plot your graph from yesterday class because Na you go teach me o "
It's like you want to fail abi, I'm not even with my graph book, oh Jesus !
"You know that man loves you"
More like he wants me in my grave I retorted.
I'm finished another reason to roast me today, I'm finished !!!
"Let me get to my seat he's at the door "
Just as Ada returned to her seat, the classroom door creaked open.
She left me to my fate and Mr Isaac came into the class and scribbled ugly looking math in capital letter on the black board turned to address the class and started his introduction of quadratic equation, and as if on que I zoned him out.
Thinking about going to ma victor's to get a cutlass for todays general labour otherwise know as weeding and cleaning day.
The most dreaded day for any student of morem intl high school a fancy name for low budget secondary school.
How can I be living the life of a government school student weeding planting of crops like cassava corn and fruits like papaya and water melon for the teachers.
More like having a subsistence farm but not harvesting from it, such a waste of labour I might say.
"Ella, solve number five."
My chest tightened.
He was always calling on me. Always staring too long. When he walked past, his shoulder brushed too close. And no one else seemed to notice.
My mouth went dry.
"I… I don't know."
Whispers rippled around me, and shame pressed down like a weight.
"Emmanuella Ochuko, what have you been daydreaming of "
Nothing sir
"Really, now bring your graph out young lady and let me see your assignment"
Murmurs erupted from all sides as I have caused a problem for the entire class.
"Silence" Mr Isaac yelled while whipping his long cane on my desk jolting me and bringing a semblance of decorum into the class.
I forgot it sir I replied
"To the principal's office all of you that are not with your assignment"
About half of the class of fifty students left the class some left because they forgot their assignment, while others left because they find Mr Isaac's class boring and want to leave the class.
Mr Peter a short balding man who looked like he was in his early fifties looked at us and shook his head. He was a kind man through and through well befitting of his position and the schools father figure.
"What are your offences this time?"
We shook our heads feigning ignorance
He laughed at us "since you don't want to say the truth you'll was the bathrooms and toilets, go get what they'll need Ella you're just too stubborn to be a girl"
I smiled and went to the store house to get the antiseptic and soaps to wash the the toilets as instructed.
"Why do you obey Mr Peter and hate Mr Isaac so much "
Surprised I turned to see Chinedu my desk mate asking a question with an obvious answer I just shook my head and replied him "I get old man picture for house and besides I no get wetin Mr Isaac dey fine, him fit born my mate but him no want comot eye for my body".
Mr Peter is old enough to be my grandfather and at such I should accord him due respect I see no reason why I should give respect to Mr Isaac a teacher who should mentor me in the right direction. But chooses to make advances at me.
Chinedu laughed and we continued with other topics and I asked him why he left the class knowing he had his assignment.
"Abeg the man class dey boring him dey always talk to himself say him dey teach "
After cleaning the toilet with my assigned group we left for the next class while I prayed for the day to come to an end.