chapter 9

Obi was restless throughout the first three lessons which were held that day. Thankfully her teachers didn't notice because she was staring at them and at the board but her mind was wandering aimlessly. Mr David who took them on Business studies was a very impatient teacher. He didn't care if half of the class didn't understand the difference between a double column cash book or a single column cash book, or even where to place items on the cash book. All he cared about was receiving his salary at the end of the month, but how he had managed to stay in the school was a wonder. Maybe it was because the students always passed their examinations and there was no need to sack him for poor methods of impacting knowledge.

"So, the balance is finally carried down , that'll be the end of the class today, I suggest you go through the solving while you're on your short break. Your class prefect will pass on to you, the take home work I have prepared. If you like, do it! If you don't like still do it! Else we all know what Dr do good can do"Mr David walked out of the class with his oversized trousers secured with the belt on his belly. Obi couldn't wait to talk to Chioma, she dragged out Chioma of the classroom  before she spoke her mind. 

"First I want to apologize because our plan of sharing lunch together won't work, see eh the only lunch we usually get is eba and soup and there's no way I can eat that in this classroom. They'll just laugh at me, at us. I don't want that to happen biko" 

"Abeg! Obi you're worried about what they'll say. Most of them eat eba everyday, don't let people's opinion stop you from doing the things you want to do. Besides that's not what I wanted us to talk about" Chioma noticed how nervous she was and how the skirt she gave Obi suited her more than the oversized one she used to wear. Chioma was surprised when her brother drove to school with her. She had thought that he was just trying to accompany her to school but when he got to school he didn't go back. That was when she realized that something was up. 

"I didn't know my brother registered in this school. I always thought he enjoyed his former school, but let's just be patient. He might be joking about the transfer, ``Chioma assured Obi while patting her shoulder. 

She reluctantly agreed to Chioma's assumption, but deep down she knew better. The look Obi had seen in her brother's eyes was too similar to the one she had always seen in Chukwudi's. The same sinister look her cousin always presented. 

The pair walked back into the class and sat down before their class prefect made an announcement. 

"Our class mistress said I should tell everyone that speaking vernacular in class would no longer attract punishments instead you'd be fined for each one . Igbo is twenty naira, Pidgin is ten naira." 

Everyone in the class hissed because of the development, their class prefect being a teacher's boy would keep his ears as sharp as a rabbit's just to get a culprit to present to the teacher. 

" I have warned everybody oo, I'm going to get our assignment from Mr David. Amaka is in charge of getting names of noise makers for today" 

As he walked out of the classroom Obi couldn't help but notice how much tear his trousers had received on the buttocks and how many patches of cloth had been sewn onto the tears to avoid a display of his underwear. For a moment she thought of when Tobe told her that farthing tore clothes and that was why he always dragged down his shorts before doing it. 

The thought brought a smile to Obi's face. 

Cynthia and her goons had steered clear of Obi ever since the incident, their new hobby had become to flirt with senior students to gain gifts and cards because of the impending valentine's day. The new catch they must have heard of was Chioma's brother and because they felt his parents were rich double efforts would be made. 

"I'll get you novels to keep yourself busy at home. My mom has lots of them, she usually reads when she's stressed. They are mostly romance novels so I'll be smuggling it out because we're not supposed to be reading such novels"  She whispered into Obi's ears

Obi smiled and nodded in approval. "ndị ashiri!" gossips! Cynthia hissed from her seat 

"So because your parents are wretched, you now have to glue yourself to the rich newcomer to get things from her abi" 

The words annoyed both Chioma and Obi but even before they could utter any word Amaka stood up and yelled

"She spoke vernacular!!! " 

It meant Cynthia had to pay double because she had used both Igbo and Pidgin. Judging by the sour relationship Cynthia had with almost everyone except her goons Amaka would make sure Cynthia pays. 

Godwin walked back into the classroom with the assignment and another announcement. "Mrs Akachukwu is now the new class mistress" the announcement must have been distressing for even the class prefect because Noone had favors in the eyes of the she-devil . 

Cynthia's face paled immediately as she heard the announcement and Chioma could not hide the happiness she felt. Obiefune walked into the classroom minutes after the announcement was made and stood in front of the class. Chioma glared at him while Obi bent her head out of shame. 

He had changed into the school uniform which looked better on him than it did most students. Obiefune had only come into their classroom because he wanted to tease Obi and also to annoy his little sister. He noticed how some students were drooling over him but he wasn't interested in any of them. The one he came to see acted like he was non existent. 

"I was told that when a senior student

walks into a classroom filled with junior students, that a mark of respect is accorded to him with a salutation" Chioma fought the urge to hiss while Obi sensed the beginning of her agony. 

"All of you, get down on your knees now!" 

Cynthia raised her fingers and eheh she was permitted to talk she poured the whole blame on Obi. 

"Senior it's not our fault, Obi here was told to notify us by tapping on her desk. Our former mistress had appointed her but she did not do so" Cynthia smirked after she stated her reason

Satisfied with the reason Cynthia gave, Obiefune smiled. 

"The rest of you stand up, Obi keep kneeling" 

Chioma was annoyed with her friend's predicament and decided to kneel beside her friend. 

"I said everyone else should stand up, Chioma. stand up now or you'll make matters worse." 

Obi urged Chi to stand up and when she did she waited for her punishment. 

Obiefune wanted to tell Obi to get up but before he could utter the words, Miss Akachukwu walked in. 

She saw Obi kneeling and when she questioned Obiefune she found out the reason. 

"You people have grown wings ọkwa ya, you no longer greet your elders. Obi get a cutlass you'll be cutting the grass on the field close to the science laboratory as your punishment. I'm so happy with the way this new student is handling you. If you give me headache I'll just send him to you"

Miss Akachukwu had suddenly taken a liking to Obiefune and even though he didn't intend for his punishment to get out of hand he noticed that his sister was genuinely angry with him and that horror was written all over Obi's face. 

Cynthia received four strokes of the cane on her butt and kept yelling "Mma  m oo!" because she couldn't provide the money for her use of vernacular. The funny thing was that even Miss Akachukwu had spoken vernacular but Noone dared question her. As Obi walked out of the classroom she felt disappointed for letting herself get into trouble. She knew it wasn't her fault, the boy just wanted to torture her. 

By the time Obi was done, she had earned more blisters than she ever had in her lifetime and her uniform had grass all over it. Chioma had snuck out of class to keep her company several times and even brought her snacks. She also took notes for her in class. 

Obi was headed to Chioma's house after school because she wanted to get cleaned up before going home. Her hands felt uncomfortable and the blisters were bloated. She resisted the urge to burst the blisters as she walked with Chioma. Obiefune caught up with them and neither of the ladies spoke to him. He reached out and removed the grass on Obi's hair and she pretended not to notice while Chioma fought the urge to laugh. Her brother was in big trouble. He had just confirmed her suspicion of liking her friend and he was going the wrong way about it. 

It must have been why he chose to stay back. Things were going to be very interesting from now on and her dreams would finally come true