IN THE DEN

Episode 6

(Faction, all characters are fiction)

I left the school very late that day. I was discussing with Mark concerning the new job he had given me because, as I heard, the lecturer in charge of the course was very strict. On my way back to my lodge, I took the stadium pathway, headed towards Franco Republic. I would take a right turn when I get to the main road and then head towards ICT center. I resided at Odim gate. 

Just as I came out from the stadium and was about bumping out to the main road, I saw two people kissing by the lonely path that leads to the road. The night was already there, and I had my phone touch-light switched on. From a distance I couldn’t decipher those there. I was focused on my phone as well; it was really none of my business. When I got closer, I was flashing touch light anyhow, unknowing and the guy’s voice came alive. 

‘Guy no dey flash light for person face na.’ he said, grudgingly. ‘I am sorry pls.’ I apologized and I brought the light down. As I made to move, something struck me, I think I knew the voice that just spoke. I looked up again to see well, lo and behold, it was Edwin. I looked again, being careful not to make them notice what I was doing. He was kissing Ann. Ann had actually noticed I was the one and tried to hide her face but that was too late, I had already recognized her. I continued walking, pretending like I never saw anything.

I was very tired when I got to my lodge. That was the first time I was trekking that long distance. It was around 8:30pm when I returned home. I managed to boil yam, I had red oil so I will just use it and eat the white yam. As I lit the cylinder to start the cooking, I switched on my mobile data to check the update on my phone.

My phone boomed with the beep of message notifications, about hundred of them. I opened one which was unfamiliar to me. It was an unsaved number. My room was stuffed up so I was sweating while cooking. As I opened the message, it read thus:

‘Osita, good evening. I know this is the first time we are chatting and definitely the last person that you expected to send this message. I just want to tell you not to take this class rep election to heart. It was not fair for you guys that wanted to contest that there was no official election that would give everyone a free ground. I will beg you to still be the person you are. You are unique and have your own potentials too. Best wishes from Bona’

I kept staring at that message for almost five minutes. He was the last person I expected to text me. Severally we had cursed ourselves in the class group and never settled. What made me more confused was the fact that I never begged for his vote during the time I was campaigning. I didn’t respond to the message. It was on the next day that I met him to discuss things out. I guess that was a hand of friendship. We became friends.

The following day was our first class for sociology. It was SOS 101 the one I was the course rep. M.s Helen was to take us on the course.

‘And who is that specimen talking in my class?” she asked, with a voice of thunder as she stood in front of the class, left hand on her waist, and the other with her bag. I became scared and slowly lowered my head. I couldn’t hide after all, I was at the front.

M.s Helen was a huge lady, fair in complexion with that gigantic height. She wore an orange gown which she fought as she walked to cover her thighs well. Her red lip gloss was as well noticeable. She had this bossy appearance that made her scary when she roared.

‘There are grand rules in my class,’ she began when everywhere was calm due to her intimidating appearance and roaring. ‘You don’t talk in my class without permission. I must not come to class before you. For the ladies, you don’t tie scarf to my class nor will you wear I believe I can fly like that aunty gwegweye over there.’ She said, pointing at one of my course mates, Amaka who was putting on one flair top shirt. ‘You don’t as well miss my class for any reason. You don’t …’ she continued her endless rules while we were all moping at her. It seemed that our class that day was only for rule-listing. After a whole hour of sitting without any tangible lesson but an endless do’s and don’ts, M.s Helen finally ended her class for the day. My course mates rushed without delay for the next class, as enthusiastic freshmen and women, to secure sit while M.s Helen asked the course rep to wait. I was shaking. In her office, she was listing her endless projects and refused to allow me to leave until it was evening. She gave me work after another to do for her. I was exhausted but she wouldn’t hear that.

I was beginning to get tired on the first day. Was that what I will face for a whole year? Missing my classes and working like a jack? Hell no! God knows I would not try that, it was not my major purpose for coming to that school

When I got   home at night I was already very tired. I opened up my message box and saw bulks of messages. Probably many were texting me to clarify them on what M.s Helen said about the material she would give the class. I snubbed everyone, and as I was about to drop my phone, I saw a text message from M.s Helen.

“Good evening young man. Inform your course mates that if they like, let them buy the textbook together with the workbook now that the bookshop has them. You people have just a week to do that after which you will write the test. May I inform you that there will not be a makeup test immediately this test has been written. So the earlier you people buy the book, the better for you. May the day break.”  A drop of frustration flew out from my heart. I immediately forwarded the message to my class information group, hissed and flipped my phone to a corner and slept.

Kenewrites