CHAPTER TWO
The exams were fast approaching, and while the students are busy trying to leave no stone unturned, some are busy trying to leave no chat on ground. This peer group includes a girl named Lizzy. Her parents were rich, and gave her everything she wanted as an only child. She and her group were very popular in school as the haughty girls. No teacher dares to touch or flog her because of her father’s first exhibition of power in the school. Once a teacher had slapped her, for jumping into the class through the window. Her father landed in school the following day and took the teacher to the police station. It was the pleading of the principal that lead to her release. She is well known for sneaking out at night and attending parties with her friends. She was always less concerned in her academic matters. And whether she took the exams or not, she was going to the next class anyway.
After the exams, the principal of the school assembled the students together. She waited for them to maintain absolute serenity, before she began to speak;
“I want to inform you girls that starting from the coming term there will no longer be any outing days in the school, because some of you take it as an advantage to go about irrelevant matters and sorts instead of going home to your parents and guardians”
E-e-e-e-ee-e-ehhh!! The students exclaimed.
“Oh yes” continued the principal. “And you can scream from now till tomorrow and it still won’t change a thing. You are to be better and not worse. As for your exams, today is the judgment day, heaven or hell, pass or fail. The names of the best performers will be called out, if you don’t hear yours, work harder next term. From the JSS 1. The best performer so far is Chizue Mary Chidalu”
“E-e-e-e-eh!!!” shouted the students mostly with joy.
“She should come up her and collect her prize” said the principal.
“Thank you Ma” Mary said.
“You are most welcome” she replied. And then turned to the students as Mary walked down, “She did it with 98% average. The next is Obika Flora”
As she calls their names, the other students clapped their hands for the victor.
“So that’s the end of it. If you want to be celebrated in this way, then try and work hard next term. Remember to help your parents at home, be obedient and cheerful. Goodbye and happy holidays. Close and lock every hostel. Take all take aways to your homes, then leave the others in a closed cupboard. See you girls next term in good health” she concluded.
As soon as the assembly was rounded up, the students vamoosed in many directions. Flora’s parents came to pick her up. She introduced Mary to them. Her parents liked Mary and gave her some money for her transport fare, which she refused at first, but the look on Flora’s face nudged her to it. She thanked them for being so kind and left for her hometown. Mary found a bus going to Nkwocha. As they left the park, thoughts about home flashed through her mind. He mother, step-mother, father step brothers and sisters. They would be so big now, she thought. She tried to imagine what it would be like to see them all again, after been gone for so long.