What if the Senior Housemaster sees me talking to her? What if that spy is still monitoring my movements?
The questions chased each other in my mind as she passed. This time, she spoke first.
“Hi,” she said softly, and kept walking.
I froze. I didn’t even respond. The right reply came to me only after she had gone. I decided to wait for her return so I could redeem myself.
As I stood there, my mind drifted back to the morning’s chaos — my missing letters, the Senior Housemaster’s “drilling.” Was I just adding insult to injury by standing outside, waiting for the nameless post office girl?
Our elders say, “One does not have to swallow his cough for fear of disturbing others.” How long would I keep suppressing my feelings because I was in school, or because someone had dragged me into a rape case? I thought, I have to win her heart before anyone else does.
I saw her returning. This time I couldn’t even look her way. The closer she got, the more tense I became. My composure crumbled. I couldn’t imagine myself actually talking to her. So I did the only thing my nerves allowed. I… I… I ran to my class.
Oh, what a coward.
As soon as I sat down, the bell rang for break. I decided to go to the dining hall for breakfast. On my way, the Senior Housemaster stopped me.
“Come and see me after break,” he said.
Oh, not again, I muttered to myself. What now?
I couldn’t finish my cup of Hausa kooko. Anxiety robbed me of my appetite. When dining was over, I went straight to his office. Break wasn’t even done, but my curiosity burned hotter than my fear.
He was having his breakfast when I entered. I almost stepped back out, but he told me to sit. Watching him eat made me uncomfortable, so I let my eyes wander to the framed photos on the wall — snapshots of school activities neatly displayed.
When he finished eating, he finally spoke. And to my surprise, it was good news.
According to the disciplinary committee, I was not part of Mike’s case with the girl. They had also confirmed I wasn’t in the occult group. Lastly, they advised me to be careful with the friends I chose on campus.
Relief washed over me. I got up to leave, but he asked me to wait. He stepped out briefly, then returned with a bowl of banku and okro stew.
“Go to the dining hall and enjoy this meal,” he said. “My wife prepared it specially for you. Don’t forget to wash the bowl and return it. Ermm… one last thing: be on your best behavior, because the behavioure your case comes to my office, you won’t escape with another bowl of banku and okro stew.”
I laughed out loud and left his office.
While enjoying the food at the dining hall, one of my roommates came over and confessed. He admitted he had taken my letters at dawn, but while reading my reply to Lucy on his bed, one of the seniors had seized it. He hadn’t wanted to hand it over, but the senior threatened to punish him.
I didn’t know why he was telling me this. Was it because he wanted some of my food? I gave him the rest anyway — I was full.
When I returned the bowl and headed back to class, I saw the nameless post office girl coming out of my classroom. Could it be that she had come to look for me? Or had she found a friend in my class? Or maybe she was struggling with Science and was moving to my class?
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