...School Fathers... Part 2

 

Senior Brenda, an SS3 student was standing right there with a bucket of water and a sachet of So klin detergent in hand. ‘Orobo come here’. Valerie walked past her cos she wasn’t sure she was referring to her. Senior Brenda grabbed her by the arm and said ‘my friend come here. You think because you are coming from home you are better than we are’? Valerie gave her a blank stare. Megan walked away from the scene and the only thing she said was ‘good afternoon Senior Brenda’. ‘My name is Valerie Bulus, not Orobo’.

A crowd of junior students began to build up. A hot smack landed on Val’s face, pushing her to the ground. ‘I have dealt with people tougher than you. I will clip those wings. Take your clothes off’. Valerie was about to say something nasty in return when she spotted a fellow junior student Obiangeli, trying to use body language to tell her to cooperate. ‘This is your welcome ceremony’, senior Brenda said as she began using the detergent and a very tough sponge to scrub Valerie’s body. Val cried uncontrollably from start to finish. She felt betrayed by her big sister for abandoning her when she was faced with this bully.

After the ‘ceremony’ ended, Obiangeli helped her into the box room to change into her house wear. ‘Don't cry. Some of us faced worse. Quickly put on your house wear. This one is just the first step. Senior Williwilli the witch will soon...’’ Just then Senior Willi willi screamed her name. ‘Where is Orobo? Come out for stage 2 before I come there and get you’. Obiangeli began to panic so she urged Valerie to quickly go to Williwilli because according to her, Senior Willi willi is worse than Senior Brenda. Valerie stepped out of the box room and saw nothing less than 50 empty buckets stacked in front of the mean senior.

 

Segun was walking out if the principal’s residence with his school bag and a few books in his hands. ‘I have to go and gather the boys’ he thought. Being the head boy earned him a soft spot with Professor Julius Sanders the school Principal. Segun had the liberty to go in and out of his residence at will, especially when he needed a peaceful place to study. He walked quietly with his eye glasses on, calculating how he’d mobilize the boys to go for afternoon prep. A sobbing sound suddenly caught his attention. He turned towards the spot where the sound was coming from. All he could see was a pile of buckets and someone sitting on the grass beside the school well. ‘she seems helpless’, he said to himself. He tried to walk away from the scene but somehow, the sobbing grew louder and he decided to go and talk to whoever it was and ask them to go back to the hostel or something.

He got to the spot, and that was where his gaze met hers... it was Valerie. Senior Willi Willi had ordered her to fill up the buckets with water as the final stage of her welcome party into boarding school. 'What's your name'? She said nothing. 'What are you doing with all these buckets'? Valerie continued sobbing. 'I am Segun, the Head boy. Are you new?' 'Obviously'. She sniffed. 'Are you going to give me your own version of a welcome ceremony as well?' Segun chuckled as he took his flip flops off and placed them beside her before sitting on them. 'You know, everyone is scared of me. you are the first person to ever clap back at me like that'. Valerie realized he was getting too comfortable so she sprang up immediately. 'Look Senior...' 'Segun' he said... 'Look Senior Segun, please don't add more punishment for me I beg you. Just go'. Segun got up, dusted his bum, stood right in front of Valerie and wiped her tears. 'Tell me your name, promise me you'd stop crying and I'll leave'. She lowered her head and said 'Valerie Bulus, and I promise to stop crying'. Segun smiled and said 'you kinda look like Megan'. Valerie rolled her eyes and said 'she's my big sister'. 'That explains it. black beauties', he said. 'Okay Valerie. It's almost time for afternoon prep. Get this over and done with. See  you in class'. Segun turned and walked away, and for some funny reason, Valerie couldn't come to terms with the reason why he was walking with his shoulders tilted...