...School Fathers... Part 3

The well where Valerie met 'Mr Tilt'

Something inexplicable happened to Valerie that day by the well. She couldn't place a finger on it. Filling the numerous buckets with water and dragging them to the front of Senior WilliWilli's bunk seemed like an infinite task, but she did it.

Obiangeli was there to give Valerie a shoulder to cry on. 'We didn't get to introduce ourselves earlier. I'm Obiangeli', she reached out and hugged Val. 'Valerie. You can call me Val for short'. At that moment, they became best of friends. They went to the dining hall together, attended the same class, the very popular Js2c, did their laundry together, went into hiding behind the school clinic whenever there's a mass punishment going on after inspection on Saturdays for no reason. They became besties.

Weeks ran into months and Valerie adjusted just fine. Megan was always checking in on her, making sure she was staying out of trouble. One sunny Saturday, Valerie went to get Obiangeli from the hostel so that they could quickly get charcoal from the kitchen to iron their house wears and school uniforms. Obiangeli was laying under her grey blanket. 'Obs, what's wrong? Its hot. Why are you under a blanket'? Valerie pulled the blanket and found her best friend shivering. Obiangeli had a burning fever. Immediately, Valerie helped her get dressed and put her arms round Obiangeli to render support as they walked to the clinic.

They had passed the dining hall when all of a sudden Obiangeli had a seizure. 'Help... Help... Help me.....' Valerie screamed. Just then she saw two boys running towards her. She was so scared and didn't have the time to look at the boys who had helped her lift Obiangeli to the clinic. The nurse was attending to Obiangeli and Val had to rush to the staff quarters to tell her guardian to place a call forward to Obiangeli's parents which he did.

Valerie began sobbing on her way back to the clinic. She sat on a bench and continued sobbing. 'Its like crying is your hobby'. The voice sounded familiar. Valerie looked up and it was him. The head boy... She had nicknamed him 'Mr Tilt' in her head. 'Its you...' Valerie had to scoot so he could sit beside her. 'She'll be fine. Don't cry'. 'I hope so... Her parents are on their way'. Segun held her hand and told her he'd noticed how close they were and how its okay for her to cry over her best friend's illness. They spent time talking and moments later, Valerie was laughing at the stories he told her about some of the grammatical errors his English teacher made during lectures a day before. 'Who tookted it'? 'Open the window let the atmosphere jump in'. 'I jumpted on the snake and I kills it'. Valerie chucked and chuckled. 'She's so cute when she laughs' Segun thought to himself.

After a while, Obiangeli's parents came and picked her up. 'Please help her put her things together till she returns ok'? Her mum told Valerie. Segun walked Valerie to the front of the dining hall and gave her a hug before they parted ways. She walked quietly to her hostel when Senior Sharon yelled her name. 'Valerieeeeee....come here you boyfriend snatcher'. Valerie was confused but walked straight to Senior Sharon's corner. 'Catch your ears', 'ride machine', 'think about your mother','frog jump'... Valerie served series of punishments without knowing the reason why...

A couple of days had passed and Obiangeli had not returned. Afternoon prep was over and all the Js2 students were asked to go to the dining hall for a general punishment. 'Lie down flat all of you'. Some SS3 boys were looking for an avenue to take care of their testosterone issues. Valerie laid down close to Bilkisu, an asthmatic classmate of hers.

 'Bilkisu, I have an idea that will get us out of here', Valerie whispered. 'What smart plan do you have in mind'? she asked. 'Form asthma attack. I'll carry you and then we'll go to the hostel. I cant allow them flog my bum bum with that fat stick Senior Abiodun is holding oh'. Bilkisu agreed and began to pretend she was having an attack. Sadly though, Bilkisu wasn't exactly smart about it cause she faced the dusty ground and began to inhale deeply. A real asthma attack started. 'AH excuse meeee...' Val sprang up. 'Bilkisu is having asthma attack and her inhaler is in the hostel'. 'Take her out of here before I mess her up with this stick' Senior Abiodun said.

With Bilkisu in her arms, she made her way out of the dining hall. She spotted Segun sitting on the window seal. He waved at her and she smiled back... 'Every where I turn, Mr tilt is always there... He didn't even try to save me', Valerie thought to herself as she dragged Bilkisu to go find her inhaler...