Hidden Dreams

Episode 6

I didn’t bother to look outside as my father drove me to his so-called boarding school. I had barely slept the previous night. I did all the packing in the night.
The following morning my mother asked me to go with her as she went to pick my groceries and other staff for my school. I barely said a word to her. I could only nod or murmer an answer whenever she would ask me a question. I let her pick the groceries as I pushed the trolleys. she picked all the basics. The bathing soaps, lotions, washing powder, tinned foods, rolls of tissue, some expensive perfumes and lots of other staff I wondered if she was that excited for me or was glad I was finally leaving their house.
Back at home, Aunty Nelly had grilled some chickens and strips of beef, she even packed some other things I didn’t pay attention to.
” well you people are determined to send me away”, I told aunty Nelly.
” I bet you all can’t wait to see me out” I added sadly as I sat on the kitchen table waiting for my father who was to take me to the boarding school. I had not bothered to ask where or what school it was.
” don’t say that Jay, you know we love you. Am sad that you had to go that far, but I ask you to please not despair. Do what your parents want and you will be okey.”
” whatever,” I snapped and walked out of the kitchen leaving aunty Nelly shaking her head sadly.

Now in the car I sat quietly in the back seat as my parents sat in front, dad driving us in his Fortune runner. I cared less how rich he was. To me everything around me was just vogue.
” So Jared, don’t you care to know which boarding school you are going to?” My mother asked turning to look at me as I kept my head leaning on the window.
” no” I answered blankly without looking up my hands twisting a bottle of coke I was drinking.

She sighed loudly. ” this is for your own good son, your father and I just want whats best for you. A boarding environment is what you need. There are little distractions there. Am sure you will make new friends and will start catching up. Even though you are going to start in grade 11 since you have missed a lot from last term . You can not write your exams.” She added.
“Okey,” I thought to myself.
“Now they are taking me back. Instead of letting me do away with secondary school, they had to take me back to grade 11 and I was already 19. Oh how great!” I shouted inside.
” sure mom, whatever you guys say” I faked a smile. ” grade 11 it is” I added and drunk the coke heavily before putting down the bottle.
Mom stared at me for a minute. ” we have found you a place at Luangwa boys secondary school” she announced unexpectedly.
For the first time I raised my eyes to look at her.
“Okey, so now am going to a government school. Now that is proper rejection I thought” to myself. I had never been to a government school since baby class, and I heard stories of how poor their food was and lots of other unpleasant things. Now I was going to one. A boarding school in the bush.
My parents dropped me off after having me registered and see me to my hostel. One of the workers we came with helped me carry my bags to the room and afterwards I walked outside where my parents said their good byes.

“Be a good boy”, dad patted my back. And mom, hugged me tightly.” Will see you soon Jared, please make us proud this time around. We expect you to behave and you can ask the boarding master to give us a call in case of anything. Will miss you” she added and patted my hands.
I just nodded without saying a word. I felt my eyes get wet and I quickly turned away to avoid breaking down in front of them.
I heard the car engine start as I walked in the passage to my room.
” hey, am John” a guy on the down bunker called out to me as i stood in the room. I had not paid attention to him since I got in. I had no intentions of making any new friends.
” hey”, I responded carelessly. I saw the guy sigh reluctantly.

” your name is?” He asked when he saw I didn’t bother to talk to him.
“Jay” I announced casually.
“Jay, just that?” John asked further.
“Yeah, just Jay man do you have a problem with that? ” I asked rudely.
I noticed the guy frown.
From the look of his beddings and his skin tone, I could tell the guy was from a poor back ground. I felt bad at the way I was taking out my anger on him. He wasn’t the reason I was all heated up so I stopped packing my luxury staff in the Locker and walked to him. Sitting down next to him as he eyed me quietly.
” look, am sorry man, its just that this whole boarding thing got to me and coming to this school was so unexpected. My parents just dragged me here and…”

“I get it man, don’t worry” John sighed.
” I mean, I can tell you are from a wealthy family and probably you have never been to such a school before. But not to worry you will be cool here man, I mean we have some guys from your class and sometimes life is great here” he added with a smile.
” thanks man, I held my hand to him. Let’s start afresh,” I told him.” Am Jared Zimba. Grade 11c”, I added calmly.

John took my hand and shook it gently.” John Kabuswe” , he giggled ” and am glad to hear that you are in 11 c. What a coincidence, am in the same class too” he smiled.

” Oh great then,” I sighed as we sat down. At least I wont be such a stranger here I smiled.
I discovered John was a cool guy. He talked more than I did but he was a good company. He told me lots about the school.telling me that we had girls too even when most of them where day schoolers. He told me some interesting clubs at school and some of the does and donts.