Episode 2

Emma approached me and grabbed my
hands, i tried letting go but he held on
tight.

” What is your problem, what did i do?” – I
muttered

”you told them not to vote for me abi?
You’re in trouble” -Emma replied.

Me: ”listen, i did’ntt tell anyone not to vote
for you, it wasn’t my fault i was chosen to
be the prefect, i don’t even want to” – i
uttered trying to set my hand free from his
grasp.

Emma was far older and bigger than me,

for his age, he should had been in
secondary school by then, but his brain was
a special kind. He was probably at about
13years then#

”so why did you accept the position? ” – He
asked while landing a slap on my face.

I couldn’t hit back, that would make things
worse, i just tried letting my hands go, but
he held on tight.

He was about landing another slap on me
as a passer by intruded.

The man requested he left me at ones, and
Emma said – ” you’re lucky, I’ll catch you
tomorrow”

Emma left me and ran back to school
(probably to descend on those who voted
for me).

I was so relieved and elated when Emma
left, and immediately i thanked the man
who saved me.

I swiftly walked home as i heard a familiar
voice beckoned on me..

I turned to look, Behold it was Nonso
running towards me.

” Leke , hope that mad man did’nt beat you
badly (referring to Emma) , cus i saw him
threatening to beat Isaac for not voting for
him’ -Nonso uttered

” He was about to when someone helped
me” – I replied

And Nonso added-
” you’re so lucky. by the way, don’t mind
him. Afterall, you are the class rep, you can
report him to Mr Ojo.

And please, allow me write names of noise
makers tomorrow. Abeg!”

”if that is your problem, ok, you can write,
but don’t write Esther’s name” – I replied

Nonso laughed while saying ” i forgot she’s
your wife.

well by the way, that new girl Tasha, she
was among the people that voted for you o,
she was the only girl that raised her hand
to vote for you ”

I was surprised and was speechless for a
moment, I then uttered ” well, I’ll thank her
tomorrow”

‘ i also noticed she was always looking at
you’ -Nonso replied

”come, is that not the way to your house,
(pointing to the direction).. So bye bye” – i
intruded

Emma and i then waved good bye as we

parted ways##

On my way home, about getting to the
junction leading to my house, i saw two
grown up girls , i greeted and passed.
One of them called me back and asked for
my name, i told her.

” Do you know you’re very handsome?” –
she said smiling at me..

Thank you ma- I replied looking at the
ground

” my name is Tonya, you look so much like
a boy i used to know, where do you stay?” –
she asked

I replied by pointing my hands to my street
unable to raise my head cus i was shy.
Her friend called her and she opted her
friend to go without her, that she wana
follow me home to know my house.

I was transfixed, remembering my mom

telling me not to talk to strangers let alone
bring them home. I refused, telling her my
mom would not allow it. she made it clear
to me that she would’nt come inside. I
agreed in reluctance.

On our way to my house, she offered to buy
me ice-cream, but i refused. Telling her
”thank you ma”.

Still on our way to my house, she started
asking me some uncomfortable questions
such as

” have you ever ……………………………..”
” Have you ever had a girlfriend ?” – miss
Tonya asked me..

”no ma, am still too small” -i replied.

Tonya was a good looking young girl,

she was in her early 20s back then, who
lived in a street adjacent to mine##
” you’re a very nice looking boy, i would like to know more about you, that’s why i want to know where you live.” -Tonya
”ok ma, we are almost there” -i replied
pointing my hands to my house.

we got to the entrance of my house and

we both haulted and she said ”so this is
where you live right? I’ll come visiting
someday to take you out, and to also get to
know your mom”##

”Okay ma, thank you.”- i replied
”take this”- Tonya said.

she brought out two pieces of N500 note

and offered me one##

”Thank you ma, but my mom would asked
me where i got it.” – I objected
”then tell her an aunty gave it to you, please
take it” -she utter.

after much persuasion, i insisted in

refusing to take the N500 from here. She
did’nt insist anymore and bid me goodbye
giving me a kiss on my cheek and smiling
and told me she’ll come to see me some
other day.”

*i went inside the house and our door was
locked, i went to the usual place we kept
our key, and i found it………. I opened the
door and marched straight to the kitchen, i
opened the pot, but my mom did’ntt
prepare anything for me to it. * we weren’t
poor, as a matter of fact, i lived likka ‘aje
butter’ with a blend of ‘kpako’*
when i saw there was’ntt anything prepared
for me, i was pissed! I went to the fridge
and made tea and ate along with bread to
hold myself before my mom comes.

After i had taken off my uniform and had
my bath, i zoomed off to the main house.
” aunty good afternoon” – I greeted
”how are you? And how was school’ -miss
Emillia replied

” School was fine, where is everyone else?”
– I asked

Miss Emillia: they went to out, your mom
said she’ll be back very soon, she went to
see her sister.

Me: Ok… ( i sat on the chair opposite her)
she was putting on a skimpy mini skirt and
placed one of her legs on the handle of the
chair she was sitting while watching TV.

As young as i was, i was carefully staring at
her legs (not in lust though, just innocently
looking).

She saw me and smiled, and asked.
” do you like them?”
I replied saying ” no o”
she started laughing and told me that her
bf is crazy about them.

I did’ntt reply, i just gazed on the Tv.

She stood up and went to the kitchen and
brought me a plate of rice. I ate as i
watched tv. She was still sitting in the same
position.

After i finished eating, i stood up and went
to wash the plates. I then returned to my
sitting position after that.

I noticed she was smiling even when what
we were watching was’ntt funny, she looked
at me smiling partly and called me