-9-
All well and good, Olajumoke arrived early, missing her husband and trying to leave another person’s matrimonial house. Timileyin too promised to come and visit her after her daughter’s WASSCE examination. Tonia was very much happy to see the person who she had been talking to for long face-to-face and even touch and talk to.
A week later….
The Senior Secondary School three(3) were so happy to resume back to school. Each person with his/her complain, they were dressed in a neat school uniform that day. They were all neat and looking responsible. The assembly was filled up that day again and students were quiet due to the resumption of the prefects. Temitope was so glad seeing Tomisin again, after two week of a short holiday. Although talked on phone but was eager to see her again. The Teachers looked at them very closely, asking each student how was the paper he/she was teaching.
What a school life!
‘Dear, Ghana is a sweet place to live in, in fact far better than Nigeria and even their education system there.’ Olajumoke said, lying down on the couch in the living room.
‘So, how is Yinka and Timileyin there?’ Tolulope asked trying to use the medicated thread to pull out the remains of the meat out of his mouth.
‘All well and good. In fact Timileyin has grown big. I was suprised the day she came to pick me at the airport.’ She uttered and felt so relaxed.
‘Ehnehn? Its good, money is good for body na’ he added.
‘Sure oo, their house…. Mighty’ she commented.
‘Good, I have to see a friend now’ he said, trying to put his belt together.
‘Don’t stay long dear, home alone now’ Olajumoke frowned and complained.
‘Just a matter of time.’ He moved closer and pecked her.
…….
Tomisin’s father was lying down so sad in the house. He had used all the money on him to pay for his daughter’s fees. He borrowed 5 million from the bank to use for a contract of several millions of naira, he wasn’t awarded and his house was as take, he used it as the collateral. He was so sad, thinking all alone in the house before Tomisin arrived happy to see him until she met him a sad position. She went on her kneels beside him and was also sad.
‘Dad, what’s wrong?’ She asked in a soft voice looking worried.
‘Daughter, we’re vacating thid house tomorrow. I’ve paid a year rent in the new house we are moving into. I’m sorry for not telling you this.’ He uttered in dismay.
‘Dad, why? What has happened? Talk dad!’ She started crying.
‘This house should be vacated because it was used as collateral for the contract I’ve been after which I wasn’t offered.
They cried out… What a pity!
The next morning, Tomisin had already packed her things together. The small truck then arrived to help them pack their properties to the new house. The driver was of help and the man he brought along with him. They packed what they needed do quick and left the house. They got to their new apartment in the afternoon which was outside the estate and not far from Temitope’s house. The day was saturday, Tomisin was just lying down on the seat in the living room, she was crying so much she also held her mother’s picture too, while his father was inside relaxing. Although they still had their small car, Honda baby-boy with them for movement because Tomisin’s Dad, Seun, Cherished having a car of his own.
‘What! You’re not far from my house! Come out of your gate, I will be with you shortly.’ Tope said on phone, conversing with Oluwatomisin. He got up, changed his dress and left the house. He got there but amazed and unhappy seeing Tomisin that way.
He cuddled her, then her father wasn’t at home any longer. Tope spent some hours with her, he was sympathetic with her.
**********
Temitope’s mum was taking him to school the following Monday morning. She was chatting with her daughter and both were playing in the car. She drove across Tomisin’s house zoomed off. Tope pointed the place to her and explained all that has been happening to them to his mum. She felt sorry also and somehow sad, it will be totally absurd to stand and go and give her dad money, Jumoke thought in her and dropped his son off.
The Prefects were called on long break by the principal who held a plane sheet with him. He gave a speech and told them the main reason for the meeting was to announce to them about the strong competition that will be comming on. He called out the names of those that will represent the schhol from the departments. Tomisin & Tope were chosen to represent the school in the physics, chemistry, Biology competition. He chose other prefects also from other departments to represent the school in competing for their core subjects. Mathematics and English were general papers, competed by every candidate. The competion was from national level to state level then whoever wins will be taken to Australia for the last phase of the competition.
They all started reading.
The day of the first phase competition arrived like a dream to them all. They were all prepared and good to go. They’ve been though over and over again. They were on their ways to face giant schools who always collect gifts from WAEC for a job well done. ‘In fact WAEC too will know there is a girl in this set.’ Tomisin thought in her.
They finished the competition, the arts students of A.C.I, already disqualified from the competition, they failed mathematics but was the best at history and English there, other schools especially DDA passed them with only 5 marks to become the first for the 1st round, MCI passed with only 3 marks and KCI with just a mark to make the three schools first, second & third.
The commercial students made it to the second position, gapping the school that came third,KCI with 20 marks and were gaped with just 6 marks.
The science students……..
