It was about 2 PM before Mrs. Cole got to work that day. She proceeded to her boss’ office, without delay, to let him know she had arrived. Her boss, Mr. Badmus was not happy about her late arrival. Though, he was aware she went to her daughter’s school and he had permitted her to go. But he never expected her to arrive this late when it’s just 2 hours to closing.
“I thought you promised to be at the office before 12,” Mr. Badmus said, rather calmly. He didn’t want to upset her. He knew all about what she has faced and what she is still facing. She saw him as her comforter and benefactor. Still yet, as her boss, he ought to let her know what she did wasn’t right.
“This is past two, and you are just coming in!” he queried. “You know it’s not polite.”
“Please sir, I’m really sorry. It wasn’t totally my fault. The traffic was just too much,” explained Mrs. Cole. “Besides, I got delayed at the school.”
“It’s okay. I hope you have paid Ayo’s fee.”
“Yes sir! I have,” she responded and further explained her meeting with the school’s cashier.
“Remember I told you the distance is a bit far. My son attends the same school and he goes with the bus,” Mr. Badmus pointed out.
“Yes sir, even too far for a 10 year old.”
“I suppose 35,000 wasn’t enough after all?” Mr. Badmus asked.
“Yes, it wasn’t. I paid only 30,000 and I promised to pay the balance later.”
“You would have called me, I…”
“I didn’t want to bother you,” Mrs. Cole Interrupted. “You have helped me enough and I’m grateful for that, sir.” She didn’t want to get comfortable with him helping her. Hence, she rejected his assistance, politely. “How many employees will get a salary advance just after 2 months of working with an organization like yours?”
“Still yet, you would have called me,” said Mr. Badmus. “I do this because I care.”
Mrs. Cole sighed while avoiding eye contact with her boss.
“Okay! Never mind. I will see what I can do before the deadline,” he said.
“Alright, thank you sir. I have to go now. There are a lot of files on my desk” – she walked towards the door – “and I must input them digitally before the end of the day, even if I have to work extra time.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Mr. Badmus said behind her.
“I know but I have to.” She opened the door and left afterwards.
• * * * * * *
“Good morning Class,” a young man in his late 20’s greeted as soon as he entered JSS 1B classroom.
“Good morning sir!” the students stood up and responded in chorus.
“You may all be seated,” the teacher commanded and they obeyed. “My name is Damilola. I will be your class teacher throughout your junior secondary school days in Nightingale Academy.”
Mr. Dammy made eye contact with each of the students, wearing a beautiful smile to accompany his lovely face, until his eyes met with Ayomide Cole. The smile soon vanished and Ayo was quick to notice. She had wanted to smile back but held back her excitement.
“You’re not supposed to be here!” Mr. Dammy said, curiously searching for answers in Ayo’s eyes.
Ayo just sat there at the corner she’s chosen for herself, beside Bukky, to avoid the inquisitive eyes of both students and teachers. But it seems she wouldn’t just be left alone. ‘What does he mean by I’m not supposed to be here,’ she thought to herself.
“Miss Kehinde asked her to come here,” Bukky answered.
“Asked!” Mr. Dammy corrected.
“Yes! She ask-ed her to come.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes sir,” Ayo managed to say. Most eyes were now directed towards her and it took Mr. Dammy’s voice to redirect their attention.
“Now you will introduce yourselves one after the other, stating just your name and your age.”
“My name is Oreoluwa Adams,” the first boy to the teacher’s right stood up and introduced. “I am 10 years old.”
“Good! Sit.” Mr. Dammy pointed to the student next to Ore. “Okay, you.”
It continued this way until it was Ayo’s turn. She stood up quietly and said, “My name is Ayomide…” As if they don’t already know her name but she stopped when she heard giggles amongst her peers. She could hear some audibly, while others were just murmurs.
‘It’s the girl in the assembly this morning,’ a boy said.
‘It’s like she can’t pronounce her surname,’ another added.
‘Maybe she wants to pronounce it as Ko Le.’
‘She too did not pass the entrance exam.’
‘And she’s doing like boss this morning o!’
“Your surname please,” Mr. Dammy said, ignoring the murmurs.
“She can’t pronounce it sir,” a student said from behind.
“Quiet everyone,” Mr. Dammy shouted. “If I hear another word, you would all be punished. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir!”
Now facing Ayo, he asked, “Are you not the girl from the assembly this morning? The one who told us the meaning of Nightingale.”
“Yes sir, I was.” Ayo looked down at her feet. Though the giggles from her mates had subsided, she could still feel the intense heat from their stares. She tried as much as she could to avoid eye contact with any of them. Mr. Dammy noticed this and he tried making her feel better.
“Ayomide Cole, please sit.” He noticed the surprised look on her face as she sat and added, “You were brave this morning” – rested his hands on the desk in front of him – “why wouldn’t I know your name? I keep tabs of brilliant students. I’m only surprised you’re here and not there.” He pointed in the direction of JSS 1A.
Ayo looked up at the teacher and smiled. He smiled back. Although, his last statement had left a hole in her mind but she chose to ignore. She likes it here, at least they aren’t laughing awkwardly at her.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed about”, he told her. He faced the rest of the students. “And you are all wrong to make her feel bad for being here. You are all here for the same reason as her. Now apologize to her!”
“We are sorry!” they chorused.
Ayo became her cheerful self once again. She was touched by the teacher’s comment, not their apology.
“Less I forget” – Mr. Dammy lifted his hands from the table and brought out a marker pen from his pocket – “I’m also your Mathematics teacher.” He went to the marker board and wrote ‘Mathematics’ on it. “Meanwhile, we won’t do anything for today. So, let’s continue with getting to know one another.” He looked around and focused his eyes on the girl beside Ayo. “You! Introduce yourself.”
The introduction continued until the whole 30 students in the classroom had taken turns. The teacher left the class thereafter and the next subject teacher came in without delay.
Ayo couldn’t wait for school to be over. To her, the time was getting slower by the minute. She knew her mates were talking about her and she could not wait to get out of the class. Throughout the rest of the lesson for that day, she paid less attention. She just wanted to get home. Not only did she want to avoid them, worms are beginning to bite at her stomach. All thanks to her timid self for making her lunch spill. At that moment of thoughts, she heard the jingle of the bell.“At last, it’s 2 O’clock,” Ayo stated.“Are you in a hurry to get home?” Bukky asked curiously.“Not really.” She carried her backpack and lunch bag.” I just want to get away from school.” She walked past Bukky briskly on her way out of the classroom. After she left the class, she went to stand by one of the school buses on which ‘School Bus 3’ was written boldly. She has been told earlier by the
When Bayo got home, he became restless. He couldn’t help but think about the events of the day, which had left his mind at a cliff. From when he pardoned a junior student to when he was told to call the same student. He was even surprised she was in a B-class, judging from how his classmates had praised her. They just wouldn’t stop talking about how brave she was, that morning. He was she most of them had exaggerated but he had no choice but to listen, since he wasn’t there to witness it himself.That same Monday, he had also encountered a woman while on gate duty, one that wasn’t his. The striking resemblance of the Nightingale girl, as she was now called, and the unknown woman didn’t escape his notice. And he couldn’t help but think she was her daughter. The woman had even complimented him without him knowing her. She had also told him to take care of her daughter like her big brother and smiled down at him. In his mind, he
Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!This was the sound Ayo heard from her sleep. She stood up reluctantly and realized she had slept off without even reading the book with her. The book which was not soaked with her sweat. She still couldn’t believe she fell asleep, as she stood up reluctantly to open the door. Ayo was one who had always loved reading and had never fallen asleep while doing what she loved best. But everything had dramatically changed since the death of her father. Sleeping was now her regular habit and she loved it. It helps to ease the painful memories she felt. Especially that one Sunday when the death of her father hit her like a hurricane. Loneliness was also one of the reasons she took to sleeping on days like this. On that day, she had also slept in class but blamed it on the constant staring of her classmates.“Ayo, are you in there?” Bukky shouted. “Or did I come to the wrong apartment?”Just then the door creaked
Mr. Badmus got home a couple of minutes after he dropped Mrs. Cole off at her house. He was late than usual and he knew he had a lot to explain to his son. But on entering the house, he saw no one in the sitting room. It was where his son usually sat to await his arrival. He decided to go to his son’s room to see if he was asleep. He found him reading a book instead. Bayo was so engrossed that he didn’t notice his father, standing at the door to his room. Though, he heard him drive into the compound but he decided not to go and welcome him.“Bayo!” Mr. Badmus called after standing at the entrance for about a minute, realizing that his son hadn’t seen him and probably didn’t hear him come in.“Oh! Daddy, you are back! Welcome sir,” he greeted without much enthusiasm, as he was used to whenever his father returned from work. His father, who was still standing by the door, remains unchanged by his son’s r
It was a Monday morning in Nightingale Academy. The school felt like it was mourning the death of someone, with the downcast look of virtually all the students. They had just completed their Midterm test, the week before and the results were out. Most of them already knew their fate, hence the face. The principal was not impressed either, with the performance. That fateful morning, after usual programs for that morning’s assembly, led by the vice principal, the students were once again vibrant. They chanted the marching in song with glee on their faces, prior to their previous melancholy look.“We are marching to our classesTo receive understandingFor learning is better than ...”They chanted joyfully.“Halt,” the principal commanded. They all stopped marching and singing at the same time. “Where are you marching too! No, tell me! Where are you marching to with dull heads!“Good
After the midterm test, the students of JSS 1B changed academically. Though, it was slow-paced but was worth it. They make less noise also. In addition to their new now turned leaf, they now behaved themselves and listen attentively in class when a teacher is teaching. Ayo wasn’t an exception, she took to her studies like never before especially when she came to know that she would be representing her class in the coming annual mathematics quiz amongst the junior school students. She tried as much as she could to solve any mathematics problem she encountered. If she’s unable to solve any, she either seeks assistance from Mr. Dammy or Bayo. She sometimes goes to Funmi in JSS 1 A, who is also good at solving mathematics problems and was always willing to assist her. Ayo had long swallowed the dislike she had for the class. She thought if she was going to be better, she needed to mingle with the best.During break in school, one afternoon. Ayo was faced
Finally, the day has come, for the much awaited mathematics competition in Nightingale Academy, tagged ‘Annual Mathematics Quiz’. Of all the 6 participating students, only Ayo was visibly nervous before the start of the quiz. She had no idea why. Maybe, it’s because this was her first time participating in a mathematics-only competition or it was because she didn't believe in herself. The prying eyes of the JSS 1 student didn't leave her body too. This added to her anxiety.Ayo was with her classmates when the quiz master finally called on her name. Her body shook with vigour, as she was being invited to the podium. She started to fidget and looked like someone who was terrified.“You can do this, Ayo,” one of Ayo’s classmates encouraged.“Don’t be scared!” another said.“Ayo, don’t put us to shame. Go there and make us proud,” Bukky added.“I believe in you, Ayomid
At the end of the first stage in the quiz competition, Daniel Chisom was disqualified. He left the stage, slowly, while looking at his feet as he walked. As for Adura and Ayo, they went into a tiebreak to know who will progress to the second stage. Ayo was still in her thoughts when the quiz master announced the beginning of the next round. She had felt bad to see Chisom leave but if he hadn’t scored so low, she would have been the one to leave, and that would have been terrifying. So, she braced herself up and looked eager to see what the tie break with Adura will hold.“In this tiebreaker round” – the quiz master pointed to the ground – “the first of you two, to provide a wrong answer, will be disqualified. Is that clear?”“”Yes, sir!” Ayo and Adura said, almost at the same time.At this very moment, every student believed that’s the end for Ayomide Cole except two. Bukky never doubted her and B