Chapter 7

(On a bus heading home for a mid-term break)

“Hope you are enjoying our school or ?“

Shola started a conversation.

(Daniel smiles)

“Well, indeed I am enjoying my stay in the school, just a few experiences that were negative”. Daniel replies.

“I understand, that’s how it goes, new environment doesn’t accept adaptation as quick as we need it; anyways you have to keep trying and moving because Soon, just a term remaining for me to go; that’s why I'm not so close as a brother because I need you to balance well”. Shola tells him, with a cute smile.

“You are no longer a student, you are a boss, how many times do you even stay in school?”. Daniel responded with a funny look.

“Haha, one day you will also be tired of the school, we were serious till we got to ss3, it is a period in our lives and we should enjoy it while it lasts”. Daniel replies.

“Okay oh!”. Daniel answers 

“ That reminds me; I saw you when you were staring at us last night; hope you won’t tell dad and mum?”. Shola asked with a low tone.

“That should be the first story I would love to share with them; now I understand why you told me there is no brother in the jungle; you even went ahead to tell me that the reason most students threaten me is that I am neutral; you are a cultist aren’t you?”. Daniel whispers to Shola. 

“If you like to carry assumptions around, if you tell them I am, you will get proof to certify your assumptions; just because you saw me with them doesn’t mean I am a member”. Shola responded now with a no-smiley face.

“If you like to deny it, the proof is many but then just know that you were sent to school to be great in life without regrets, moreover you know that we the younger ones will follow and learn from you”. Daniel boldly replies. 

“It's alright, let’s just leave that matter, let us enjoy our holiday first; how do you plan to enjoy the whole week”. Shola asked 

“I will probably visit my former school and also see the baby girl I left for the new school; I can’t wait to see the damsel, she must be overwhelmed when we see each other”. Daniel smiles profusely after responding. 

“You and that babe, you guys are too small, oh, we in ss3 never entered into intimate friendship and you already have a babe in ss1”. (At this stage, they laughed and gathered their properties and boxes because it was already time to go down for a bike to their house).

***** 

The family members were very happy to have the two big boys at home, it’s been close to two months since the whole family had a complete house. Daniel was eating as one thrown out of a dungeon, Shola was as calm as usual. The siblings were also happy to see the young men home and everywhere was hot again. 

“I wouldn’t demand many details of life in your new school, Danny, just rest till tomorrow”. Mr. Moss muttered. 

“There are a lot of dads, don’t worry we have a week to share it all”. Daniel replied, his dad smiling.

“You are a storyteller before you came to our school, even when you didn't have stories you gave us fiction, how much more now” Shola cuts in laughing loud.

“Okay, so till tomorrow; goodnight then”. Mr. Miss agreed with him.

The family had the night prayer as usual and after a brief talk from psalm 1 vs 1, the members then went to bed. 

      It was about 2 am when Mr. Moss woke up and took a walk around the whole room. He had ordered the children never to lock their room doors since 3 years ago. A fire outbreak occurred within the month end of April that year when a pressing iron was left on a socket which resulted in heat up and a sudden fire outbreak; the two girls were at that time sleeping and it was God’s grace that a solution came up. Since then no room has the right to be locked for no reason. Mr. Moss had always used these nights to move around the rooms and do a proper inspection and thorough monitoring of all events that take place. 

 The children always pretend to be sleeping if they are awake at such a time because Mr. Moss would deal with whoever it is if he gets to know. 

On this fateful night, Mr. Moss couldn’t believe what he saw. The boys were already asleep when he entered. He had to rotate the two boys silently to confirm what was already running on his head. He also went around the room and opened some bags and the corners to see if he can see other proofs of that which is already making him shiver. Very close to the big room divider, Mr. Moss didn’t know when he slightly touched a book which had already pushed other materials, as he was about to reach a hidden bag, the materials were already hitting the floor with a loud noise being the outcome. The noise led to the rising of the boys. Shola rushed to his polo to put it on, he must be surprised how the polo left his body. Shola usually sleeps with a long hand polo to cover up his body irrespective of the weather, his parents always warn him of the consequences and do complain that he started that lifestyle when he came back last holiday. Shola had given many reasons for his recent sudden change to sleeping with clothes. 

“Dad, what are you looking for by this time of the night?”. Shola asked

“My dear, some of my documents are missing, I decided to check these bags to know if your sisters had misplaced them, I need those documents urgently” Mr. Moss replied this time carefully looking at Shola. 

“Oh, what are the documents all about Sir?”. Shola asked again. 

“Never mind boy, I have searched all the bags, just remaining that one there” Mr. Moss uttered, scratching his hair and pointing towards the corner. 

“That is my school bag; your document cannot be there Dad, maybe tomorrow I will help you search for it”. Shola answers back. 

“Ok son, sleep well then”. Mr. Moss leaves the room. 

Shola closes the door with a deep breath, he knew he had just escaped a big issue that would have led to a lot more issues. 

“You think Dad entered the room when those materials went down?” Daniel cuts in. 

“How sharp do you think you can be more than Dad that has enjoyed life in the world before repenting?”. Daniel said laughing out loud. 

“It is true, this is a hard nut to crack now, but I know what to do” Shola mutters, now very much afraid and the fear could easily be heard in the tone of his voice. 

***** 

(Morning family prayer)

“Shola, immediately after the morning devotion, ensure you meet me in the backyard for a brief talk”. Mr. Moss utters. 

“No problem Sir”. Shola responds.

The morning prayers went, as usual, the family had a peaceful gathering as always and all were happy to be together again. Shola didn’t waste any time seeing the father as he requested. Shola had also pleaded with Daniel to not utter words of events that happened in school. He had also told Daniel to be cooperative. 

“Shola, there are deadly marks all over your back, why and how did they come about; and when did it happen?” Mr. Moss asked with no smiling look. 

“Oh, last night was your first time setting your eyes on them?” Shola politely replies. 

 “It was that period I was telling you to change school for me, those marks are the strokes from the senior students who had used both window kinds of wood and canes on us, not forgetting belts and wires”. Shola continues.

“HMM, but those marks were like cuts, these seniors must not be humans, are they?”. Mr. Moss responds. 

“They have left the school, most of them are now in different higher institutions”. Shola utters. 

“Okay son, I need to be sure you have not joined any cult”. Mr. Moss vocalized, looking intently at Shola to capture every of His movement. 

“It has never reached that level, Dad”. Daniel responds boldly. 

“I pray so”. Mr. Moss replied, smiling as they both entered the house. 

***** 

“I still wonder how you keep deceiving everyone with your innocent face, one day they will know who truly you are; if you are a cultist, don’t be ashamed to be called one, than to be lying around”. Daniel tells Shola angrily. 

“Be careful, you are crossing your boundary and soon you will collect”. Shola, now angry with Daniel, continues.

“Of course, you are aware of how it used to be, it would be fine for you not to think weird of me as a gentle boy, I have not changed, and neither will your school change me. Better for you to be aware of that”. 

Daniel responds angrily.

They both had a further sharp exchange of words and parted ways. 

   Furthermore, Daniel who had planned to have good spending of his one-week holiday by making himself happy with a visit to his former school had drawn a schedule of how it would be for him. 

After the outburst with Shola, he immediately took the bike to the school. The school will be going on their mid-term break the upper week too. The school was a bit rowdy due to the loads of tests they had taken within the early hours of the day, with one to go. 

Daniel had worn his new jean up and down uniform, with the reigning footwear of Gucci, he had also had a new different haircut, he had always had a low cut but this time he had gone for a sharp round-cut, he looks finer than before. Many of his friends in the old school had always been on his neck to change his haircut stressing that he will be finer than he looks. They must be happy when they will finally see him in this new look, Daniel smiled while muttering to himself before entering the gate. 

Daniel was a bit lost when he entered the school, the first new faces he saw were that of new students. He had to wait for a little to get in touch with an old face to inquire about the place where his old classmates had been packed. A few minutes later, he was directed, on entering the ss1 block, there was a loud shout like that of the fans in a stadium when a goal was scored. Some of their classmates even went to the extreme of chanting his name and hitting the favorites. He was everyone’s favorite when he was around, his jokes and his ability to make everyone smile and laugh were missed. As they were hugging and shaking his hands, he kept calling them funny names he gave some of them. At the mention of each name, everyone there burst out in laughter. 

Meanwhile, some other guys have already picked up their books and went straight to the extreme left back of the class and had already started fanning Daniel’s best friend. Faith had been calm, with tears of joy all over her face, she had also been trying to clean and hide the tears, and many things were running through her mind. 

Firstly, she needed to be sure through Daniel’s approach and movements, if she is still the one who is Daniel’s best female friend. Secondly, she was short of words. Atowardsures to make her move towards Daniel were futile, she kept her cool. 

Daniel was still covered by students who had not allowed him to sit down, they had already started updating him on all happenings in the school. He was very happy to see his men again. Daniel was also finding his way gradually towards a direction close to his friend's faith. 

“OH! He has seen her. Joshua shouted.

“Ahhh!!! How did you conclude so quickly that he will forget her, especially in a school that doesn't have girls?”. Caleb asked, laughing out loud, spreading his hands too to block Daniel. 

“All of you need drugs, leave my way jaree!!”. Daniel shouted, pushing them away. 

As he approached Faith’s seat, Faith put on one of the best smiles ever to be witnessed and ever witnessed in the whole school, twisting her lips and blushing with excess joy all over her. The melody of the whole event was the fact that other girls were all happy with her and were shouting and cheering her up chanting common babe, cool babe, babe with the best guy!. None of the classmates had expected Faith to be friends with Daniel, she wasn’t among the best in academics but she had a design of beauty, other boys had not had time for her due to her quiet attitude and she was not the flexing type.  She was just cool with her friend Celestine. 

Daniel spread his hands wide and Faith jumped into his arms, the whole class was happy as ever, having seen Faith being calm and had never given time to many guys who had approached her since Daniel left for another school. She had always told them that she was not ready to risk it with another guy due to insecurities in exposure to guys who don't have a little fear for God. 

Daniel spent his whole day in the school, he had enough time with his classmates who asked many questions. Daniel responded to as many questions on seminary life, telling them how if seminary life and all the happenings in the school. Some of them were scared to hear the events and vowed never to try nor consider boarding school. Faith also had personal hours with Daniel, close to two and half hours even as they were heading home.