5. How not to Meet Jenny

"Honey bunny, hope you've packed in, a toothbrush,you don't want to be using chewing sticks, do you?", Mom asked with all concern, as she was packing in snacks in one of my bags.

"Yeah, mom...did that like last week, remember?", I looked up and at that instant, she had the same concerned look, Mary, Sheldon's mom from the "Young Sheldon" series would have some times.

"What of mosquito net, would you be taking that, you know mosquitoes can be very..."

"Moommm", I grumbled, giving her the "I'm fine" look

"it's alright, my baby", she smiled wryly, the smile itself was radiating worry.

Mmasi came down from her room in her pyjamas, leaned against the door post of my room.

"Mom, Dubem is leaving today, right?"

"Yes, my dear. Will you like to accompany him to school?", mom asked, zipping up the bag she was packing stuffs in, before.

"Yeah, of course....on the day pigs will fly", she bluntly replied as she turned sluggishly towards the bathroom.

"...and probably become the George of the Jungle", she muttered as she walked down the hallway.

"Don't mind her, baby", Mom pulled my cheeks playfully.

"You're gonna have the fun of your life", she said smiling.

You could tell a mile away she doesn't even believe what she just said.

Three harmonious taps...

"Mmasi, go, check who's at the door", Mom's voice reverberated down the hallway

Mmasi popped her head from the bathroom which is along the hallway, with her toothbrush in her mouth

"Why me, mom?...could be a serial killer or something", she shouted with constraint, as she had a toothbrush in her mouth, she pulled back her head to spit what she had, in her mouth.

"Mmasi!!!"

"Okay, mom", Mmasi replied grudgingly as she literally dragged her feet towards the door. She was murmuring something about "mommy's pet" and "family slavery". I already knew who was at the door.

Mmasi opened up the door, looked up at Temi as though she has never seen her before. Mechanically, Mmasi pulled back in, the toothbrush she had in her hand to her mouth, turned like a robot on remote control and headed back to the bathroom.

Temi walked in, with her backpack and her travel bag. She sure had positive vibes that morning as she was just radiating smiles everywhere.

"How are you, my princess?", she asked Mmasi who was in her front as they were climbing the stairs, heading towards the bathroom she was brushing at which was also upstairs as my room

"I'm still alive" Mmasi turned and replied just at the entrance of the bathroom before heading back in to continue brushing.

"Okay, stay that way", Temi replied, still smiling. Her positivism sure outweighed Mmasi's unruly behaviour.

She walked into my room which was at the end of the hallway. She was on a blue T-Shirt with the inscription "Dude Perfect", a black "three-quarter" jean trouser with sneakers. She had her headphones as usual.

"Good morning, Mom"

"Good morning, my dear", Mom replied as she locked her in, in an embrace.

My thoughts thrilled off as they continued to exchange pleasantries. I was thinking about a cartoon that will be released the upcoming week, "Spies in Disguise". I couldn't wait to watch that, the trailer got me in great anticipation.

Fast forward to thirty seven minutes later, we were packing in, our bags in my mom's car booth. I was on my white short sleeved shirt stripped with black, buttoned up to the very last button, neatly tucked in, in my well-pressed grey trousers. I felt smart--as usual.

Mom brought out her list, the list of things that I will need for the trip, she went through them again to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. She even made a safety guide for me which I memorised the instance she gave it to me.

"Won't you say Goodbye to your brother", she asked apprehensively, apparently worried about her daughter's heightened inhumanity.

We were at the garage, Mmasi was there also to take a little pink bike, she was probably going to her friend's house.

"Oww, I forgot...", she said...sincerely.

I turned and looked at Temi, Temi at the same time turned to look at me, we both as if on remote control turned to look at Mom who at the same time turned to look at us, it's just funny, right?. That only happens when the wonderment of the century is taking place.

"Goodbye, bro.."

(Hallelujah chorus)

"...do me a little favour and never come back, okay"

(Song dies off in slow whirling, another starts; "He is the Same" by Jon Bellion)

"Can you be nice for one day in your life, young lady?", Mom asked her, frowning.

"I am nice. You guys are the mean ones around here", she shrugged her shoulders in reply as he mounted her bike, tightening her blue helmet.

As if she hasn't done enough harm, on her way out of garage, she stage composed a song which the only words I could make out from the lyrics were "Moana" and "George of the Jungle"--and well, my name and that of Temi.

We totally ignored her as Temi and I went into the backseat as Mom drove out from the garage to school.

Mom kept showering me with questions, luckily...I had an umbrella of answers. She was deeply concerned being that this, was my first time of staying away from home so long. The first time I attempted that, I came back from the place before a week elapsed. Well, that was when I was little, things have changed now--I hope so though.

After navigating through the traffic for what seemed like eternity, Mom arrived at the school gate, everywhere was busing with activity as parents were dropping off their kids and bidding them farewell.

The buses for the journey was already set as they awaited the departure time. We(Temi and I) brought out our luggage from the booth and went in, with it to our class which was near the meeting hall as the Principal were briefing the parents who came to drop their kids, the briefing wasn't necessary as the Email sent to parents has said everything.

I think he just wanted to wow the parents with his advanced vocabularies coz like five minutes, you would either hear applause or cheers like "Ride on, sir". Mr. Okon sure got the parents in awe as he wanted--what a show off.

"Ahh!...The Princess of Eragon radiating in all her beauty like the stars in the night sky", Emeka who just walked in, said, gesticulating in the mediaeval way of greeting as he greets Temi.

Emeka is my classmate...though in art class, a nerd like me too and the smallest in our class. Girls swarm around him like chicks would do, a hen, they would pet him as if he's a kid, yeah that's him stealing all the attention--not like I care though. He wore glasses like me too...just that his own were "grandpa" style; round and thick as a bottle. Once you take away his glasses, he goes "blind"--which of course, bullies did a lot.

Temi couldn't help but smile sheepishly.

"Emmy, how are you?", as she extended her hand to Emeka who wanted to kiss her hand. He sure has gotten a lot of "Shakespeare" into his head.

"I'm well, Your Gracious. Beholding you sends my heart on a marathon race of joy, on an eon journey of esctasy. Your Loveliness, If I could summon musical instruments, an unending orchestra would they sing for you, my Princess"...as he laid the kiss on her hand gently.

C'mon...when will this drama end?

"Stop your whyning biko", Temi replied smiling shyly.

"Biko"....one of the perks of being best friends with an Igbo boy.

Emeka smiled at her, turned towards me and asked.

"Hey, Einstein. Hw are you doing. Hope you are algebraically living the moment?".

"I'm fine, dude. Thanks", I smiled rather too sheepishly as I lifted up my head from the PUBG game I was playing to respond to him. Heading back, someone was already firing at me--Payload mode is kinda bloody, I must say.

"You are welcome, bro. You're...oh my my, if it ain't the Lily of Roland Academy, the one whom I owe my knightly allegiance to"

I looked up to see why he trailed off suddenly and there was Jenny, in her white long sleeved T-Shirt with an inscription; "Summer Girls" and black trousers, black and white sneakers with her backpack and other things. I got lost in time as I stared at her angelic face, almond eyes, perfectly arched eyebrows with a perfectly placed nose to match, pink lips, cr...(slaps self, sips CapriSonne™️ and resumes writing)

"Hi, Sam", she waved, smiling.

Ooh...that smile!

"Hii..i...hi", I stuttered as her words brought me back to reality. I wondered how long I was lost in thoughts coz Emeka was done with usual way of greeting and has left the class, and Temi was done also with greeting Jenny..

She shouldered up her bag to balance it as she was only carrying it on one shoulder and she came towards me.

Oh..boy

Temi in all "wickedness" has never been this wicked as she pulled back her headphones to her ears so as not to join in, in the discussion. I could feel her mocking laughter vibrating in my head, not like she was laughing but I know she will be doing that mentally. Jenny sat on the desk opposite the one I was sitting on, with Temi.

"What have you been up to, these days?", as she dropped her backpack on the desk and sat down, placing one weave of hair behind her ears, a weave of hair that covered her eye, she was still with a smile.

"I..I...."

Sweet Heavens!, no words were coming out from my mouth again, my voice just deserted me, funnily enough, all I could hear was the heavy bombshell going on in the game. Redzone was probably on-going.

Her eyebrows raised unconsciously which asked the question, "I...?"

Temi was smiling faintly and nodding her head "to the lyrics of the song", I sure do have my doubts on whether there was actually a music playing or she was listening the whole time.

"I...I...hav...", I stopped and looked up as someone walked in.

I exhaled in relief as my Mom walked in, they were done with the briefing. My mom's entrance saved me from a disaster waiting to happen.

"Good day, ma", She greeted my mom politely as she walked in.

"Good day, my dear", My mom said smiling.

At that moment, the loud speakers stationed at every quarter of the school blared

"STUDENTS SHOULD NOW MOVE TO THE BUS ASSIGNED TO THEIR CLASS, WE ARE READY TO DEPART!!"

My mom got worried again.

"I'm worried, you have nev..."

"I'll be fine, mom", I sharply interrupted, smiling reassuringly.

The few other persons in the class were leaving and heading towards their various designated buses. Temi was already standing with her backpack waiting for Mom and me to finish up.

Surprisedly, Jenny was also waiting--definitely not a good thing this moment.

"Ok, dear", Mom held my shoulders and managed to smile.

Prolonged silence

"Bye, son..stay safe", Mom winked, smiled as she repositioned her handbag and turned to leave for home.

Phew!

And we all went off towards our class's designated bus to begin the journey.

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My mom stopped like she forgot something, turned and moved towards me, held me like her life depended on it, as she kissed my face all over amidst sobs.

Of all the places,WHY IN FRONT OF JENNY??!!(〒﹏〒).

🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅

Biko- an Igbo word for "please".

Whyning- a slang for flattering.