Around 6:30am, as Godwin was going round the school premise supervising the morning function he came across something shocking—Papers, not only on the school notice board but also pasted on about fifteen different spots, on all the school blocks. On it was a bold write up with a marker pen. 'SENIOR GODWIN AND LOVETT ARE HAVING ROMANTIC AFFAIRS'
“Who could have done this? This can’t be the juniors because Godwin and Lovett are hardly seen together outside” David said.
“I think so too. It must be somebody who knows well about us. And my mind is directing to one person” Peter said.
“Who is that?”
“Sarah. You know they had a fight that I’m sure was the reason she missed school for a couple of days. They were enemies but when she came back they turned best of friends. Don’t you think she’s up to something? Haven’t you come up with this thought that she has a devilish purpose? She may be looking for a way to get revenge”
“You are right. That girl. I have been watching her this days with one eye. My spirit…..”
“Sarah didn’t do that” Lovett appeared with Amara. The boys stood amazed. How could she be so sure?
“Who then did it?”
“I think it’s Solomon”
“Yes!” Godwin, Peter and David exclaimed as they realized what was missing.
“That exactly is what I have been thinking. I suspected that devil incarnate” Godwin loosen his tongue.
“Is he in school yet?” David asked generally.
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen him today” Everyone claimed.
“How sure are we that he did it if he’s not in school?” Amara ask.
“He may come as early as possible to do it then go. The school is not secured”
“He could perhaps do it after school yesterday. Wicked people can do anything evil” David said.
“Peel them off before everyone sees it” Amara advised. She helped go round the school and got all they could see off the walls.
Before assembly Mr. Stones had already called him to the staff room over the papers. He acted very hostile towards him.
“We made you a prefect for you to show good examples to the junior ones but you are corrupting them instead. Teaching them abominable things. Luring them into sexual immorality. We try to bring the best in them but what you do is make our efforts useless. Children, as you know, learn bad things easily. Don’t be surprise that tomorrow you will see these children sleeping with themselves, impregnating themselves, and call it nothing because they learnt it from you, their seniors. You are spoiling the name of these school. This is so unbecoming of you”
“Sir, that was a set up”
“What set up? Who would set you up on such a delicate matter? I’m sure one of the Juniors did it. They couldn’t stand the shame of calling you a good for nothing boy their senior, it’s a big disgrace to them. You were made a prefect to teach them, control them, keep the entire school in good shape but all you do is parade with girls around the school for them to see and learn”
“Sir, it’s true I have been close to her but I have not done anything….”
“Shut up! See that? You have been close to her doing nothing? You are telling me you do nothing with her, so why are you close to her?”
“She is my mate sir, she’s my fellow prefect”
“That’s the most awful part of it. Dating among yourselves”
“But I’m close to others too, not only her. Amara is there, Sarah and….”
“Oh! It’s not just she alone. Go out and kneel down. I will call others into this. It’s not something I alone will handle”
Mr. Stones made Godwin kneel outside where the juniors will pass and see him. He knelt there before the assembly until it was some minutes to long break. But before the bell rang Peter and David came to tell Mr. stones that their literature teacher wants to see Godwin, he freed him. Though their literature teacher was in their class at that moment but demanding to see Godwin was a lie. They told that lie to save him.
“You can go but I have not finished with you” Mr. Stones said to him after permitting him to go.
Godwin’s steps weren’t steady for he knelt close to two hours. Just few minutes left to break. His kneels ache. He said he would involve other staffs in it but since he knelt there he haven’t seen anyone come to interrogate him. It was becoming as if he abandoned him there or he just wanted to suffer him singlehandedly.
“That boy denied he knows nothing about it” Peter said.
“Do you expect he will accept if he’s the one?” Godwin asked.
“He did that. Nobody else. Already we confronted him sternly but I still need to see him after school. He can’t go free if he’s responsible for this. Not after what that devil that calls himself your form master did to you”
“He is your form master too” Peter corrected.
“Oh, you don’t know. I disowned that idiot since the first day Lovett complained about him”
“And he too can’t get away with this. His crime is worse and he oppresses others without thinking of his own”
Before they could get to the class their literature teacher had already left. They said he collected the last remaining novels.
“I took them to his office. He said I should come for them in thirty minutes” Junior said.
“Why is today like this?” Godwin asked. He was pained that he was going to loose those marks.
“You didn’t submit right? It’s not late you can buy one from him. He has few copies there that he can sell to you. Some of them here bought from him”
“I didn’t come with money today”
“You forgot or you don’t want to bring it or you don’t have?”
“Junior please stop these questions. I have lost those marks already. I don’t think there’s something anyone can do about it”
“If I had brought money today I would have helped you”
Godwin felt bad. He had worked so hard since the beginning of the assessment and doesn’t want anything to interfere with his marks, knowing very well that a little mistake can drag one or two rivals above him. But now he’s about facing his fears helplessly.
“That is not where life ends. Loosing perhaps about twenty marks and tens of strokes can’t kill me”
“I’m sorry” from friends.
“It’s okay. Stop making these worse than it is”
Junior stood up quietly and left him. Godwin laid his head on the desk to rest. Lovett too avoided him at that moment for a purpose. Throughout break and after break he was inside. He couldn’t go out with a spoilt mind. He won’t do anything good.
The two junior boys that’s become his informants came to see him but were scared that he may not be in a good state of mind after what they saw earlier—Kneeling under the rising sun for a couple of hours. It was one of Godwin’s mate that ushered them in.
“SF, we came to tell you what we have discovered so far” Godwin listened without a word. He stared with a moody face.
“Sorry for what happened”
“What happened?” The way Godwin asked the question made them scared. They regretted saying that.
“We saw you kneeling outside in front of the staff room” They said with quivering lips.
“It’s okay. He has his personal reasons” Now his answers lessened their fears.
“That man is wicked. We don’t like him”
“Nobody likes wicked people unless if you benefit from them”
“SF, you have to be careful with him”
“I will. Thank you”
“We discovered many of those guys with those Nike names. And we have more other things that may interest you”
“Ok” He answered casually. “Well done boys. But we can’t do that now. It’s lesson periods. You shouldn’t miss your lessons for this. We will meet during preps”
After they left Junior returned from the staff room sharing books.
“You can pretend eh. Have yours” Junior said to Godwin, giving him a copy of the novel. Godwin was surprised. He didn’t remember buying that book let alone submitting it. He looked at the name on it, it was his and the handwriting was Lovett’s. He turned towards Lovett, she was also looking at his direction with a familiar smile. He used signs to ask if she bought it for him. She nodded. God! Was this awesome discovery a dream? Something he thought was over. Hope he completely lost was completely restored. His joy was beyond smiles. He went to thank her. Though he owe her more than that but, at least for a start.
“I wasn’t sure you will buy or not. So in other not to buy and it happens to be that you also bought, I had to bring the money to school. So finding that you didn’t buy I bought for you from him”
“I can’t thank you enough. I really appreciate. I’ve lost hope entirely. You really saved me. Just exercise a little patience, I will get you the money”
“Which money?” She ask simply.
Godwin showed the book instead
“For what?” She really wasn’t happy with what Godwin said. Godwin raised the book again for her to see.
“Before I bought the book we didn’t agree on anything. Why should you pay me? Can I not do something for you for free?”
“Sorry for that. I didn’t know. I’m very grateful”
“It is fine. Don’t magnify it”
“So, how was the assembly?”
“Why don’t you seat down”
“No, please. Not now”
“Don’t tell me this will make you start avoiding me”
“Far from what you think. I am just trying to avoid creating more problems. It’s for our good. I really want this matter to die”
“I am not sure that foolish man will let it die. Jealousy will kill him. I promise him one thing, he will surely find what he seeks. Nemesis will catch up with him someday”
“Amen. So anything said on the assembly concerning the written notes pasted on the walls?”
“No. I’m not sure the other staffs saw it. Only what they said is that the SS3 students will be resuming tomorrow, which completes their suspension one week, and the SS2 next two weeks. Inter house sport will commence next week. Eyes of the gods is the new games master” Lovett said. Godwin chuckled as he heard her call him that name.
“You have joined Peter in calling that man names right? But why is he the one chosen as the game master?”
“What is wrong with him? And what is so big about being a game master?”
“Anyway, it’s nothing”
“Godwin. Form master wants to see you” one of their mates called from the door. What again? He just left his place not long. He felt reluctant, but he must answer to the call so he went to see him right away.