Godwin came to school the following day hoping to be allowed to stay. He did not come to school with the money but he doesn’t want to miss school the second day. And luckily there was no school fees drive that day. He was happy to see his friends. They too showed how much they missed him. Lovett was the opposite of who she was the previous day. She could smile whenever their eyes meet and she was fond of winking or doing other silly expressions with her face.
“There’s something I want to show you during break” Godwin said to her on the assembly ground.
“Guy, your babe really likes you o” One of the big boys who was watching them said. Godwin smiled shyly and stopped signaling her.
As she noticed that Godwin was through with her she left to the gate to stop late comers. David was there already doing the work but having nothing to do she has to involve in anyone she sees. Peter was conducting the assembly while Amara was nowhere to be found. She must be executing her duty somewhere.
“See how she smile now. She was very quiet yesterday. She missed you so much, and I am sure you missed her same way” Another guy on the assembly added. But Godwin kept smiling.
“Badest boy! You are very lucky that your babe is not just pretty but fun too”
“I admire you guys. And I assure you that whoever try to separate you will become my personal enemy. I will buy the trouble and make it mine” One of the big boys that Godwin usually help academically promised.
Those guys were capable of doing whatever they said. But the school authority was what they fear, and not beating actually, because beating has become nothing to them. What they really fear Is expulsion and suspension. Godwin wouldn’t want them to get involved in his case so that they don’t magnify it.
After the assembly Peter and David went to junior classes to beat those who missed doing morning function.
“If you can pay for your strokes, this way. But if you can’t, meet him fast” Peter said. Those who has money were paying, fifty naira each, those who doesn’t have faced the challenge, few among them promised to pay later. Their names were taken, if they fail to do as they said then they will face the worse. David was never merciful when he is on duty therefore students avoid stepping on his toes. But there were stubborn ones who would not pay even if they have excess money or even if they were going to be beaten till death.
When they returned to the class they discussed their experience for that morning. After which Godwin showed his friends what he drew. Whoever looks at the drawing book knows who was there. They were all surprised that Godwin can draw perfectly.
“No wonder you talk about either becoming an architecture or an artist” Lovett said when she finally saw it. It was her picture he drew. She treasured the drawing. “So where is my picture?”
“I kept it at home. I have achieved that one. It has become mine. Yesterday I was with it wherever I was. It was my company even as it could neither talk nor do anything. I couldn’t stop gazing at it. At times I mutter some words to it”
“You know one thing about you?” Lovett asked. Godwin shook his head staring straight at her with a smiling face.
“You don’t hide anything from me. You are open and transparent unlike those who would never tell their minds, and such, their truth will be hard to distinguish from lies”
“I do that because i trust you, you understand me, you are fun and you often say your mind too” This statement made Lovett smiled, they steadily stared at each other without blinking or moving. Obviously they had same thought working through their minds. There’s something they both wished it happened but they could not make attempt to avoid being caught.
“Do one thing for me” Lovett requested. She became a bit shy as they were unable to do what they intended, but they smiled instead.
“What is that?”
“You will draw my family. I will bring our family picture and other drawing materials for you. I need something that can interest them and make them want to see you. I want them to know you. I don’t want to show them this one now. Don’t you want to meet them?”
Godwin nodded like he had something different in mind.
“Ok. But that will be on weekend” he said.
“It’s ok. You need time. I understand”
“So what will be my reward?”
“Oh that! It’s simple”
Godwin did not expect such answer. He was surprised and then became curious. He listened to hear her.
“My parents will give you my hand in marriage”
“Jesus! This lady is very crazy” Godwin muttered amused. Spinning to see who was watching “You make me fall for you every day”
“How do you mean?”
“You are new everyday. With you, everyday feels like first time. But why they give me just your hand? I need all of you”
“You will tell them when you get there” They laughed again. “So, tell me. Are you one of those wishing to marry white ladies”
“Not at all. But even if I had the intention I would change it since I have found a better treasure like you. Although you are not white but semi. And.. in fact you have all anyone would want”
“Hey! Stop tickling me with those words. You guys are born with honey on your lips. I know you guys, I know your tricks so I don’t fall for them”
“You can say whatever you want”
“Which of the gender do you want as your first child?”
“Boy of course. Twins preferably”
“Why is it that every man says the same thing as if they are the ones carrying the baby? And you are even talking about twins”
“Yes. That’s my choice. Even if I’m not carrying them in my stomach I carry them in a way, so I should have a choice”
“Then you will carry it yourself. You have stomach, don’t you?”
“Without womb?”
“You have intestine, kidney and the rest. It must not be the womb. Have you not heard about pregnant men?”
“Seeing is believing, remember?”
“Meaning? You doubt it”
“Of course I don’t believe it”
“You are doubting me? Wait, you are saying now that I am lying? You call me a liar. You don’t trust me” She faked a vexing countenance. Making her face look like that of a child.
“No. I haven’t said anything like that”
“You are even arguing with me”
“No sorry. I have stopped. And that is completely not what we were talking about”
“You must console me with something”
“How do I start? I haven’t done…”
“You are fighting for right!”
“No. well, okay. But how do I start consoling someone I did not offend”
“Doing or not?”
“Ok, I will. Sorry my lady for not being happy with me”
“Really? I’m unhappy for no reason?”
“Sorry, but I don’t think I know your reasons”
“Seriously?”
“All right, I got this. Sorry mostly exquisite girlfriend for making you frown even though you still look beautiful that way. It won’t happen again, it’s a promise. And for that I will buy you….” He paused as if he needed to think well before uttering.
“You’ll buy me what?” it was as if that’s the only thing she heard and was very inquisitive.
“The biggest planet”
“Pla..what? So this is how much you’ve longed to kill me”
“No, I can’t kill my queen, my one and only, one in a million, most precious treasure found by me. That means I am the greatest scientist”
“Cunning” They laughed.
“So what about you? Your first child. Well I know. It’s also a boy”
“No, a girl”
“It’s a lie. It’s a boy”
“How do you mean? Do you know what I want more than me?”
“Every Nigerian woman believes that when they conceive a male child they have gotten the license to stay. They will take over the entire family and become the house owner”
Lovett laughed seriously because Godwin was right. It also reminded her of what her mother told her about her early marriage life. Her husband’s people were hard on her. They pressured her and made her feel like she was barren even after having three daughters. They have been encouraging her father to take another wife just for the purpose of having a son who will replace him in the family but luckily their last born came before those advises could start sinking in his mind.
“Well, you are right but I have my own reason for choosing a girl”
“Which is?”
“They are many. I like female kids. I like how they look when dressed, I will like to plait her myself, buy her selected wears, make her up and more. And while she’s growing I will teach her domestics and morals”
“Wonderful! You have genuine reasons anyway”
Finally the SS2 completed their one month suspension. They resumed but not all for some changed to other schools. They were calm but their minds were not free of malice. The school noticed it and decided to monitor their behavior for awhile before they decide whether to retain them of their duties or not. But they were not changing In anyway. They bully Juniors over slightest mistakes, sometimes for no considerable mistakes, especially the SS1 prefects. They behave dull and uncooperative as a way to show their hatred to some teachers during their lessons. This got to an extent that the principal sent them with letters to invite their parents to school for PTA meeting.