SS2 were condone till the end of the term. All their mischief were pardoned but recorded. There was a reason for that but only the teachers knows. During exams, Godwin was allowed to write likewise the rest of those still owing part of the school fees. He was happy that he wrote the exams very well. At the end of every paper he would proudly discuss with friends how he wrote his. From what was observed, Godwin was going to be among those on top.
The day to collect results and go on vacation came, Godwin went to school not actually to collect his result for he knows they won’t give it to him since he was still owing. He was in school to see friends for the last time before he goes for vacation.
That day many collected their results. Godwin saw his friend’s scores. One of the twin came first, David came second, the other twin came third, Peter came fourth, Amara came seventh, Lovett came ninth, followed by junior while Sarah was around thirties. Godwin wondered that if he have seen first, second, third and fourth what then was his score? He was sure to perform better than Peter in the assessments why then is there no blank space that he should assume was his result? Anyway, he was consoling himself with the believe that maybe he scored draw with someone.
“I am going to miss you” Lovett said to Godwin. She looked sad likewise Godwin.
“I wish we live close”
“I wouldn’t have bothered about the holidays. But we can’t change what has been. Why don’t we snap at the nearest photographer’s studio so I can always keep close to myself as a memento”
“Is it not too late? How do we get the copies?”
“Let’s find out if we can get it today, even if we have to wait for it”
“All right. Excuse me. Do you know your mother’s number offhand?”
“Mmmh yeah. But you don’t have to call it, she’s very strict. I will give you the number of the phone we use at home. It’s like the family spare phone. Everyone uses it, so any day you get a phone maybe from a friend or neighbor you call me but not early in the morning and late at night, preferably afternoon. And for your sake I will be holding the phone any time.
I think my mom will be taking me to the shop this holidays so don’t just call me straight away. Before you call text me first”
“What if I text and she’s with the phone won’t she read it?”
“That’s true” She hesitated. That never crossed her mind, she thought of another way. You know what? This is how you will do it. You will write bible quotations and send. Therefore if she’s the one with the phone she will not understand. But if I’m the one with it I will call you. And anytime you call don’t talk till you are sure it’s my voice”
Holidays wasn’t fun in anyway without friends. Though it was a Christmas holiday but Godwin would prefer if he was with Lovett than with anyone else. Their plans for the holidays didn’t go so well. They hardly communicate. It was obvious that Godwin borrows phone when Lovett is busy and can not talk to him and when she’s ready to call back Godwin would have given back the phone to the owner. Godwin almost implicated her on several occasions if not that his messages were unsuspecting. Three weeks became like three months. He became close to the calendar, everyday he counts the remaining days left for resumption but still it was slow.
Sometimes he thinks drawing her would alleviate his doldrums but not in anyway. Sometimes he tends to write but when he sits to write he finds it difficult to start, instead, while lost in fantasy he doodled. It was driving him crazy. It affected him in perceptible ways. He looses appetite, looses concentration, weak and emotive.
When it remained few days to resumption Godwin became very eager. He was as happy as a child that was going to go to school for the first time. He got all his uniforms and stationery ready many days before the day.
Resumption was second Monday of January. Godwin knows that he won’t find much people in school because most students believed that they don’t do anything that first week other than sweeping, dusting, cleaning, burning and weeding. And for that they wait till the second week to resume. Godwin’s aim of going was to see Lovett for he believed that if she really miss him the way he does definitely she would come.
In school, just as he already know the school was scanty and dried. Dust covered every surface like property abandoned for decades. Papers and leathers littered the environment. Changes that have occurred within three weeks was very much. Since they were few students in school the teachers around supervised the sanitation by themselves. Every student around worked including prefects. Godwin was hopeful until it was 9am yet Lovett didn’t show up. He was very sad and disappointed. That day after the clean up, though it wasn’t finished but they were permitted to go whenever they want so that tomorrow they will continue with the remaining ones.
Around 11:30am, Godwin went home sad. He tried by all means to communicate with Lovett but he couldn’t. He wanted to know why she didn’t come and also, he wanted to go into agreement with her that they will meet in school the following day. But all effort went unsuccessful.
The next day he went but the same thing happened. He didn’t see her. Yet he did much work because he couldn’t dodge. There were fewer students in school that day and most of those were those that did not come the previous day. The ones that came the previous day did not come for they have rather tested what was not encouraging. Godwin too wouldn’t have come if not that he crave to see Lovett. That day he went home earlier.
Godwin skipped Wednesday, he came on Thursday and didn’t see her then he decided not to come till Monday.