Life and a Sixteen-Year-Old by Lemuel Irabor #LAASYO 18 Sept.

18-Sept.

Wednesday

'Oti M.'
'Present!',I exclaimed in riposte.
Oh!Did I forget to mention that my surname is Oti.Heh-Heh.
Anyway,our Principal's been getting reports that some final year students skip out of school during lunch.
So he comes around with this big book and makes a role call every fifth period.He doesn't even do it in alphabetical order:he does it according to seating arrangement.

'Etuk J.'
No answer.
What the ...?
I look beside me and notice Joe's not there.
Sheesh,I didn't even notice.
Some friend I am..
'Etuk J.'
Again,no rep-

'I'm hh..hhere,Sir.',Joe stuttered as he ran in,breathing hard.
Mr Abdullateef,the Geography teacher(We had Geography for 5th today) said in his most sanctimonious manner,'Young Man,where are you coming from?'
It sounded more like a command than a question.
Everyone hates..er,really dislikes Mr Abdullateef.He's so self-righteous and doesn't like kids at all.
Rumour has it(Heh-Heh,my third day in a new school and I already know the latest gossip.Doesn't help when the girls sitting on my left are such talebearers.Plus I have a keen ear..) that he's friends with the Principal and is hoping for a promotion to Head of Department or Vice Principal.
If he ever gets there,I promise,I'll leave Bedford High.

'The toilet,Sir.',Joe said as he smarted his uniform.'The line was quite longer than usual and I was quite PISSED.'
A titter waved through the classroom.
Kid Snozzle drooled as he laughed.Weird dude.
Turns out his name's Akin:that would be Yoruba for 'Hero'.
I prefer calling him Kid Snozzle.
One reason I like Bedford High was that most things are done in an orderly fashion,like going to the lavatory or waiting to see the nurse or..er,pretty much everything.
Except the cafeteria.
Back in Lord Lugard,there was perpetually a bedlam on any..I mean,every occassion.
Mr Abdullateef flushed and shook with rage.

'That's Ok,Mr Abdullateef.Mr Etuk,you can go sit down.'
'Mr Etuk' walked modestly to his seat.
I nudged him with my elbow.
The bell rang.
However,We were not able to talk or even pass notes until school closed at 14:00.
'Hey,where did you go during lunch?',I all but yelled at Joe at the sound of the bell at 14:02,over the happy shouts of other students.
Sometimes it seems like everyone hates school.
Wait,14:02!
That timekeeper dude is a disgrace to the word 'efficient.'

Joe smirked.
'I did it on purpose.'
Shock.
Confusion.
And finally,on getting his drift,I snickered.
Mehn,I love this dude.
What?
At least,Mr Abdullateef was put in his place.

Back home,I read my Biology and Chemistry textbooks.I'm pretty good at Evolution and Organic Chemistry I now.
Boy,do I love it when hard work pays off..
Martha made coconut rice and 'mini' salad(just cabbage and carrots) with our homemade salad cream.
To you 'peeking' at my journal,you really should join us for a Martha dinner sometime.
Psst..Don't tell Mom but Martha cooks better than her.
Heh-Heh.
I don't really have much to write about today.
No hanging out today.
Joe called. We later 'hung out' on Whatsapp.
Do you want my number?
You wish!
He had to go offline though.Something about going to visit a relative.
Martha went to babysit for the neighbours.Marvel had an essay to write so he sat in front of the desktop all evening.He spilled some coconut rice and salad cream on the WHITE keyboard.
If Dad sees the greasy stain,we'll all receive a lecture on neatness—Mom inclusive.He can be a neatness freak sometimes.
Sigh.
Little brothers..

So..
I'm gonna turn in now..
Yawn.
Wait a sec..
Someone's calling me.
My God!
Do you know who called?
That coquette in class.Turns out her name's Theresa.
I was cool and all throughout the call..
But..
Ew! Ew!
How did she get my number?
JOE!
Why that-
I'll tell him what I think about this.
Dude's been teasing me about her.
Join me tomorrow as I verbally debase my friend.
Gee..that sounds mean.
Oh!Mom's on night duty by the way,Dad's still offshore.
Saw this on facebook and decided to write it down in my journal:

''Be like the Panda..
He's White.
He's Black.
He's Asian.
#Say_No_to_Racism''



Excerpts from Life and a Sixteen-Year-Old by Lemuel Irabor

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