Life and a Sixteen-Year-Old by Lemuel Irabor #LAASYO 20 Sept.

20-Sept

Today,for me,started with a very weird feeling in my chest region..

Mild pain,but throbbing.

As usual,I don't raise alarm until whatever ailment I have supercedes three days without abating.

Don't blame me.My mom's a nurse,remember?

Believe me,growing up,I'd taken more drugs than twenty cancer patients in an oncology ward.

No joke.

Even as I write this,I'm popping Ascorbic acid,ferrous sulphate,neurobion,Calcium,Vitamin D3,Yeast tablets and a Multivitamin capsule into my mouth.

Always take 'em after every meal.Vitamin supplements.

To grow into a big,strong healthy man.

As usual,I was awakened by my alarm clock at 0400.

(Yeah..Yeah..)

I say my morning prayers and do some morning study before I get ready for school.

Midway into the prayer,my phone beeped.A message.

I ignored it and continued.

Guess who woke up early and prepared breakfast..

MARVEL!

I looked at him in,er..a weird mix of shock and suspicion.

''Is it someone's birthday?'',I asked an equally bemused Martha.

Martha shrugged.

Marvel grunted.

''Hey bro.,I just feel like it..'',he said simply.''Besides,while you two were still cavorting in Dreamland,Mom and Dad are both gone.''

Alarmed,I made to ask a question..

''Did they leave some money..for our transport fare?''

Marvel's face lost its colour.

Bro. looked like a trapped animal.

''Ah!Totally forgot..''

We ate hurriedly in silence.The disappointment evident in our faces.

A long walk to school..

A really long walk..

I don't know how we did it,but we got to school quite early(for people who trekked);arriving a whooping quarter-of-an-hour before the Morning General Assembly.

''Good morning,students.I am here with an important announcement that concerns the Final year students..''

That was..(you coulda' guessed) Mr Abdullateef.

And from the smug grin he bore,I got the willies.

''..Ergo,the SS3(Senior Secondary 3) students would stay behind for two hours every Monday-Friday,for compulsory after-school lessons in Mathematics and English Language.One hour apiece..''

An angry murmur washed the assembly,originating from the SS3 Students.

The teachers had a hell of a time restoring order.

I couldn't much recall what happened next and how the assembly ended.

All that went through my mind was:

'Two more hours..4pm..1600..'

Theresa appeared quite morose in class.Joe was pensive.

Kid Snozzle didn't sleep today..not even a tiny wink.

Everyone in class appeared to be in a semi-conscious state.

No one seemed to have overcome the shock gotten in the Assembly Hall.

Me?

As weird as it may sound,all that was going through my mind was:'No more delicious lunch made by Mom or Martha..'

Midway through the 7th period,Joe nudged me.

''Martin,what's going on with Theresa?''

I looked at him.Puzzled.

''I dunno.Why asking me?''

Joe stole a glance at Theresa's lithe form.My eyes followed his gaze.

She was bent over on her desk,head-bent.She seemed asleep.

''It's nothing really..'',Joe replied;his eyes still on Theresa.''..except that she's been stealing glances at you and wearing this I'm-a-widow-who-just-lost-her-husband look.''

I grunted.

''I dunno,man.Best not to get involved.Girls can be difficult to understand sometimes.''

Joe nodded in agreement.

''Yeah.Particularly when they're at that time of the month.One moment happy,the other sad.''

I punched him in the arm.''Yeah..Yeah.A plethora of emotions.Hey!I did Biology too..''

Joe and I shared a little laugh.

''But maybe you're linked with her troubles..'',Joe added.

I shrugged.

''Fine.I'll go talk to her later,OK?''

Joe made an I-don't-care facial gesture.

''I guess no more football for me.I used to play every evening with the other boys in my street..''

And so the topic was changed.

School closed at the normal time.The new after-school arrangement began officially the next week.

Everyone seemed to have regained some cheer.The aura of the class was filled with jokes,wisecracks and happy banter.

I hurried to catch up with Theresa who had left the class almost immediately the bell was rung.

I caught her by the stairs.

''Tessy!'',I yelled.''Tessy,wait up..''

She half-turned and saw me.She turned away,defiant.

My run had now become a trot at this time,noticing her animosity.

''Hey Tessy.How are you?'',I said as I caught up with her.

''I'm fine.'',she said.

No '..thank you.And you?';I thought.

''Uhm..is anything bothering you?You don't look happy.'',I said instead.

She muttered something vehemently.

I raised an eyebrow.

''Look..er,Martin.Can we talk later?I'm not in a good mood now.''

And with that,she walked away..never looking back.

I brushed it off and went to join Joe who was doing a high-five with Kid Snozzle.

''Welcome back from your honeymoon..''That was Joe.''We can see the bride is pissed at her Lord.''

And he laughed at his own joke.

''OK,bro..see ya'.We're playing Monopoly,right?OK,bro.Bye.'',he dismissed Kid Snozzle.

''All right,man.Tell me what really happened..'',he said as we walked to the gate to join Martha,Marvel and Timothy(I was to learn that Timothy was a friend of Marvel's that lived a few streets away from our's).

On the walk to the gate,I relayed everything to Joe.Joe was thoughtful throughout.

''You were right,bro.'',he said."Women are difficult to understand.''

''Maybe IT IS that time of the-''

I stopped him with a not-so-gentle nudge in the guts.

''PS: Loudmouth,MARTHA'S RIGHT BEHIND US.'',I whispered vehemently.

Joe looked sheepishly away at his shoes.

A phone rang.

Joe fished it out of his pocket.

''Hello Mommy..No,I've left the school already..But..OK,I'll stay at Martin's place then..''

I cocked an eyebrow.

''..Yeah,Martin..my friend from school that visited while you were away..OK..Yeah,it's OK with him..''

Joe looked at me.I shrugged 'OK'.

''..OK,Mom..Yeah..Bye.''

Joe sighed.

''Mom and Dad are going to a function.House locked.They took the keys.

They'll be back around eight.Guess I'll be hanging with you.Sorry for the short notice.''

I grunted.

''There was no notice.Notice?''

Joe looked amused.

''Ya beginning to learn puns?''

I nudged 'im.

We all walked home admist a lotta mundane convo.

Martha prepared a simple lunch of fried plantain and omelette,letting Joe testify of her culinary skills.

That's it!

A rush of blood to the head..

I got Martha alone and told her what's up with Theresa.Martha offered to call her later..

I guess they'll have a Woman-to-Woman chat or something.

Joe left at eight thirty-six.We'd been hanging out in my room,just talking.His folks stopped by our place to pick 'im up.

Joe looks just like his mother.Although a bit taller.

My parents were back then so it was a flurry of Hellos and Nice to meet yous.

Martha sneaked into my room later.

''I've spoken to Theresa.She was all emotional on the phone.She says you're 'INSENSITIVE'.''

Now,that was funny.

''Insensitive?'',I choked down a laugh.''How?''

''She didn't say.''

I folded my arms on my chest and shrugged.

''Mart-Mart,you gotta give her time.Girls can be..er,difficult to decipher sometimes.''

No kidding,I thought.

Oh!Martha calls me Mart-Mart or Supermart(Don't laugh!).She started calling me Mart-Mart as a toddler and Supermart as a young girl(after watching Superman).

I shrugged again.

Martha smiled and left.

I pick YOU up.My diary and begin to write..

Where's my phone?

Haven't seen it since morning..when it beeped.

12 missed calls!

All from THERESA!

4 in the morning..

The rest while Joe was here.

Another rush of blood to the head..

Now,I get it..

Insensitive..

Damn!My phone was on Silent.

I didn't even take it with me to school.

I hope she understands when I explain to her tomorrow..