It is the first Monday of the month. Only yesterday Cosmos had an experience, one, amongst many that would later influence his life. It’s his last days in primary school, he would soon join his siblings in high school. But he is not so excited, he doesn’t know what the future holds for him. Perhaps if he knew, would that make any difference? Cosmos isn’t the only one experiencing his last days in school. Remember Archer is also at an apex class, except he doesn’t seem to care. The four siblings go to school together, their schools  are within the same surrounding. They boarded a tricycle to school, their dad has left for work. He is always the first to bath, and he wouldn’t take them to school. How could he? He has to hurry to work. One could say, it’s not easy being a breadwinner.

      It is a very big space, almost three times the size of their church, and it is divided into sessions. There’s the primary building, the junior high building, and the senior high building. Only that the high school is demarcated from the primary with a fence, each having its own field for extra curriculum activities.

As Cosmos walk into the school premises at exactly 7am, he saw one of his friend, Chikamso Giwa, who is of the same height and age with him, only a few months younger. Chikamso is of the Hausa ethnicity if you are to go by that of his father’s. His mother on the other hand is an Igbo woman. He is a boy of many talent, an inspiration to Cosmos, but still Chikamso draws a stronger inspiration from him. Chikamso, so happy seeing his friend after the weekend, rushed over to grab him by the shoulder. It is their last days in primary school after-all, perhaps, even today. Chikamso’s family is moving to Ghana, his father had gotten transferred to his company branch over there. Think of it as a promotion, higher pay, all expenses taken care of, a new home. Offers too good to be turned down, except if you were a fool. And of course, Chikamso would have to leave with his family. It is a fine uniform, a sky blue short sleeve t-shirt, and a green short pant. Everyone is also required to put on a pair of white socks and black shoes, neat at always.

“Wow, I love your neatly done hair cut,” Said Chikamso, while confidently touching Cosmos head.

“You see Sandra over there? She said she likes you. I told her I would tell you,” He said, now laughing softly.

“Oh, really? Sandra the most notorious girl in all of lower chamber nursery and primary school? I heard she steals her mom’s money. She’s mad for saying that, God forbid I commit such sin!” Cosmos hissed.

“Eeyah!! Virgin. But you are right, I knew you would say that, I just wanted to test you,” Chikamso said, and laughed even harder.

“Do you think there would be assembly today? Exams has ended for lower grades, and we finished writing common entrance examination four weeks ago,” Said Cosmos.

“This school like to overdo things. My friends in other schools have been home ever since their exams ended, this ones are prepared to just stress you,” Chikamso is a bit pist.

      They both walk into the class, there is a lot to catch up on. For starters, Cosmos has some new paintings and paper crafts he would like to show to Chikamso. Chikamso wish he was as good as Cosmos when it comes to painting, but Cosmos would always hype him, he would sometimes make them exchange artworks. While the boys were talking about their paintings, the bell was rang for the morning assembly. Everyone have to line up in rows according to their grades. The assembly is handled by the school prefects, while the teachers present supervise the over all activities. The assembly is starting;

“Let us bow our heads to pray,” Said the head prefect.

“Hey!! Cosmos! Cosmos!! I got a weird one,” Says Morningstar.

“What is it?” Cosmos asked.

“If this is a school, why do we pray?” Morningstar giggles.

      Miss No Shaking, a strict woman who got her nickname as a symbol of her strictness shook her head towards the left, she had noticed Cosmos giggling, so she walked up to him. Tapped him from behind his left shoulder;

“Where is your partner?” She asked with a disgust facial expression.

“What partner ma?” Cosmos replied in a fearful tone.

“You know me well, yet you chose to be a nuisance! Step out of the line, go knee in front!” Miss No Shaking shouted.

      Cosmos walk to the front of the line, it is a shame for anyone to be asked to knee in front of an assembly with lot of your peers. He would only walk pass 10 persons, yet it felt like forever walking to the front line. 30 minutes of kneeling on the sand, felt like hours. His knees were bleeding as a result of the stones on the floor having a free day, piercing him. He wouldn’t speak up, he thinks that only shows he is weak. Took him a while to get a grip of his feet, after he had been relieved of his punishment, the moment the assembly was over.

In class, Cosmos is sitting next to his friend Chikamso. They share a table and chair, so they are always in a conversation,  except when Miss No Shaking is in class.

“Wow, my legs are shaky, it feels funny,” Cosmos said while staring at Chikamso….. follow link to continue reading

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©️ Victor E. Ojei, 2023.