Chisom Charles tried for the umpteenth time to sleep and kicked his feet in despair when he failed. He knew the sooner he slept, the sooner he would wake up to Monday morning where he would finally get to shine. He blamed Kamsi, his elder sister, for her meal of palm oil with yam that she had given him for dinner. She hadn’t put onions, stating that they needed them for soup the next day. But Chisom was pretty sure if she had put onions, he would have been far away in dreamland by now.
He thought of his new fit and his irritation immediately disappeared. He couldn’t wait to show off his new school fit to the class. Especially to Munachi, who had lent him one of her pencils on Friday. The teacher had been walking around with a cane to check on those who weren’t copying from the blackboard.
Kelechi, who was Chisom’s sworn enemy had already begun snickering at his back at the prospects of getting a beating from Mrs. Uju, their Grammar teacher. He held his broken pencil tightly and fought down the tears springing to his eyes as Mrs. Uju advanced in his direction. Solemnly, he braced up for his fate.
Alas! It was not to be. For just then, someone gently tapped him and pushed a well sharpened Ben 10 pencil into his hand. Mrs. Uju was suddenly in front of him and he began writing furiously. He looked up to see his saviour and met Munachi’s beaming face, as she gave him a silent thumbs up and went back to her own writing.
Chisom Charles had decided in that moment. He was going to marry her. After all, he had heard Kamsi say once to the village’s blacksmith that came around when Mama was not around and tapped on their windows, that she was going to marry him because he was nice to her. Munachi had been nice to him, which meant he would have to marry her. He wondered if it was okay to marry someone at just eight years old, but silenced the thought immediately. He was certain that just being nice was enough. With that last happy thought, Chisom drifted off to a dream-filled sleep.
The January air was dry and humid, and Chisom began to worry that his new fit, particularly his shoes, would get all dusty before he made his way to school. He was tired of being referred to as One-fit Chisom by Kelechi and the other pupils. So, when his Mom had come back with this outfit for him, his joy knew no bounds.
By the time he got to school, the morning assembly was about to begin, and so he quickly made his way to the back of line, hoping to be spotted the moment someone turned his head. He scanned the girls’ line and saw Munachi talking animatedly with her friends. She looked impeccable in her pink shirt and pleated skirt, her long hair braided into pigtails. She really was pretty, and he hoped she approved of his newly upgraded school fit.
Morning assembly began in earnest, and when it was time for a fit check by the Basic Technology teacher, Chisom stifled his grin and stood at the ready.
“And what, do you think you’re wearing?” the Compound master said as he glared down at him.
Chisom wondered why the Basic Tech teacher seemed displeased. Nevertheless he answered courageously as he noticed that everyone’s eyes, including Munachi’s, were trained at him.
“It’s my new school fit, Sir.”
“New, you say?” The teacher drew at his shorts that he had tied firmly with a rope since his belt had cut, and proceeded to remove the black pegs he has secured his shoes with since they were two sizes bigger than him. Mama had said he would grow into it, and it had pleased him to no ends that he would still wear the brilliant black shoes two years from now. He’d used two of Mama’s black pegs that she used for her fishing nets, hoping that the similar colour would let it blend in with his shoe seamlessly.
Unfortunately, the Basic Teacher had noticed. And was yelling at him for it.
“This is unacceptable in this school! You will go back home and change this monstrosity you have on, and return to school. Bear in mind that you will be punished as a late comer when you return, so I’d start running if I were you.”
Chisom couldn’t stop the tears flowing down his cheeks. He resisted the urge to turn to Munachi but he still found himself lifting his eyes to look at her. She brought her head timidly down and backed away from his view. It was more than he could take, he speedily ran from the assembly ground, but not before he heard the Basic Teacher mutter something about the Headmaster admitting every beggar on the street. Tears nearly blinded Chisom as he ran and he swore he could hear Kelechi’s unrestrained laughter following him.
Kamsi really should have put onions in that oil. He blamed her for everything.
Jhymi🖤
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Awwwwn such an interesting piece it is.
But why didn't Kamsi put onions in that oil 😀, she ruined both Chisom's sleep and his day 😪.
I'm waiting for the continuation ooo, because I want to know what happened if Chisom returned to school with a new fit or kept using the one he tied with pegs.
In all it was a beautiful read.
I'm glad you enjoyed it and I do think that maybe things could have been different if Kamsi had done the needful.😂🌺
Awwwn. Lobe at first lead 😂😂✨
Marrying over a pencil... That's an artistically drawn love story✨
I see what you did there.😂✨
Oh well, people marry for even less these days. You should draw inspiration from him.😂🌺
Better erase that inspiration 😂😂😂
Marriage? Such a shackling concept 😂😂
I won't be a prisoner till my thirty's!!!
A shackling concept?
Lol. We as a people would be better off then the more you delay.🤷🏾♀️
Perhaps you will...
Both partners build themselves up in wealth and mind...
Then we come together and build our kid and first half of his life✨♥️
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Palm oil and yam with onice you just reminded me back then in school we use to eat it when sapa is lingering in the air