She was tall for
her age. Lanky. Bony. And Spartan. She had that don’t mess with me permanence pasted on her face, even in her early
years. Odette was not easy to be with. And Odette was not popular. Not ever since
she had been reported in pre-school for mauling a boy thrice her size. He had
devoured her lunch secretly before lunch hours.
Odette was
counseled and reded before being re-admitted. All she had understood was that
if she did not fall in line with others, she would be outcast. The doors of
knowledge would close on her, perhaps forever. More than anything else, she
dreaded that darkness. And then one of the teachers fed her with some story
about the infamous crocodile well in the old compound. The unwieldy Odette yielded
to the stifling discipline of school. It could be the fear of ending up being a
nescient and ignorant or the fear of being fed to crocodiles. But somehow she managed
to stay out of trouble, deporting with modest reserve in school hours. Though,
at home, she was wild and untamed, engaging in ruckus and rumpus with her younger
brother Dariel, all the time.
Gradually, it
was like wake up and smell the routine.
Until that
summer afternoon.
It was her class
for numerals. She had mastered 1 to 5 in an unclear hand. She stood in the
queue to get her sheet appraised. There were some 5 students in front of her. The
line was moving at snail-pace.
4 students to
go.
3. Ah! They were
almost there.
2. Soon now!
The teacher started
scolding the boy, twisting his ear and shoving him out of the classroom. Perhaps
taking him to the principal’s office. But they had not been excused. So, she
waited in the queue.
After a few minutes,
Dariel rushed in. Scared. Panicky. Looking over his shoulder again and again. There
was an unmistakable red blush on his face. A handprint. He hugged her tight and
sobbed into her embrace.
Who was it, Dariel?
Norman.
Norman was year
older than her. A confirmed browbeat. And Dariel was just a kid. Odette took a
deep breath.
You stand here. My teacher is going to come anytime.
You show her my classwork and tell her that I had to go out to talk to Norman,
Okay? And don’t you cry. I will be back soon.
Odette handed
over her notebook to Dariel who watched her disappear out of the classroom door,
still sobbing and wiping his face with the cuff of his shirt.
Odette found
Norman near the drinking-water facility.
Norman, she called out.
Her voice stern and severe.
She could not
wait to talk and reason. She had to do it fast and quick. So, she lifted her
hand and slapped him on his face, loosely but forcefully. Her bony hand
stinging and blushing by the impact. Her handprint distinct on Norman’s face.
She turned back
almost instantly, expecting Norman to hit her from behind. But all she heard
was loud shouts. Some commotion happening in the background. She did not look back.
She had to reach the safety of her classroom.
Norman’s
accusation was faster than her footsteps. She was detained in the corridor by his
class teacher. Taken to the principal’s office. She accepted having slapped
Norman. She did not volunteer the fact that he had slapped Dariel to begin with.
She was suspended. For a week.
Her mother was
surprised to see her home early.
Home already? Where’s Dariel?
He is getting my classwork examined … and I … I don’t have
to go to school for rest of the week.
Her mother
looked up from the sink, the soapy scrubber in her hands, the detergent dripping
on the dishes in the sink, and water from the faucet running waste.
…
The water from
the faucet was running waste. The detergent dripped on the dishes in the sink. She
looked out of the windowsill, a soapy scrubber in her hands. Odette choked back
the trees.
She had asked
Dariel to help her convince dad about her boyfriend. There were too many
barriers between the families and she was fighting alone. Dariel had simply
shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
What can I possibly say in the matter, Odette. It’s between
you and dad.
The match was
never approved.
Hey, where’s your brother? Have to send him to market.
Left him in the classroom, haven’t seen him since.
Odette barged
out of kitchen.
