I watched as the woman wrote two words on the board MISS FELICIA, she turned to face the class.
"Now the boy's gone, and the class seems normal, sort of, I think we should start. Good morning everyone," she began. "I understand there's a new student," she said as her eyes rested on me, then her eyes traced to my desk.
"I hope she knows phones aren't supposed to be seen during classes."
I looked down on my desk and saw that I forgot to place my phone inside my bag when she walked in. "Err... I'm sorry, i-it wasn't intentional," I replied as I began to feel eyes turn to me. Placing it in my bag as quickly as possible, I looked up at her.
Instead, she turned away from me as she began talking to the class, "For you to be present in my class, at this grade, it means you should know what trade is. I'm not going to remind you of that, and I expect no questions concerning that."
"You don't want me judging the state of your already low IQ, do you?" As soon as she said this, the students in the class started laughing, and stopped immediately she opened her mouth to talk.
"I will project the course outline on the board which I expect you to take seriously." She said this as she started fumbling with the projector and a flash. When it seemed like she was satisfied, she turned to the class again.
"Those who already know my style of teaching understand that you are the teachers. I expect that you all pair in groups of two and study more on your assigned topics, after which you'd present to the class."
She then picked her note and opened it. "There are 28 registered attendees of this class, hmm, that's a lot compared to last year. This is why I decided to pair you all. Since there are 12 topics for this term, and 2 periods set out for revision, 14 groups of two isn't a bad idea."
"You should also know that the groups assigned for revision are more tasked, the group assigned for the second and final revision is even more tasked than the rest of the groups."
"Why are they tasked more? As most of you remember, our course outline is split into two," she said pointing at the already projected course outline on the board, indicating the division.
"...and each of these parts ends with a revision. This is to help you in your assessment." She dropped her note on the desk beside her, excused herself from her standing position, and continued speaking as she began walking around the class.
"The groups assigned to each revision are expected to have an idea of all the topics done before the revision, come to class and guide the class on all the topics presented."
I saw her glance at me as she finally reached my side and walked past, her heels clanking as she stepped. "Now you know why the group that is assigned to the second revision is tasked more, because that group has to have an idea of all the topics, and is expected to revise all of them with the class before exams start."
Miss Felicia walked calmly with carriage row by row as she spoke, "By the end of today, your class representative will be given the list of groups, each person is expected to research together with their partner on what has been assigned to their group to present to the class."
All this while she spoke and walked around the class, all eyes were on her, and there wasn't a word from anyone else to be heard. How she carried the class along was so admiring. The stilling noise that came from her heels as she walked calmly around the class was calming and also ignited anxiety. She finally reached her original position and halted.
"I trust you to research well and teach accordingly. It should also be at the back of your mind that I'll set questions based on my notes, which you'll not have." The whole class gasped immediately she said this, one could only assume that this was a new occurrence.
"Yes, this will force you to research wider and deeper. Knowing that you are unaware of what questions you might expect is the only tool I can use to make you do more research." She paused and brought her wrist to her face, "With everything being said, and since we still have more time, I believe I should share you in your groups right now."
She grabbed her note from the desk where she dropped it and flipped several pages, she tilted her head and pouted. "No, I'd rather not. It's too much of a hassle. When you see the list, then you'll know." After saying this, everyone in class gave an 'aww' sound, exposing their dissatisfaction with her current decision.
After a considerable amount of time doing nothing of great importance, the bell rung. Miss Felicia grabbed her belongings and made her way out of the class.
As soon as she did that, some of the students who sat, stood and exited the class. We had a general class next, English. It is supposed to be taken in our homeroom, there wasn't a special class designated for it.
Our homeroom was just beside the commerce class, so just like the remnants of the class, I didn't see any use rushing out. Slowly, I put my jotter and pen in my bag, stood, and pushed the sit back. Headed for the door, I walked majestically.
"Lisa?" I paused in my steps and turned in the direction of the call of my name. There, sitting in the back of the class and smirking was Joshua. He was wearing a tight neon green shirt, his afro was packed up in a very unique way that made him look attractive. His legs which flaunted his designer black jeans and black boots were nonchalantly left stretched out under the desk.
"H-huh?" After my last encounter with him, he became one that made my heart skip. Not in a good way.
I saw as he gestured me to come over with his hand. Confused, I looked around me to be sure he was telling me to come. As I looked around, I noticed as the remnant of the class fixed their eyes on me. One muttering unfathomable words to another. I walked toward him with my palms already feeling wet.
Standing straight while hiding my intense discomfort with my equally straight face, l looked down at the sitting Joshua. "Y-yeah?"
"I like your style." With that, he winked at me, stood with so much force that his chair was flung backward, and walked out of the class. Just like that, he left without even checking to see if his carelessly thrown chair might have hit someone.
I still stood there, very confused. Blinking once, then twice. Did he just call me to tell me that he liked my style and walk out?
After some seconds of standing there in confusion, my classmates around me started talking. They talked as they exited the class after Joshua's exit.
"Did Joshua call a person just now?"
"Did Joshua just compliment a person?"
"Did Joshua say he liked a person's fashion sense?"
"A person?" I echoed in my head. Being stopped and called for an unnecessary reason wasn't the only weird thing, but how invincible people made me feel right now.
I remained fixated on that spot, standing confusedly as everyone exited the class.
"Why are you still standing there?" Chase's familiar voice resounded in the now emptied class. I turned to him, he was looking at me and rocking his seat. He did that so skillfully and attractively that one would have believed if he claimed he was trained in the art of rocking seats.
"Are you so shocked and now in a daze because Joshua complimented you?" He made more emphasis by raising his hands as he mentioned Joshua.
"No, rather I'm in a daze because this whole school is unbelievable," I replied as I tried to make sense of all that just occurred, and also what has been occurring. "From the teachers to the students, to everything," I replied in a very low voice.
Chase balanced his seat and stood. He picked his bag from the desk and wore it as he wore earlier. Set, my eyes followed him as he walked over to me.
Standing right in front of me, he stared into my eyes as his lips began to move. "It's best if you blend, being odd and proud of your oddity isn't the wisest thing to do in this unbelievable school." Again, he made emphasis with his hands when he said unbelievable like he was mocking me.
He took two steps backward and turned around, heading for the door. Abruptly, he stopped and looked back at me. "Of course, if you can't blend, remain invincible." He walked out.
"What?" I mouthed. It was as if Chase now had a grudge on me. What did I do wrong?
Soon, I gathered my composure and exited the class for the next. Pushing the door of my homeroom, I walked in. The teacher wasn't in class yet, and the students were naturally chattering with each other.
I tried not to draw attention to myself as I used the side of the class to get to the available seat in the back.
"Heyyy!"
That jittery voice...
"Carly!" I replied as I turned to face her, she was seated beside me wearing her usual hippie clothing. She was smiling eye to eye, smoothly transforming my current mood.
"Coincidentally we are here again, together!" She said as her smile became wider. Don't know how that was even possible.
Her smile was contagious, even what she said was unusual, it warmed my heart. Indeed, she was Carly.
I found myself smiling, "Didn't see you in commerce class? You don't offer it?"
"Not that you didn't see me, but you didn't look for me." She was still smiling as wide as ever. At a glance, she'd have appeared creepy, but she was far from that, she was just a person filled with joy.
"Maybe" I replied, we both burst into laughter.
Just as we were regaining our comportment, a man walked in. He was a bald man who was corporately dressed, a white shirt and brown trousers, black formal shoes, and a black bag. He was an old man in perhaps his 60s, his grey beard was scanty, but he had a full mustache.
His age had already affected his walking step because he walked slowly, still, he appeared lively.
"Good morning class." He said in the weakest cracking voice I've ever heard, it was the old kind of weak, one everyone's grandparents had. He dropped his belongings on a desk and took his glasses from its case.
"I doubt there's anyone here that doesn't know me, Salaam," He continued. "because of the strictness of this school, and it's impeccable privacy, I highly doubt anyone would be here as a new student."
He went to the board and wrote "English". " You know, because of this, this school is highly respected by everybody in the country."
Out of breath, Mr. Salaam sat in the seat for teachers. "Hurrghh," he moaned as he was finally comfortable. "I'm sure we all know why, haha, it's because we have the rich and the powerful in charge." He chuckled.
"Ahem!" A boy who wore a class representative tag, John, stood. "Sir, it's time for class."
"Oh yes, my old age makes me forget things at times, haha. I'm supposed to be teaching you English!" He took his note from his desk and buried his head in it. "English, what a widely accepted language... but I don't see why we shouldn't all learn Igbo, or Yoruba, even Hausa!"
Dropping the book, he smiled, revealing his stained teeth, "have you heard of Efik? Cross River is such a beautiful state, sometimes I wish I could go back to Calabar."
"Ahem, Sir?" John interrupted again.
"Ah, I keep diverting from what I should teach, I blame it on my old age hahaha." He burst into laughter. "But do you all know what 'divert' actually means?" He widened his eyes as he stared at the whole class. Everybody was still, looking back at him like they weren't strangers to this phenomenon.
"Ahem! Ahem! Ahem, Sir!" John interrupted yet again, only that this time he sounded frustrated.
"Oh, my old age, hahaha! Hehehee!" Mr. Salaam burst into laughter, laughter was heard at all corners of the class, this encouraged the old teacher to laugh even more, soon he started coughing. The class watched him as he beat his chest countless times until he stopped coughing. "Argh! John, could you go get me hot water from the dispenser?"
John walked to where the now tired Mr. Salaam sat, collected a big heavy brown mug, where it came from I knew not, and left the class.
"Pardon me, class, you must excuse me, I need to take a very short nap. Just until John returns." Immediately, he dropped his head on his desk and closed his eyes."
Dumbfounded, I looked to my right, at Carly. "Meh, he's Mohammed's relative, that's why he hasn't been sacked yet. It's like he comes to school to pass time."
I giggled, "It sure is great to know a rich person." But how we were going to cover our scheme was bothersome. The door was opened, John walked in. He went to Mr. Salaam's desk and dropped the mug which now had content.
He tapped the old teacher, "Sir, I'm back."
Mr. Salaam opened his eyes and raised his head. "Oh, welcome John, thank you. You can go and have your sit now." John walked to his seat as Mr. Salaam tore a sachet of instant coffee, and emptied it inside the mug.
The class watched him as he drank the whole cup of coffee and slept off.