"Now let's see the next plant on the list." Kamji's eyes squinted as she looked at the sheet of paper. "Sida Acuta, which is the botanical name for stubborn grass, Isn't it?" she turned to look at Joshua for confirmation.
"And to think you have actually garner some knowledge despite all my private lessons" Joshua replied in a lackluster voice. He was sitting underneath the shed of a tree, his back resting on the trunk with his hands tucked comfortably behind his head.
After a long debate they had finally decided on working on a Herbarium for their Biology project, not that Joshua minded as he had done nothing to contribute. He had simply stared at her as she rambled on about the project. They were currently out in the fields looking for more specimens of plants to add to their collection.
"You know If you weren't going to help, then you shouldn't have bothered coming here in the first place." Kamji said, inspecting some nearby bushes.
Joshua's eyes peeked open, glaring at her. "I believe I had made myself clear from the beginning that I didn't like the idea of us working together. But of course you had to report to Mr Idris didn't you?"
"I only asked him If I could switch partners which he refused," She retorted. She could tell he was still angry about the fact that Mr Idris had threatened to reduce his grades if they didn't work together. She caught site of some stubborn grass in the bushes and made an attempt to pull it off but it was difficult.
"Can you at least help me pull out this plant?" there was a hint of frustration in her voice.
"Why am I not surprised that you were dumb enough to come without a trowel to uproot the plants." Joshua gave a side comment as usual before standing up to his feet.
"Maybe because I thought 'Mr Know it All' would bring one." she shot back at him, still pulling on the plant that suddenly came loose. Suddenly losing her balance, she crashed into Joshua that stood behind her and they both fell in a tumble of mess on the grass.
"I am so sorry." Kamji began to apologize. She had landed safely ontop of Joshua and had sustained no injuries. They were so close to each other that she could pick up the faint fragrance of lavender wafting from him. Had he always smelt this lovely? She asked herself, fighting the urge to bury her nose in his clothes and inhale the sweet scent.
"What are you waiting for? Some background music?" Joshua asked noticing the girl wasn't making an attempt to get up. "Do you think we are shooting a romantic scene in a Bollywood movie?"
Kamji scurried up to her feet, visibly embarrassed by what he just said. "Are you hurt?" she asked as she watched him get back up.
"What do you think?" he rasped, dusting his clothes with his hands. "A two hundred pound of flesh just landed on me. I might have even fractured a bone."
Kamji rolled her eyes. "You could have just caught me. It's not my fault that you lack stamina."
"Says the girl that lost her balance while pulling at a plant." He retorted sarcastically.
Kamji picked up the herb, making sure the tiny yellow flowers weren't squashed during their fall, "At least we see the reason why it's called Stubborn grass." she placed the plant in a bag where she had kept other specimens.
"I think we got all the plants that we need," she said going through the list on her hands. "Now all that's left is to dry the specimens."
There was a bark and she turned around to see a white puppy trotting towards them. Kamji released a squeal in delight Oohing and Aahing about how cute the puppy was.
"Isn't she the most beautiful thing?" she asked picking the puppy up. "And she has very soft fur. What breed do you think she is."
As usual, Joshua seemed uninterested, "Why would you pick up a random dog out in the fields. What if it has rabies?"
The dog became skimmerish on Kamji's hands and as soon as she let it down, it hurried over to Joshua.
"I think she likes you," Kamji had a hint of envy in her voice. "Do you think she's a stray?" she watched Joshua struggling to keep the dog away from licking his face and tried hard not to laugh.
"I doubt. She's just few months old, well-fed. A pure breed American Eskimo." He summarized and Kamji wondered if there was anything he didn't know. "She's probably lost or something." Joshua added, dropping the puppy down and cleaning the sloppy drool it had left on his face.
Kamji inspected the dogs neck. "I don't see any name tag or collar on her. It would be hard finding her owner."
"Good. That just makes it easier to sell her. I am sure she fetch a decent price on the market."
"What? No way I am going to let you sell her off," Kamji defiantly replied. "We are going to find her owner and return her back."
"Well good luck with that." Joshua said heading towards the path that led out of the field. "I do hope you find her home."
"But I don't know my way around here yet." she packed her things, chasing after him. The puppy followed running after them thinking they were playing a game.
After few hours of asking from house to house Kamji got tired.
"Maybe we should take her to an animal shelter," she suggested to Joshua who had reluctantly tagged along after remembering how easily she always got lost.
"The only animal shelter in this vicinity is like ten miles from here. I can put you in a bus if you like." he's eyes lit up at the idea of getting rid of both the girl and the puppy that was now resting peacefully in Kamji's arms.
"I can't go that far, besides its getting late." she replied as they made their way to the back. When they finally reached her street, Kamji turned and handed over the puppy to Joshua.
"What do you think you're doing?" He's eyes narrowed at the puppy in his hands.
"I can't bring a dog into the house. My Uncle is allergic," she lied. "It would make him really sick.
"And how is that my concern."
"We can't leave the puppy out here Josh, she would starve."
"Joshua," he corrected not liking the way she was beginning to sound so informal with him. He dropped the puppy on the ground. "Maybe she would make friends with some other strays and then they will let her into their pack before she starves."
Kamji frowned, "Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Hey Cuz!" Peter came jogging up to them, turning to Joshua he brought out a hand for a shake, "What's up man."
Joshua ignored the out stretched hand and walked off, the puppy running closely behind him. Peter felt embarrassed and buried his hands in his pocket. "What a cocky friend you've got."
"Don't let it get to you." Kamji consoled him. "Joshua's like that to everyone."
"Oh so that's the rumored Joshua," her cousin noted. "Well that explains it." he agreed
Kamji didn't want to ask her cousin about what rumors he had heard about Joshua. "We were just back from working on a project. What about you? What are you doing."
"I just came back from basketball practice," he replied as they began slowly making their way back home.
"I never took you as the athletic type." said Kamji, a little shocked by his revelation.
"What can I say? I am a man full of surprises." he gave her a sheepish grin.
"Something tells me that you're Mum had something to do with it."
"Well yes, she did." Peter admitted. "She complained about how I was always cooed up in my room playing video games and I should try some real sport. So I joined the basket ball team after a while I found out that I really enjoyed playing it."
"That's great. I can help you practice anytime if you want."
"You can play basketball?" Peter asked with disbelief.
"I am not that good at it but I can land a good shot. I always played with Michael back at home in Abuja." Kamji smiled at the memory. Though she still talked to Michael occasionally, it felt like their bond was starting to get thinner and she wondered if it was because they were away from each other. She took a mental note to call him more often and avoid bringing Joshua up in any of their conversation recalling how pissed he was the first time she did.
"Who's that? Your Ex?" Peter asked, noticing the sad look on his Cousin's face.
"No, My best friend." Kamji replied still feeling nostalgic.
Peter put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry cuz. You got me and River and the whole family to keep you company. And even that rude guy too, I can tell he's into you."
"What no way Joshua likes me." Kamji said waving the idea off. "I am totally the first person on his hate list. You need to see the way he tease me all the time."
Listen cuz, I am a guy So I know all the green light that guys give and I am telling you that he is really into you" He said.
Kamji said nothing. Her mind drifting to what it would be like If Joshua was really into her. She had remembered how ruthless he had been when dealing with those men that had tried to molest her and she doubted that someone like him would ever come to have feelings for a girl. The highest thing a girl would amount to him was a one night fling and Kamji didn't want to get caught in that web.
Joshua stared at the little puppy that had kept on following him despite all attempts to push it away.
"You're not a quitter too huh." he bent down and picked up the puppy, giving it a good rub and it nozzled on his chest before releasing a bark. "Looks like we have a lot in common. I am not a quitter too."
The little homeless puppy had reminded him a lot about himself years back when he had still been struggling to survive when his mother had been taken away. Back then he had been a hungry child begging on the streets for food.
"If you're going to be staying with me I better get you a name." he thought aloud still stroking the dog on his hands. "How about Snow?"
The dog released another bark in reply, and licked at his face again, her tail wagging happily.
"I guess Snow it is then." said Joshua.
Taking Snow with him back to their apartment, he found his mother watching TV on the sofa.
"Oh. You brought dinner." his mother said looking at the puppy in his hands. "I will go put some water on the fire."
"Snow is not a game mum." Joshua said holding the puppy protectively.
"So the meat has a name now? Look how fat it is. All white and fluffy." his mother said still eyeing the puppy. "I still consider it good meat. Do you know that dogs are herded as a livestock in some states. A distant relative of my father uses dog meat to make this delicious stew."
Snow whimpered, as if she understood what Joshua's mother intended to do. "Mother we are not making any dog stew." Joshua said dropping the puppy gently on the sofa. "Speaking of relatives, you told me my father died when I was still little.Was it really the truth?"
His mother's face became crestfallen. "Yes he did, why are you asking about this all of a sudden?"
"And what about siblings. Do I have any brothers or sisters." Joshua asked ignoring his mother.
"No you don't Joshie, you have to believe me," she said in a desperate voice. "Has anyone been telling you otherwise?"
Joshua could tell that the questions were getting her anxious and he decided to drop it. He didn't want to trigger her anxiety knowing the outcome wouldn't be good.
"No one told me anything mum. I was just anxious," he replied. "I will be going up to my room now. Come on Snow, lets get you something to eat," he called to the puppy that still laid on the sofa. She jumped down from the chair and trotted over to him, her tail wagging behind her.
"Snow would be staying with us for a while Mum. Try not to eat her when I am not around." he said to his mother who had gone back to watching TV.
"She can keep you company too, so you don't feel too lonely in the house anymore."
His mother just nodded and Joshua thought it was strange because she was usually the chatty type. Had the question about his father upset her? he thought. He had only wanted to confirm because of the way Kamji had insisted he had a brother but his mother's actions now had only raised his suspicion further. Knowing how delicate she was at the moment, he decided not to probe any deeper into the matter. He wasn't going to let his curiosity get the better of him and affect her emotions. When she was ready and willing to open up, he would be there to listen.
After feeding snow some leftovers, he made a place for her to sleep in his bedroom using old blankets. He watched the puppy roll around in the makeshift bed and he did something he hadn't done in a while. He smiled.