I hid the book in my wardrobe and went to the History class. It was filled with about thirty-five students, the class was silent and I went ahead to sit with my friends.
A young man in a turtle-necked body-hug, a black sweater, black track pants, and a knee length white jacket walked into the class.
He had deep blue eyes, blue hair, button nose, and unfamiliar ears. They were like the ears of an elf. He was tall, and had red lips, he had on his hand a ring as green as the morning sky, and a heart- shaped necklace.
He didn't have any killing aura around him and looked friendly.
"Welcome to history class. I am Milo Thatch. This class is not going to be like other classes. I tell you what to read, and ask questions during the class.
But today, I'll ask questions based on general knowledge. I shall ask one person three questions, if you miss two you are not qualified to be in this class.
Okay, Amora Brown, tell me, what continent is China located in?"
"Umm…I think it's Asia," the girl named Amora said.
"Correct. What about Denmark?" he
asked.
She said," Africa."
"Wrong. What is the official language of Eritrea?" he asked.
" English," she said.
"Wrong!" he answered. And there she went, out of the class.
He went on asking and asking, I couldn't recall that cos I wasn't paying attention. Then he said:
" Rachael, list six common continents."
" Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Australia," I answered.
"Good. What is the official language of Algeria?" he asked.
"Arabic/French," I answered.
"Nicely said. What is the capital of Bangladesh?" he asked.
" Dhaka," I answered.
He said smiling," I have asked all students general questions. Now I will ask about space travel.
This is a once in a lifetime chance to join the history senior class. Tell me about the greatest astronomer of the ancient world."
No one raised their hands. We were only sixteen in the class, and out of these sixteen no one could say a thing, including my roommates . I raised my hand and said,
" The greatest astronomer of the ancient world lived in Greece about 2100 years ago. This scientist of the heavens, Hipparchus, made maps of the stars, and invented ways to measure the movements of the moon, the earth and the sun.
He measured the moon's size to within a few hundred miles, and its distance from earth within a thousand miles, all without using a calculator or a telescope," I said.
"That's fabulous, class is over. Follow me Rachael," he said, and I followed him.
He led me into a beautiful room, not a class at all, and medium sized _ airy and white, with a high ceiling and a breeze fluttering in the starched curtains.
In the corner, near a low bookshelf was a big round table littered with books, and there were flowers everywhere, roses and carnations and anemones, on the teachers desk, and in the windowsills.
The roses were especially fragrant; their smell hung rich and heavy in the air, mingled with the smell of bergamot, and black China tea, and a faint inky scent of camphor.
Everywhere I looked was something beautiful_ oriental rugs, porcelains, tiny paintings like jewels_ a dazzle of fractured color_ the most paradisal painted eggshell of glit and tesserae.
It was filled with weird looking seniors. Some of them had weird looking teeth, horns_ they all looked like monsters.
" We have a genius. Everyone, say hello to Rachael," Mr. Milo Brown said.
No one moved or said anything and I was offered a seat in the front row. He taught them what prompted star gazing to develop into star trekking.
I had read about it three years ago,it was like a revision, so I slept through the class. After the lesson,all the students exited the class. And like a set alarm clock, I rose up and followed behind them.
It was lunchtime, so I went to the dinning hall. Some people were chatting with each other, some were silent. I walked to a corner and sat on a chair at a three man table, Angelina and Alicia were dining on.
I ordered meat bread and orange juice. Angelina and Alicia were talking about old days.
" When I was young, I was taught a nursery song called ' You are old, Father William," Angelina said.
Alicia said putting a strawberry in her custard," I was taught too you know, but I don't remember."
"Why wouldn't you remember? You might need to teach your kids," Angelina said.
"What?! Which planet do you hail from?.
I have never thought of getting married, miss. I am eighteen," Alicia said surprised.
" How would I know you are an alien, miss witch?" Angelina said with a lopsided smile.
"You little rat, weren't you taught manners?" Alicia said, almost losing her temper.
" And who are you? Miss Mary…..wants to teach me a lesson, come on. You probably didn't know, I am a healer. I fight with light magic, sis," Angelina said.
" You shrimp, I am a witch. I am on the verge of having a familiar…." Alicia said.
" Let me stop you right there. Alicia, have you gotten your finger glow?" Angelina asked.
"I have. ' When your finger glows, it means you are able to tap into emotions powerful to cast a spell' " Alicia answered probably mimicking her teacher.
" Really," Angelina said doubtfully.
"How was your class, Rachael?" Angelina asked.
" It was great," I answered with a smile.
I got up after eating my food, and walked out of the dining hall without a word. And went for my aero magic class.