Finally , We were done with arithmetic class . Philip and others who were sent to Mrs Herbert we're back . I knew I was going to be toast once Philip got back. He sat beside Zeke and was quiet . Zeke patted his back and asked him what punishment he was given
"The toilet , for a whole week ". He replied .
What ?.. A whole week ?. I didn't know what to say . It was all my fault . Maybe I needed to return the cane , but if I did . It was only going to get worse so there was apparently no need. Zeke assured Philip that we would be of help to him in cleaning the toilets. Since our first day together since junior stage one , We literarily do most of our things together . I apologized to Philip who didn't seem convinced with my apology . Deliberating on what to do , Mr Patrick our English language teacher walked in . As usual , the whole class chorused .
"Good morning Mr Patrick " . The bald man hardly answers greetings . Of all people in this universe , should bald pot bellied men who have lost their shape be so proud ?. He shook his ink and scribbled on the white marker board "English language " with a subtitle " clause and phrases ". I slipped out my note book just as the others and started writing every bit of word he scribbled on the board. After a while of writing , he began explaining as we all paid attention
" A phrase is a word or group of words that expresses a single idea but does not make a complete sentence or sense . Instances are : He fought the war and came out as a great man , according to this sentence , out as a great man is a phrase mostly because it makes no complete sense or sentence ". He explained. After explaining and writing , teacher Patrick decided to ask questions ."who can give me some examples of phrases". Quite a number of students raised their hands including i , Zeke and Philip . Mr Patrick began picking one after the other.
"You ". He pointed to the girl seating at the front role who raised her hands . " Under the oak tree is an example of a phrase ". The whole class gave a solid round of applause in accordance to her answer . Her name was Rachael . I'd figure out she was a newbie , "such a smart one " I said to my self . Gradually he asked each student that raised their hands till it got to my turn and then I realized that I had forgotten what I was supposed to say . I stood up silent for sometime before letting what came to my head out so I wouldn't look like a dull kid right in front of the others.
"Beside a bald man " I let out sloppily without thinking. The whole class chorused a choking laughter in mockery of teacher Patrick . It was then I realized I was a done meat . Oh what have I done , Mr Patrick wouldn't joke with a single strand of his hair , that's even if he had one not to talk of having none . All this meant was I was heading to the staff room with him . He rounded up his session and called me up out of the class . I followed him suit with his whip behind him . There wasn't a day that passed that i never visited the staff room for some lashes.
As I walked into the staffroom . A lot of teachers laughed like they were expecting me."Kevin , The most disturbing kid in this school . Are all short people this mischievous?". "Are all bald people wicked ?.". I replied him in my heart . I dared not to say that if I wanted to live or exist as a single particle so it was best to say it in my heart .
"I'm too stressed to beat you , but Mr Ben here would be glad to do that for me ". What ?. Professor Ben ?. With anger and ferociousness he pulled my trouser tight making it hug my buttocks so each lashes could penetrate.
"Whip , whip ". As each lash hit my buttock , I wimped and groaned in pain and cursed my mouth for making me experience this . If this is what he'd be giving me without knowing the culprit behind the theft of his cane , how much more would such person receive.
" I can't wait to show off my brutal lashing skill on my cane thief " . Brutal lashing skill ?. If this isn't his brutal lashing skill , then I don't wish to know what it is . After completing four hatrick on my buttocks , professor Ben and Teacher Patrick finally let me go. I kept feeling the ugly pain my mouth had caused on my buttock . My buttock was brutally paying for my mouths offence .
Coming out of the staff room was like sitting on a hot coal for so long . My round pads right behind me were all red and hot . I could feel hot blood rushing with pressure in my buttock vein than any other part of my body . Zeke and Philip were just two feet away from where I was . I could see them laughing at me . " What's so funny fatso" I asked Philip who seemed to care more about laughing real hard at me than his punishment . Turning to Zeke was the same too. I had no option than to join the laughter controversy cause it felt contagious too .
" Okay , that's enough with the laughs , How many were you whipped ". Zeke asked me . I knew they wanted to make more fun of me so I'd better be ready for another round of hard laughter . "Twelve of Mr Patrick's whip coming from the hands of professor Ben " I replied Zeke who could barely hold his mouth together bursting out every seed of laughter in him making his face all veiny . "He is giving you a dose of what he's going to give to you when he finds out you stole his cane "Philip added . " I didn't steal his cane , I seized it " . I clarified my self but it only got worse with Philip creating another joke out of it . "Tell that to him so he would spark up your butt with an extra twelve ". They both laughed and made jest of the whole situation on the way to the toilet . I vowed in my heart to make Professor Ben pay for today . He must pay !.