CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL
"Last Junior!" I heard someone call from the passage as we sat on our bed
"That is a senior calling for us" Victoria said and dropped her bag on the bed, I followed them having no clue what they are talking about
"You better run because, the last junior in the hostel that doesn't answer the senior that called us fast will be sent on an errand" Morayo said as she ran passed me
I ran to catch up with them
Many juniors were gathered also not wanting to be the last
"Hey you" the senior called pointing towards my side
Suddenly my heart started to beat fast; I didn't bother to do anything
"I am talking to you, you that is backing yellow school bag" the senior pointed out
Thank goodness my bag isn't yellow; I looked at my back and saw a girl backing a yellow school. Maybe she was the last to gather here
She walked towards the senior
"The rest of you can go back to your rooms" the senior said, the crowd started to disperse
"Floral, I even thought you were the one the senior was referring to" Morayo said as we walked back to our room
"Me too, I could hear the sound of my heart beat when she pointed towards my side" I said smiling remembering that moment
"Lol, I am sure it is not all juniors that came outside from their room. Some might be hiding under their bunks" Morayo said as we entered our room
"Wow, so others are also running from errands too?" I asked already knowing the answer, though
"You already know the answer" Victoria smiled as she sat on her bed and Morayo left for her bunk
"What kind of errand do you think the seniors give to the juniors?" I asked wondering what kind of an errand I will be sent to do if I was the last junior to come to the gathering
"The junior will either wash plates, wash clothes for them, go buy something or fetch water for them" Victoria said as she off her socks and sandals from her legs
"That is really stress" I said as I sat down on my bed to change from my socks and sandals to my slippers
"I am not complaining because I will also send my juniors on an errand when I get to be a senior in junior school" Victoria responded as she removed her slippers from under the bunk to put it on
"You mean when we get to J.S.S. 2*?" I asked wondering which class we will be when we get to be a senior and start sending juniors on an errand as well
(* - J.S.S. means junior secondary school; instead of some Nigerians calling it grade 7 or 8 or 9, they call it J.S.S. 1 or 2 or 3. The same goes to S.S.S. which means senior secondary school and also the same goes to primary classes. They have different ways of calling their classes)
"Yes of course, by then I will be sending them to do few of my things for me" Victoria said as she undress from her school uniform to change into her folded house uniform she put on her bed neatly
"Lol, I don't really want seniors to send me on her errand so I think I won't trouble my juniors. Don't you think the J.S.S. 3 seniors will also be here to send you on an errand?" I asked as I also changed from my neatly folded house uniform
"Whatever, I don't care as far my juniors are here. Enough with the questions, let's quickly dress up because the time keeper will soon ring the bell for prep time"
"Prep time?"
"Yes"
"What does that mean?"
"It is a leisure period for students to be in their class to read" Victoria answered as she opened her box and brought out her small school bag
"And do you like that period?" I asked as I removed some note books and text books from my bag
"I have no other choice but to like that period of time because I will have the opportunity to read. I don't want to repeat this class" Victoria said as she zipped the small bag and put her normal school bag beside her pillow. She brought out her locker keys from the bag and stood up from her bed
"I will try using that opportunity to read the topics I missed" I said as I put maths textbook, basic science textbook, English textbook and my jotting note into my bag
"I will try helping you with anything you don't understand" she said as she stood up to adjust her clothes "I want to get something to eat from my locker since the food from dining isn't enough" she said excusing herself
I looked towards Morayo side and I saw her already on her house uniform and eating cereals
Jeez… I guess I am hungry now
I stood up and took my locker keys to get something to also eat from my locker
"Remember, if you don't understand anything don't hesitate to ask for my help" Victoria said as we sat on our seat
A female teacher entered our class and instructed us not to make noise as we read or copy our notes
I looked at the vacant seat beside me and wondered where he could be. Maybe he is in his hostel doing something
I brought out my jotting book and maths textbook from my bag and started studying not trying to make noise
Just then, I heard "Say that again! Say that again! Let the whole class hear you" I turned to see two girls talking to a girl as they smiled
"Be quiet if you don't want Mrs. Mustapha to punish you" a girl beside them whispered to them
"You, be quiet! Who is talking to you?" the big girl amongst them talked to the other girl that was advising them
"You in the middle, write the names of the students that makes noise in this class and before I come back I must have names" the female teacher said from nowhere to Victoria before leaving the class
She chose Victoria to write names of students that made noise? That big girl really looks mean and scary