Deborah sat quietly in the taxi, her gentle demeanor a stark contrast to her mother's constant complaining. They eventually arrived at a grey building, where Deborah's aunt, Beatrice, lived. Deborah's mother dropped her off, promising to send a cheque to support her stay.
Aunt Beatrice was enthusiastic about Deborah attending Uphills High School, mentioning affiliates like Mary Jay, the daughter of Pastor Jayden. Deborah was warmly accepted into her aunt's home.
Later that day, Mary and her mother visited Deborah, and they were introduced by Aunt Beatrice. Deborah, a science student, and Mary, a commercial student, quickly hit it off. They spent the afternoon chatting and getting to know each other.
The next day, Caleb, the prefect, carried out his duties during the assembly. Deborah watched from the sidelines, observing Caleb's confident demeanor as he patrolled the lines. Caleb noticed her and asked Joshua, "Who's that girl?"
As Deborah met the boys, they bombarded her with questions about her arrival. Despite the initial excitement, Deborah's first day was marred by a confrontation with Mr. Sadeye, a strict teacher. She also caught the attention of other teachers, including a middle-aged math teacher who seemed to dislike her.
Deborah was summoned to the principal's office, Mr. Bola, for questioning. The principal, however, was impressed by Deborah's academic record, revealing that she was a brilliant student with a history of straight A's. Despite this, Deborah was placed on probation.
As she left the principal's office, Deborah's gentle demeanor gave way to frustration. She was baffled by Mr. Bola's investigative approach, which included consulting her former principal, Mrs. Femi. Deborah's thoughts drifted back to her past in Calabar, her waywardness, and the attitudes she had developed over time. Overwhelmed, she burst into tears.