THE ORDEALS OF NNEOMA
Episode 2
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Nneoma does everything possible to stay out of trouble because of the type of stepmother she had.
She hardly has time to make friends and at school, she keeps to herself most of the time. Dera always monitors her activities at school so she can give a rundown to her mother when she gets home.
Dera was always free to mingle with others.
So there was a boy in her class that she was crushing on but the boy wasn’t showing interest in her. She tried all she could to get his attention but to no avail.
So one day, she bought a gift for the boy, thinking that it would make a change but he rejected it. She never knew that her fellow students were watching as all that was happening.
A few days later, Dera had a disagreement with one of her classmates immediately after dismissal and they started exchanging words.
“Instead of you focusing on your studies, you are there seeking the attention of a boy,” the girl lashed Dera.
“Is it your business?” Dera said in defence though shy.
“Keep stealing your w*cked mother’s money to buy a gift for a boy.”
“You called my mother w*cked?”
“Yes!”
“Your mother is a pig.”
The girl got angry and hit her. Then they started fighting. Other students clustered around them and made jest of them. The girl beat Dera black and blue. It was Nneoma who finally separated them and everyone dispersed.
So when they got home, her mother saw the way she looked and requested to know what happened.
Nneoma wanted to talk and Dera quickly interrupted her.
“Mummy someone called you w*cked.”
“What! Me w*cked.”
“Who else is telling everyone that you are w*cked except Nneoma?”
Stella quickly pounced on Nneoma and started beating her right there.
“They are calling me wicked because I raised you instead of allowing you to d!e with your mother, ungrateful id!ot, get out of my sight.”
Nneoma cried her heart out.
That didn’t prevent her from doing her usual house chores.
The following morning, they both left for school. The students were in the assembly ground when the school principal walked up to the stage holding an envelope.
He exchanged greetings with the students and teachers. He then opened the envelope and brought out a letter and went further to address them.
“This letter is from a reputable oil company in this country. They have offered to sponsor some of our brilliant students to study abroad.”
The students roared and clapped in excitement.
“We will pick the best students from different classes to feature in different categories of the scholarship. The exam for the scholarship will be coming up in two weeks.”
The students were filled with enthusiasm.
“Again, I learnt that two SS 1 students fought yesterday after school,” the Principal continued.
The students started murmuring.
He then mentioned the names of the students and asked them to step out.
Dera and the girl she fought with walked up to the stage.
The Principal then collected a cane from one of the teachers and gave them ten lashes each on their butt0cks. He then asked them to step aside.
“I don’t care to know what brought about the fight, I believe you all know the rules and regulations of this school.”
“Yes sir!!” the students roared.
“Very good. Both of you are suspended from coming to school till after two weeks. And on the day of resumption, your parents will come with you. Go and carry your bags and leave at once.”
Both of them cried and begged to be forgiven but it didn’t change the principal’s statement.
When they left, he continued with the rest of the students in the assembly
“This should serve as a lesson to some of you who will choose to behave like an!mals. If you break the school rules, you will get punished for it.”
Dera carried her bag and went back to the house.
TO BE CONTINUED.