MEL

ady?" Mum calls out f

" I cal

s look too glossy , am I going to a party? I think to myself and wipe the lip gloss away with the back of my right hand. I loosen my braids and then tie it into a ponytail with a blue ribbon that matches my uniform. I sit on the bed, my new bed. Everything in this room is new ,even my

almost late ,I want to mak

nd run outside. I close t

um asks mildly although

,she rarely shouts or scolds and has never

pretty"

and smile then I plan

the black shiny jeep. She drives out and parks the car. I stalk outside and then lock the gate with the metal padlock. I walk to the car, op

nervous?"

as the shyest ,I was the quietest ,is that expression correct? I never had any friends except Miss Sandra who was my English teacher. She was always nice to me and I l

ll) saw me and shouted to the whole class that I looked like Merlin's dragon. It didn't even make any sense,nothing Obi said ever made sense. But everyone laughed and the name stuck throughout that day. Everyone called me Merlin's dragon. I told mum about it when I got back home from school. She told me the name calling would stop if the rashes were gone. We both went to the hospital and the young handsome doctor told me that it was an allergy, although we never found out what the trigger was. Eve

der than normal ,everywhere seems so quiet. I look at my very sweaty palms. I wonder what kind of kids go to this school. Would I cope,would my final exams be okay. This is the second term and switching school sounds dumb and tragic, but

me on my hands" Mum calls out to me. She

uld be worse. And switching to a new school doesn't mean I will become brilliant or magically get As in my final exams. I swallow hard and then take the first step. The flowers by the side of the pavement stairs look bright and red, almost pink. That's a hibiscus I think. There is a building next to it , I can see it fro

work. I never imagined I would work in a company this big and as a general manager. You are going to

The hallway is neat and quiet. The ash tiles are

me,"Maybe I should call the principal to tell her

llway. He is dressed in a maroon suit, trousers a

g. My daughter is new here. I have not really been here before, and I do

at the house and my books. Mum was in a rush and since she didn't know anywhere in

here " ,he says with

so much,"

, an area that looks like a cafeteria. We take a new bend and we walk past doors labeled, counsellor, PTA secretary (for sch

hes the door open and th

e of three happy looking smiling children and a desktop computer. Two tall girls and a little boy with dreads. She looks sort of tiny and pretty. Her permed hair is packed i

I found them in the hallwa

s to mum to sit and then at me too.

r class. If I remember correctly you're curr

ol lesson schedule

s. He takes a seat a l

e focuse

ing ma'am"

uietly. I don't like the

ecently, and I can recall from the

into her

he necessary thin

ur new job Madam. I just saw your position here.

mm Mrs Ekene

experience here" she s

pe s

hese days ,I think she thinks it will lessen the hurt from dad's death. When we are out of the office hallways. I wave to mum with a smile,even though my heart is beating so fast now. Mum wa

g

kips non stop. Finally we get to my class,there is a blue plastic

ke out what their mood is like , I can hear sad voices an

says to the class. He says it like it is

ous and shaky and I really don't know what to say. I know I am supposed to just say my name and age. But talking seems so difficult.

I am not going to be Merlin here ,"d

oints out an

n seat

ff my bag and take my seat.

I wonder what I did wrong. I just knew this school would be worse. I look up at the other girl besides the stink eye girl on the right ,she is writing quietly in her note. She looks cute although she has tiny pimples all over her forehead. The dark boy at the end of the co

TORIS

*

ong. A tall thin girl walks up to me wi

ca besides me,my assistant and best friend. I was told to give yo

the lockers. I open up my new locker.Prisca walks away with tiny Jessica. Everyone walks in twos here ,even the stink eye girl has a partner, the shorter girl,with thin arms and lots of pimples on her forehea

p. It is my locker now, not"Queen Priscilla". It's funny how there are lockers here like the high sc