CHAPTER ONE
Ahmad, wake up it’s time for school’ screamed Umma Aisha
Ahmad grudgingly woke up from his bed as he made his way to the bathroom, ever since his parents changed his school, Ahmad feels reluctant to go to school, everyday it is a battle between he and his mother which he always loses. After taking his bath, he made his way to their dining room/parlour/playground, there he greeted his father who was sitting on his favorite sofa and listening to the news on his old radio set. Ahmad hurriedly finished his breakfast as he made his way to the door to escape the daily routine of applying talc powder on his face and neck, his school mates always make fun of him calling him ‘ajebota’ which he hated so much.
As he walks towards the school gate, he could see the time keeper swinging the bell announcing the time for morning assembly, he could see his mates running to escape getting by flogged by the prefects who are already stationing their selves outside the school gate to punish late comers. Since transferring to the new prestigious school, Ahmad finds it hard to make friends when he first came to the school as he only understands Hausa, his native language and a little English. The school he was attending before was a low standard school, and his mother couldn’t wait to change his school when her business started blooming as she appreciates education even though she never passed primary school herself.
After the morning assembly, the students marched their way to different classes, Ahmad entered the class, Primary 3A with their class teacher, Ms. Mojisola who is fond of Ahmad, of course she would be, Ahmad is a dark skinned thin Hausa boy with a breathtaking smile and a set of well arranged white teeth, even though he had trouble making new friends, he is intelligent and always eager to learn, many times he makes error when trying to pronounce few English words and his mates never fails to mock him, but he never relented, his zeal to properly speak English makes him her favorite student and over the one year he has spent in the school, his English has improved so much. After she has gone over the usual routine of calling the names of each student to take note of the absent ones, the School Head master came in with a new student she was briefed about the other week. The student introduced herself as Hauwa Muhammad, a Fulani girl who just moved in from the north, Ms Mojisola noticed she also has a similar problem with Ahmad when he first came to the school and as such she decided to pair them up
‘at least they speak the same native language’ so she thought.
Ahmad face lightened up when the new student was asked to sit beside him, from the first instance their eyes met and she sheepishly looked away, he felt a ting in his heart. Classes ended and as he was hurriedly arranging his books into his bag, he heard someone calling him with a soft voice, his mind was far away as he was already imagining himself at home with a bowl of food. He looked up and saw Hauwa smiling with her full set of white teeth, he lookedw back to make sure the smile was for him before he composed himself and muttered a soft yes
Can I borrow some of your notes?’ she asked in Hausa
Sure….’ He muttered happily
Which one will you like to borrow?’ he also added in Hausa
She named a few subjects and he felt a need to offer help as it will take her a while before she finish writing all the notes. He collected some of her new notes to help her copy a few subjects and he also offered to escort her to her house considering she is still new in town. She told him her brother is coming to pick her so he shouldn’t bother.
Ahmad left in a good mood knowing he has finally made his first friend since he came to the school the previous year.
Since the arrival of Hauwa in the class, Ahmad’s attitude towards school changed, he gets up early from bed before his mother even knock on their door. He organized an extra lesson for her to help her catch up with school work, and on her part she helps with provision of snacks. They became really close and most of their classmates calls them a couple, a name they never argued or fight about.


Copyright © Ishaq Abdulazeez Faisal