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We set off along the side of the large crevice, heading steadily towards the farm and keeping as far away from the side of the crevice as possible. We were twenty five in number including three teachers of which Mr. Abel was the leader. Arnold and Dare was with us as well although they stayed at the flanks of the group to keep a watchful eye out for straddlers or any other kind if danger. Dare took every opportunity to glance at me and smile reassuringly. I felt warm in my cheeks for all the attention I got. I wondered why he had taken note of me all of a sudden.
Arnold on the other hand was not being his usual stalky self. He just kept as far away from me as possible and kept on avoiding my eyes. On a normal day I would have been ecstatic about it but today it just bothered me and I didn’t quite know why. Maybe he had finally gotten the message and leave me alone. Anyway I was glad to get the gorilla off my back and my real prince charming in my sights. I giggled to myself as I mentally pronounced the word ‘Adonis’ again.


“What’s sweeting you in this matter now?” Sola asked. Her forehead had stopped bleeding and she looked much like her normal self again. Bimpe was holding her hand tight, out of reassurance or fear I couldn’t really tell.


“Nothing.” I said quickly. Sola raised her eyebrows.


“Dare suddenly taking an interest in you and you don’t find it suspicious?”


Sola was always so sharp! Nothing missed her eagle eyes and keen observation. I held off for a while longer though I was dying to talk about it.


“Mind your own business.” I said.


“Oh come-on, you know you want to talk about it. And besides, what else are we going to do to while away the time? It’s another twenty minutes before we get to the farm.” She grinned.


“Oh all right!” I almost squealed like Bimpe, who strained to hear what we were saying but refused to come to my side of the road. Apparently she
was very terrified of the edge of the crevice.


“I know I said I didn’t like him…” I began


“Uh hun.” Sola said


“And I couldn’t care less that he comes from a rich family…”


“Yes…”


“But…but…”


“But he’s so handsome!” Biola interjected and we all burst out in giggles. Some of the students looked in our direction but couldn’t hear what we were saying and soon faced their own business again.


“I mean, wow!” I gasped. “I thought he was only interested in the fat girls, I never thought skinny me would have a chance…”

“And why wouldn’t you?” Biola interrupted excitedly, “You have won beauty queen twice in a row already. I’m sure he’s been looking for an opportunity to hook up with you but never really had the time!”
We both squealed in excitement and Sola, who was now between us, sighed and shook her head,

“What about Arnold?” she said.

I stopped short. “Yeah? What about him?”


“You do know he cares about you…” Sola began but I cut her short.

“Arnold? That Gorilla? Do you see the way he oogles me anytime we are in assembly? Like he wants to eat me there and then? Abeg o, see better gentleman and you want me to be thinking about Arnold?”


“Keep your voice down.” Sola said, motioning with her hands. I snorted. “I was just speaking up for the guy. He may be crude but he has had your back since you entered the SS block. He never fails to check on you every single day even though he knows he’s going to get the same rough handed treatment from you…”


“Yeah, I think it is called ’stalking’ in some places, Sola.” I said. “I haven’t encouraged him in any way but he persists in disturbing me! Did you know the other day he almost insisted on knowing my house? For what na?”


“It’s actually not nice when a guy doesn’t get the message Sola,” Biola added. “It can be very irritating.”


“Well, I think Dare is a bit too flashy for me.” Sola said shaking her head. “I mean, no interest whatsoever since you became a senior then all of a sudden he starts noticing you after Arnold let you in the day you came late?”


“How is there a connection there?” I asked.


Sola looked at the advancing form of Dare thoughtfully. “Well, I don’t know, is there some sort of rivalry between them?”


Biola and I exchanged looks and then burst into laughter. Sola knocked us both on the head and we stifled our laughter with our hands.


“Rivalry? Between the gorilla and Adonis?” I chuckled


“Oh, so we are calling him Adonis now are we?” Sola said.


I didn’t know I had said it out loud and I felt very hot inside. I stopped talking, embarrassed as Bimpe started to make a silly song out of the new nickname I had coined for the head boy. Sola grinned.


“I see you are completely smitten already.” She said. “Okay o, let’s get home safely first then we’ll see how this relationship will blossom.”


I nodded, grateful that the conversation had been momentarily terminated.


We marched on; amazed at the way the topography had changed. Some trees had fallen and were hanging by their roots to the edge of the crevice and some of the well known streams had completely dried up. I looked around and realized that there were no animals in sight. None at all. No goats, no dogs, no birds, nothing. It occurred to me for the first time that the animal scare we had the day before might have been a kind of warning for today’s event. I wondered where they had all gone to.


Arnold kept a busy look-out for those who went too near the edge of the crevice. He kept barking out orders for those who ventured too near, sending them back in line. He seemed more concentrated in his work than I had ever seen him be. He made sure we were all safe and occasionally would run to the front of the group to discuss with Mr. Abel who nodded appreciatively and then sent him back.


“Would you mind some company?” Dare said as he came into our midst. We all turned towards him, startled.


“Oh, not at all.” I replied, “But aren’t you busy, as in coordinating the crowd?”


“We aren’t that much you know, and besides, I think the other prefects have got it covered.” He said with a gentle smile and looking directly into my eyes. I blushed and turned my eyes towards my feet in embarrassment.

“I hear you are a very intelligent girl, Temi.” He said.

“Me? No that would be Sola, here.” I replied, grabbing my friend who tried to evade me.


“Yes Sola is intelligent but I heard you are a force to reckon with yourself. Beauty and brains combined. You are a rare gem.”


Sola coughed and grabbing a giggling Bimpe by the arm, started walking faster leaving me alone with Dare. I almost called after them in alarm but
stopped myself in time. Dare was walking slowly beside me now. Every once in a while his arm would swing past and brush against mine and the feeling would lift me up to cloud nine. I caught the looks from other girls in the group especially those in the classes above mine and I knew instantly that they were burning up with envy.


Dare asked me about my family, where I had grown up, what my siblings were like, how I was doing in school. We talked about almost everything and by the time we had reached the farm we were chatting like old friends. He had an easy going attitude and didn’t seem at all pretentious. He liked me and wasn’t afraid to say it. I didn’t know what I had done to merit such sudden attention from him but I wasn’t complaining. It was about time somebody apart from Arnold noticed me for the beauty that I was.

We waited until the principal had united all the students from both the junior and senior sides. The teachers and prefects that had been sent to inspect the length of the gorge were back. It seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see but the good news was it was narrowest near the farm and there were lots of tall palm trees there we could use to make a bridge. Those students whose homes were on the other side of the school were lucky. They were sent home immediately with the buses that had been on the school side of the compound during the earthquake. Some of us whose houses were on the other side of the gorge had decided to stay with friends. I knew no one on the other side, I, Biola and Sola all lived eastwards, and were very anxious to get to our homes.


“Mr. Abel lives on the other side as well, he has decided to risk it and go home. I think we should follow him.” I said

Biola shuddered. “I wish I could at least call home and tell them where I am. I’m sure they will come looking for me.”

“None of the networks are going through,” Sola said. “Maybe the earthquake affected the masts.”


“And even if they come, how will they get across to us?” I said. “Look at the time; it’s getting close to evening. Even if we can just get across I’m sure we’ll be able to get some sort of transport home.” I looked at Biola. “If we stay here any longer we are going to sleep inside the school premises.”


“What school premises?” Sola said. “Is there anyone still standing? What if another earthquake occurs?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I heard one of the prefects say some of the junior students were still in their classes when the earthquake started!"


“You think they died?” I exclaimed. She shrugged her shoulders.


I made up my mind. If there was going to be another earthquake I would rather experience it with my family. Dad should be home by now. I couldn’t wait to see his reassuring and imposing form once again. For the first time in my life I truly appreciated him.

“I’m going.” I said and Sola nodded. Biola looked very worried but in the end decided to follow us. We went to meet Mr. Abel who was about setting off with some other students.

“Ah, so you have decided to join our party of explorers eh?” Mr. Abel said good naturedly. “Oya, write your names down. Follow exactly where I go and we’ll be alright. I think the worst is behind us.”


“Mr. Abel, sir, do you really think so?” I asked. “What if another earthquake happens?”


“Very unlikely my dear.” He said. There was a sparkle in his eyes. “An earthquake of that magnitude would have spent itself by now, everything is stable. Hopefully there won’t be any aftershocks and even if there are it is generally not as bad as the main earthquake itself. Of course we don’t know how badly damaged the other side we are struggling to go to was by the earthquake, but judging from the poor network it might be serious. There’s no way of finding out if we stay here.”

I could have sworn Mr. Abel was actually excited. He wanted to go and explore. He grinned around at everybody as if it was a boy’s scout expedition he was about to embark and not a journey into the possible unknown.


“Maybe they’ll send helicopters to come and pick us up.” Somebody suggested. Mr. Abel chuckled.

“I’ve been listening to the radio on and off since this incident occurred. Do you know none of our radio stations have even carried the news? Ony BBC has mentioned that an earthquake occurred in Nigeria and surrounding countries. I’m not sure you should hold your breath waiting for helicopters. I think our government has their hands full on other things.” he stressed the "other" as if he meant to say the government wouldn't be doing anything at all.


“But they always send helicopters in the movies…” the student mumbled stubbornly. Mr. Abel sighed.


“Those who want to go with me, let’s move before the sun sets and we lose our natural light. No junior students please! Stay in the bus as directed by the school principal. There will be mobile policemen to take care of you.”

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heemah: am available buh u ll pay...

how mush??

9slick: Wow.. Just wow, you are good Rov

keep following sir...

MightyFortress: Sometimes I feel that the adulatives to describe your work are .... Dunno how to describe them ( Chukwudi B could help me in expression here.) Carry on bud, hope to meet u sumday.

thanks, hope to meet you too

edogho: another thing i like about u Sir Roy, is dat u barely have typos in ur works. Buh check dat "d handkerchief". what/who's handkerchief? not like u mentioned any handkerchief before . so y don't u use d possessive "my or her"?- (just saying). u always drag ur readers into the world u create while u write. thank u buh I need MORE!!!

I took matters in my own hands, pouring some of the drinking water I had bought during break on her forehead and then using a handkerchief to bandage the wound. I sat beside her and placed her head in my lap. She moaned[b] as I pressed the handkerchief to the wound[/b], but refused to open her eyes.

noted. thanks!

bump

##following
Very interesting piece.

write2obi: Ermmm Roy? give us chukwudi part3 abeg

Hmmmn.

You guys are awesome, thanks for celebrating my birthday with me. God bless you.

princesa: Happy birthday Royver, all the best

thanks princesa

heemah: my plane was crashed but i m ok,
my car was stolen yesterday,
I missed the bus,&
my mobile’s battery was also very low,
that's y i cnt send d msg snce mornin
plz 4giv me & HAPPY BELATED B’DAY 2 U.
send ma cake plss

See excuse
kpele
Thanksss

missterious: Happy birthday, Royver. I wanna tell you a secret, even if you don't update your story for 2 months, I just can't unfollow it. That's how much I appreciate your talent. You're incredible. You'll live long. You'll be rich & famous. [size=18pt]You'll win a Nobel.[/size] Enjoy your day.

Ameeeeeeeeeeeeen!

Jeanfortune: thats how he was able to fight the man-animal, happy buffday Roy and u C.S.O., Happy belated buffday, hope u dont mind it came late

not at all. This is awesome you guys

oh boy


was wondering what all the mentions was about


thanks for the well wishes fellas. you guys and girls have made this day extra special


Oh boy see [size=14pt]c[/size][size=16pt]a[/size][size=18pt]k[/size][size=20pt]e![/size]

Queenxstar: About your signature Sir Roy, you can share with us an inspiration in the area of your writing .

losprince: yes royver you can do this

Hmn. Ok o. Looks like I need a PRO