The Showdown.

Ore grabbed me, turned me around and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Chidinma’s smile fade. I quickly did a “Father, into your hands do I commit my soul” prayer in my heart. I am so going to die today.
First, you know I’m not tall. In fact tall is not an adjective one would use in describing me at all. I am short…hopelessly short and it’s like my mascot.
Second, I’m small and it would have been fine if I had long fingers to you know compensate the sort that will earn me the privilege of giving someone a long remarkable slap at least. But no o!!! My fingers just had to be short.
My point is, if there will be a fight. It will be an unfair one because Ore is taller, bigger, and you should see her palms…It will deafen anybody. I am really dead!

As she held my meticulously ironed White shirt like it was a mold of Eba, it almost became an issue until I remembered  some weeks back, Twiny told me she had a dream. In the dream, I told her I was going to die. For a moment, I thought that the dream was playing out. Her hand brought me back to reality. Somehow, I was fast enough to see the big hand coming for my face..if you see the way I ducked and grabbed our bunk like my life depended on it ehn!! Shock didn’t even allow me look at her again. So, with eyes shut, face bowed, I humbly asked “Ahan, Ore,what did I do?” Then, she said “open your eyes and look at me!!! Esther, where is my bucket?” Oh my God!!! I almost pissed in my pant. Or wait…I guess I did!!!(my children must never read this).You know all these while; I honestly didn’t know why she was attacking me. I forgot about the bucket. I forgot. I don’t know how but I forgot. Well, I slowly opened my eyes and said “let me go and bring it for you” By this time, people had already gathered. They had come to watch me die.  She didn’t let me go. She held on tightly. Me, I grabbed the bunk with both hands like I had just found God in a man-made creation called ‘Bunk’. I held on as tightly as she held on to my uniform. Then she raised her hand and asked again “Esther, where is my bucket? What did you do with my bucket? That’s the only bucket I have Esther. Where is my bucket?” I shut my eyes tightly, tear already streaming because every moment felt like the moment the slap was going to finally arrive.God!

So, I broke down finally. Yes, I know in front of everyone..those whose approval I needed wanted and those people I haven’t seen since the term began.It was so embarrassing but the water had to be released.I felt like a street thief!
I decided to plead guilty and beg for mercy when I said “Or…Ore…please leave me na. I said I will go outside and bring your bucket for you na. Stop dragging me like this please.” It didn’t work cause all I heard was her voice-she was screaming, tightening her grip with every word “Esther. Go and bring my bucket”.  But she wouldn’t let me go.
Profusely sweating, death scared, salty water in my mouth..my nose was running now, I heard myself say “Ore, I’m the only surviving child of my mother. And I have a heart problem. Except you want me to die now and you’re capable of having a child like me, please leave me alone. I will go outside, wash your bucket and bring it in for you”.it was of cause course cos a freshly pressed lie (next week I shall teach you how to prank an entire school) “And so???” She barked “Esther Ordia and so?? Why didn’t you reason that one before using my bucket? You better go and bring my bucket to me o”.She pulled me away from the bunk,pushed me and made me walk in front of her. She said I should go and get her bucket for her. And I did.

Piss in my pant, tears in my eyes, rumpled uniform,wobbling knees, I walked shamefully towards Ore’s bucket. I cleaned it and I cried my heart out while doing it. I cried because I survived.
I cried because my mother refused to listen to me when I told her I wanted to change school after I had a fire accident.
I cried because of my duty…Room 4 Corridor.
I cried because I will definitely cry and sleep off in class and The Economics teacher will ask me to kneel in front of the class. I cried because Mrs Kushimo will insult me and call me a child with no future ambition.. .”juseless geh!! Be following Iyabo!!” She would say *oh!! She is supposed to be my english tisha teacher.#some Nigerian teachers though..story for another day#
I cried because what I had left of reputation was gone forever.
And I cried because no one came to my rescue. Nobody. Not even one. Did they hate me that much?? Even God.  Where was the big man?? Why didn’t thunder strike and all those sorts??

I gave Ore her bucket and in that moment, a switch turned off in my heart.It wasn’t hatred, it wasn’t the desire for revenge (cause I am the one that went to look for trouble), it was something different. I had hit rock bottom…and you know what they say about rock bottom. I guess I’m done with the need for approval and reputation…I’ve lost the last I had of it any way. I’m done with being scared and borrowing buckets. I should get mine today!

LESSONS
*DO NOT BORROW PEOPLE’S BUCKETS WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION. ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN JUDGING ME SINCE..BUCKET CAN MEAN ANYTHING. ALL OF YOU THAT ARE BORROWING PEOPLE’S WIVES AND HUSBANDS AND GIRLFRIENDS AND BOYFRIENDS..TAKE YA TIME..YOU MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY… diarris God in efrithing we ya doing
*YOU DO NOT NEED Mrs KUSHIMO IN YA LIFE. TAKE YOUR TIME TO KNOW YOU..NOBODY IS ‘JUSELESS’..AINT NOTHING GOD DOES GOES TO WASTE.
*YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE…BEWARE OF BULLIES!!!

Next time I’ll tell you why Twiny had the dream she had…I played a prank and it shook the entire school..some IJ peeps will be shocked when they hear the gist..see you soon.♥♥