Kelechi is the main character of the story.
Question and Answer session with Kelechi Njoku, our main character.
Q: Hi Kelechi.
A: Hello.
Q: Great to have you here. (lowers voice) I know you’ve been in series of interviews recently but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.This is just a friendly meeting. Okay dear?
A: (nods her head) Okay.
Q: Tell me. Who is Kelechi Njoku?
A: Umm … okay. I’m Kelechi, my friends call me Kelly though. I’m sixteen. I’m in SS2. I guess that’s it (shrugs).
Q: Okay Kelly, can I call you that? Assuming we’re friends now. You are in SS2, which means next year you will be taking A ‘levels and you’re off to college. That must be exciting, isn’t it?
A: I guess.
Q: What do you want to study? Do you know yet?
A: Not really. But I’m a commercial student. So, I will probably study something Business related.
Q: Sounds like a good time. You mentioned your friends earlier. Let’s talk about them.
A: Ohhkay! Well there’s Theodora. Everybody calls her Dora. Then Tami and Jessica. Alex too.
Q: (smiles) That’s more friends than I had when I was your age. I’m guessing the person you called first is your bestie.
A: Oh yeah, Dora is. I mean she’s great. She’s so smart and like, everybody loves her. Even Miss Benita likes her, and Miss Benita hates everybody.
Q: (laughs) I’m sure she doesn’t. So, you have your clique of girls. Dora, Tami, Jessica and Alex.
A: Alex isn’t friends with the other girls. I know her from Basketball. We’re co-captains.
Q: Why is that just coming up? You must be really good!
A: (smiles shyly) I’m alright. Alex is awesome. You should watch her play. She is a great person, on and off the field. (sighs) Most times I feel like I don’t belong among my friends. They’re all really popular and smart and win prizes for the school and stuff, I’m just the sporty one. Normally Tami and Jessica wouldn’t look at me twice. But because I’m best friends with Dora, we all became friends.
Q: Sounds like you and Dora are really close.
A: (shrugs) Well, she is my best friend. Comes with the territory.
Q: How did you guys become friends? She sounds so different from you.
A: She definitely is. Our mums are best friends. I’ve known her all my life, you get? We weren’t really close when we were younger, she lived a bit far from me. Till me and my mum moved in next door.
Q: Speaking of your mom, let’s talk family.
A: Well my parents are divorced. My dad lives with his new family so its just me and my mum.
Q: You’re an only child then.
A: (looks down at her lap) I guess I am.
Q: Are you on good terms with your dad and your step-siblings? Or you’re a mummy’s girl?
A: (laughs scornfully) Honestly, I don’t think I’m anybody’s girl. I am not close to any of my parents. I’m just there. Existing.
Q: That doesn’t sound nice.
A: It doesn’t feel nice either. But its better for everyone this way.
Q: (raises an eyebrow) Really?
A: Yes, really. I'm not a people person.
Q: Why do you say so?
A: I mean, everyone close to me gets messed up, one way or the other.
Q: (tentatively) Is this about what happened to Dora? Do you feel responsible for that incident?
A: (eyes flashing) I thought this interview was supposed to be about me.
Q: Yes it is. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes.
A: (harshly) I don’t want to answer that question.
Q: Okay. Is it okay if I ask about Chima?
A: (stands up) Don’t you dare mention that name. DON’T YOU DARE!
Q: I’m sorry about that, please have your seat let us finish up. I still have a few more questions.
A: I’m done here. (scoffs) Friendly meeting my foot. (walks out of the room, leaving the door open behind her)
Q: (stares after her patient) How am I supposed to help her if she won’t talk? (sighs and shakes her head)
About five minutes later, a young woman in her mid-twenties walks in.
“Dr. Richard? Your 12pm is here. Should I send him in?”
Q: Send him in the next ten minutes.
The young lady nods and walks off smartly, leaving the therapist to add some notes to the patient file in front of her.
Character Description
Kelechi Njoku is a sixteen-year-old Nigerian teenage girl, living in Lagos, Nigeria. She is from the Igbo tribe. She is in her junior year of high school (called SS2 in the country the story is set in).
She is about 5’8, quite tall for her age, with black eyes and black 4c type hair normally in cornrows. She is dark-skinned with a slim build, average weight of about 60kg and an angular jawline. She has a slight overbite.
Kelechi’s parents are divorced, she lives with her mother at Ajah, a middle-class suburb in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father lives with his second family at Lekki, an upper-class suburb. She has three stepsiblings. She is not close to her father, she sees him occasionally at family events and celebrations.
Kelechi’s best friend is Theodora. Their mothers are friends and they attend the same school. Their other friends from school are Tami and Jessica. Her friends from church include Jesse, Mirabel and Victor. She is also close to Alex from the basketball team.
Kelechi hunches her back when walking and sitting. She has self-esteem issues, she is highly conscious of her overbite and is withdrawn. Her wardrobe consists of graphic tees and cargo pants or baggy jeans and shorts. She only wears dresses and skirts to church, this is a cause of strife between her and her mother who wants to dress her in more girly clothing. She uses self-depreciating language frequently and is easily influenced by her friends, especially Theodora.
She is quite popular at school as the co-captain of the basketball team, but is mostly in her more outgoing friends’ shadows. Her grades are average and her teachers constantly encourage her to apply herself more and participate in classes. She is not close to either of her parents and blames herself for the divorce.
Kelechi’s major goal is to get a basketball scholarship and go abroad to study. It is a plan she and Theodora are working on together. Everything changes when Theodora goes missing.
Character sheet for Kelechi Njoku
Name: Kelechi Njoku
Age: 16
Current location: Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: Secondary school certificate in-view
Physical Appearance
Height: 5’8
Eye color: Black
Hair color: black kinky 4c hair usually in plaits or cornrows.
Build: slim build, chubby cheeks, dark-skinned, average weight
Unique qualities: slight overbite
Fashion sense: casual clothes. Wardrobe consists of graphic tees and cargo pants or baggy jeans and shorts.
Favorite accessories: silver stud earrings
Quirks and mannerisms: kisses teeth and sighs a lot. She has poor posture and hunches her back. She gesticulates with her hands when trying to emphasize a point. d sighs a lot. She walks with head down and has self esteem issues, uses self depreciating language often. When nervous, cannot look people in the face.
Family
Mother
Age: 39
Occupation: owner of a luxury clothing brand
Relationship: Kelechi is not close to her mother. They live together but rarely communicate. They do not fight but are not close.
Father
Age: 45
Occupation: investment banker and partner at investment banking firm.
Relationship: Kelechi is not close to her father. Her parents are divorced. Her father is remarried with younger kids, they are on cordial terms.
Siblings
Kelechi has three step siblings from her father’s second marriage. They are between 6-10 years. They also live in Lagos. She sees them during birthdays and family celebrations.
Relationships
Kelechi has a best friend, Theodora. They attend the same school, and live in the same estate. Theodora is more outgoing than her friend. She and Kelechi’s mother are friends.Kelechi is currently not interested in any romantic relationships. She does not have any enemies although she strongly dislikes her stepmother. She also dislikes her math teacher.
Public opinion
Kelechi’s friends and peers would say that she is quiet and lives in Theodora’s shadow. She is often told by teachers to speak up and apply herself more in class. She is seen as timid and shy. A stranger would say she is standoffish and timid. Her best friend would say she’s the smartest person she knows.
Biggest desire: to have her parents back together.
Biggest goal: get into a university abroad on a basketball scholarship, not on her father’s money.
Strengths: she is a good listener and is sympathetic to others plight. She sees the good in even the worst people. She is generous and forgiving.
Flaws: she lacks confidence and has self-esteem issues. She gets easily distracted by her emotion and is easily influenced by others. She often puts others first above herself.
Character sheet for Theodora Ogazie, secondary character
Name:
Theodora Ogazie
Age: 16
Current location: Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: Secondary school certificate in-view
Physical Appearance
Height: 5’4
Eye color: hazel
Hair color: black kinky 4c hair often in plaits or cornrows.
Build: slim build, chubby cheeks, light-skinned, average weight
Fashion sense: her wardrobe reflects the current trend of dressing among Nigerian teenagers. Crop tops, cargo pants, wrap tops, mom jeans, skirts and the like.Favorite accessories: hoop earrings, knuckle rings and bracelets.
Quirks and mannerisms: she also kisses her teeth a lot. Has a loud laugh and a beautiful smile, showing perfect dentition. She has good posture and walks with confidence. Often touches people while talking to them. Can deliver scathing insults with a brilliant smile, is a fast talker and used to getting her way.
Family
Mother
Age: 39
Occupation: banker
Relationship: they were very close when she was younger but recently they have been fighting a lot.
Father
Age: 47
Occupation: mining engineer (laid off)
Relationship: he adores his daughter and she can do nothing wrong in his eyes.
Siblings
Theodora has three elder brothers, she is the only girl and is spoilt. They all dote on her.
Relationships
Theodora is best friends with the main character,Kelechi. Her other friends at school include Tami and Jessica. She is quite popular and easily makes friends wherever she goes.She is currently not in any relationships although she has a lot of admirers. She has quite a few enemies which include people she has bullied and hurt.
Public opinion
Theodora’s friends and peers would say she's a nice person when she's not upset with you. Teachers would say she's a delight to have in the classroom and is intelligent and bold. A stranger would describe her as a beautiful, intelligent young girl. Her best friend would say she's perfect.
Biggest desire: to always get her way.
Biggest goal: get into a university abroad on a scholarship.
Strengths: she is a good conversationalist. She is good at making people feel comfortable. She is confident, intelligent and beautiful. She is also observant.
Flaws: she is selfish and entitled. When offended she can be mean and spiteful. She is attention seeking and vain.
