"Dear Ms. Nnaji,
We are delighted to inform you that your ward has been selected for the interview holding for the incoming prefects on Monday, 12th of February 2024 by 12pm. Kindly assist her in any necessary preparations.
Yours faithfully,
Sr. Mary Anne Atonwa SCS."
"Oh my gosh! This is amazing." Mummy beamed.
She turned to me. "Why aren't you excited?"
We're looking at the email she just received from my school.
"I am. Just tired." I've been having difficulty sleeping since Theo called me.
"My baby is a prefect."
"They haven't chosen me. This is just the interview stage."
"Oh please. The interview is just a formality. We just have today and tomorrow to prepare you." She gasped. "There's no time. Go and give Goodness your newest uniform. Let her take it to the dry cleaners. And let her call Iya Risi to come and do your hair tomorrow."
"Mummy I did my hair last week."
"And you're redoing it tomorrow. Go and give her my message and come back. Now now."
The next hours were painful for both of us. Me especially.
"Will you stand straight, eh this girl? Is that how you will be slouching during your interview on Monday?"
"Speak up! Project your voice. Let me hear you clearly!"
"Stop doing your face like that. Smile. Look confident."
"Try to look more feminine. See how dry your lips and skin are. I'll be wasting my money buying you expensive creams you won't use."
Mummy had to go to the shop by 2pm and I was happy to see her go. I watched her drive off with Aunty Goodness from the front door. Once I saw her taillights, I locked the door and ran to my room. I fished out my last blunt from where I hid it and lit it sighing.
I was still buzzed when Aunty Goodness got back from the market. I assisted in cooking and we chatted a bit. Mummy came back as I was washing plates and after she ate, we continued the interview prep.
Monday morning she woke me up an hour before my usual time. She gave me her expensive soap to bathe with and I left the bathroom smelling like a tropical garden. I jumped when I found her in my room, armed with a make up bag.
"Mummy shey you know they don't allow make up in my school." I gasped.
"All your classmates that use makeup, have they caught them? It's just to cover your pimples small."
"Dry your body and come here. Osiso." (Quickly)
She rubbed 5 different creams on my face. I stood still as she used a razor to shape my brows to her satisfaction.
"Mummy!" I gasped when she opened a foundation tube.
"Nobody will notice." She hissed. "I'll blend it well."
By the time she was done, I had to admit, I didn't look like I was putting makeup on. It was still me. With a smoother face and more pronounced eye lashes.
She stood behind me at the mirror a held a hand to her mouth.
"See my baby looking professional."
I failed to hide my smile and she noticed.
"You like it." She laughed.
"It's just there. My bus will soon be here."
"Hope you've packed your bag."
"You watched me do that last night."
She followed me downstairs. "Don't forget what we practiced yesterday. Most importantly, don't touch your face."
She fussed over me as I ate. "Is that all you eat? No wonder you're so skinny. You need to add more flesh. Before your father will say I'm starving you."
When I finished my bowl of cereal, she added more to the plate. "Eat more."
The bus arrived as when I was half finished and I stood up.
"Mummy I'll see you in the evening."
"Best of luck in your interview dear." She called as I ran out.
I greeted Uncle Ben and Aunty Florence as I entered the bus. They asked about Theodora and my chest tightened when I told them there was no news.
After I got out of the bathroom Thursday night, I called the number again. Theodora picked on the fifth ring.
"Why are you blowing the phone up?" She demanded.
"Theo?"
"Yes?" She sang.
"Is this a prank?"
"Are you serious?"
"Don't play with me. Who's this?" I growled.
"You have a weird pink birthmark on your right boob. You smell your feet. The weed stash is in the empty shoebox in the middle of your shoebox rack. You're a fucking weirdo." I could hear the smugness in her tone.
"Theodora. It's you."
"No shit Sherlock." She scoffed.
I was speechless, gasping for air. Theo was talking to me. She sounded like her usual playful self. This could only mean one thing.
"Wait! You've been released. Thank God! Theo I was so worried. Christ! Everything has been so fucked up."
"Thank God! Oh my gosh! Let me call my mum ..."
"NO!" She shouted. "Don't tell her. Don't tell anybody."
"Theo?" I asked, confused.
"If you tell anybody, they'll kill me."
"What? Who's they?"
"Swear. Swear you won't tell anybody I called you."
"Okay I swear. Theo this is messed up." I moaned.
"I know. I know. I'm sorry. But don't tell anybody."
"Shit! I have to go now, I'll call you back." The call ended.
I didn't sleep a wink that night. Theo reached out again on the same number on WhatsApp. Reminded me she was safe, but telling anyone would put her in danger. They just wanted the ransom, once it was paid they would release her.
My entire weekend went downhill after that. I felt like a rock at the edge of a cliff. A balloon filled with air past its elastic limit. One wrong move and I was ready to pop.
12pm the time prefect rang the siren for Angelus. After the prayers, I and the other candidates headed to the administrative block and waited outside the conference hall.
One by one we entered and came out. Nobody came out smiling, Olivia even came out in tears.
"Kelechi." Alex pinched me. Miss Benson glared at me from the door.
"It's your turn."
With shaking feet, I walked into the hall.The hall contained a large conference table. On the walls were potraits of the president, state governor and the Mother General of the congregation. Frames of past administrators and important moments in the school's history decorated the walls. By the left side of the room was a glass cabinet filled with trophies.
At the head of the table sat Sister Mary Anne. Flanking her were Sister Ifeanyi and Sister Veronica, vice administrators. The head and assistant head teachers for senior and junior school were present. The year heads for the six years, the hostel mistress, house mistresses, my subject teachers and class teachers.
"Good afternoon Sisters. Good afternoon Head Teachers. Good afternoon teachers." I squeaked.
"Sit down Miss Njoku." Sister Mary Anne ordered.
I sat meekly on the little black chair directly opposite her.
As I sat, I heard mummy's voice in my head shouting, don't slouch. I sat up, resting my back on the chair, legs crossed at my ankles.
"Tell us a bit about yourself, including the position you're vying for." Sister Ifeanyi said looking at the papers in front of her.
My heart thumped so loud, I was sure everyone in the room could hear it.
Mummy and I had practiced my answers yesterday now my mind was totally blank.
"My name is Kelly. Sorry." I winced. "Kelechi Doreen Njoku. I am sixteen years old. I am in SS2C. My favourite subject is History and I'm vying for the post of Sports Prefect."
Sister MaryAnne turned to my class teacher, Mrs Daniels,
"Is she always this timid?"
"I won't say timid. She's just a bit shy Sister." She replied. Thank you Mrs Daniels. I said in my head.
"Why do you think you can be Sports Prefect?"
This I could answer in my sleep.
"I've led the school to win various sports competitions, including the basketball match we won against St Catherine's on Thursday. Since JSS2, I've participated in various sporting events at the interhouse sports, including track and field events. I've won gold medals for my house. I'm co-captain of the basketball team and under my leadership we won the MILO basketball championships last year. I'm also organising the junior students in my house for the coming interhouse sports and we came first in the heat yesterday."
I saw the ghost of a smile on Sister Mary Anne's face.
"Very impressive indeed. Congratulations on the win. I heard you were the star of the match."
I allowed myself smile.
"It would be more impressive if you could look me in the eye while giving your overly practiced speech."
The smile left my face as quickly as it came.
"We can all agree that your sports performance is excellent. Your grades however are another matter all together." Mrs Odeluwa, the senior school head teacher frowned.
"You've barely hit 65 percent average. You're also falling behind in Mathematics. Also there's this issue of you zoning out in classes, am I right Miss Benson?"
"Even just now, outside the hall. I don't know where her mind is. " Fuck you Miss Benson.
"Well considering recent events, I won't be surprised if she's a bit distracted." Mrs Nnoli argued.
"Being a good sportsman is not enough. You need to be articulate in speech. Be excellent in academics. You will represent the school at various events. Just because you play sports doesn't mean you should dress like a ragamuffin. You should be neatly dressed. Classy and composed. Be a lady. A well rounded individual. Do you think that person is you Kelechi?" Sister Ifeanyi asked.
No. "Yes."
"You don't sound like you're sure." She smirked.
"Maybe I'm not 100% there yet. But I'll get there." I twisted my fingers on my lap as I spoke.
"Tell us about your family." Miss Benson smirked. Once again, fuck you Miss Benson.
"I live with my mum. My parents are ... divorced."
"Oh! What a shame." Sister Veronica tutted.
"My dad is remarried, I have three step-siblings I see them regularly." That's not a complete lie.
"Your surname sounds familiar. Are you related to Chief Sylvester Njoku?"
"He's my grandfather."
"Ohh." Appreciative hums filled the air.
"I could say it admirable of your parents. Finding a good solution in an otherwise unfavorable condition." Sister Ifeanyi smiled.
"Alright! That will be all. Thanks for coming Kelechi."
"Thanks for having me." I can't get out of the room fast enough.
"How was it?" Alex asked. She was up next.
"Bloody. Prepare for battle." I whispered.
During lunch, our entire table is buzzing about the interview.
"Sister Mary Anne asked me if I knew that being the Labour Prefect entailed physical activity. Then she asked me if I had experience in that field. I nearly died." Tami groaned.
"Well my interview was perfect." Jessica thrilled. "Sister Mary Anne loved me. I've got this Head Girl thing in the bag."
Maybe it's because of how badly my own interview went. Maybe it's the load sitting on my chest since Theodora called me. I looked at Jessica and I wanted to slap her. She noticed my glare.
"What is it Kelly?"
"Nothing."
"Then don't give me that kind of eye please. It doesn't matter how your interview went. Everybody knows they'll give you a post because of your surname. So stop hating."
"Don't you guys think it's funny how we've all moved on from Theodora’s kidnapping?" I asked.
Tami dropped her fork. "That's not fair."
"Is it? Because it seems like someone here is really happy she's gone." I looked at Jessica as I spoke.
Jessica dropped her fork. "You're just being a bitch. So because I'm not rolling on the ground or I'm not sulking and giving everybody attitude, then I'm happy she's gone. Listen to yourself Kelly."
"That's okay." Tami cajoled.
"No it's not. Don't even say that. You've been acting up lately. I don't even get you."
"I'm so sorry OUR friend is missing." I snapped.
"That's why I should kill myself. I should not allow myself to be happy. I should just lie down crying and be waiting for her to come back like you, eh?"
"Am I the one who told her to go out? If she stayed at home instead of chasing man up and down won't she be here?"
By now the entire hall is silent, listening to us.
"You guys calm down." Tami glanced around nervously.
"Maybe I'm happy she's gone." Jessica smirked.
Tami gasped. "You don't mean that. Take it back."
"Maybe you are. You finally have a shot at your life goal of being Sister Mary Anne's personal bitch."
Jessica stood up and walked out of the hall.
I watched her leave horrified. What was happening to me? I would never speak to anyone like that. Never!
Tami looked at me like I had grown two heads. "That was very unnecessary Kelly."
"She started it." I mumbled.
"You both started it." She groaned.
"God I wish Theo would just be found and everything would go back to normal."
It was at the tip of my tongue to say the words. She reached out to me. I couldn't forget Theo's voice begging me not to tell anybody.
My appetite was gone. We had come for lunch late and the spaghetti was already cold. Just the smell already made me gag.
I got up. "I'm going for practice."
My mood rapidly declined as the day continued. By the time I was done with the track team, they were all in tears. I stormed out of practice ashamed and angry. I needed to find another plug ASAP before I completely lost it.
I got home to an empty house. Mummy was still at the shop. Aunty Goodness was with her family. I threw my bag on the floor and screamed. I stormed the room muttering. I couldn't go to the basketball court, I was scared of running into Isaac there. I had avoided Theodora’s house like Covid patients lived there.
At that moment, I hated Theodora. I hated the position she put me in. Hated how keeping it a secret was making me act out. How nonchalantly she sounded while I had gone through one of the worst weeks of my life.
I fell on my bed. Of course it wasn't her fault. She was being held by dangerous people. I needed to remember that. She was just pretending not to be scared, of course she was terrified. Anybody would be. Her case was a high profile case, mummy got all her celebrity friends to repost her posters. The GoFundMe was steadily gaining more traction, donations were coming in by the day. The church held prayers on her behalf. I know the boarders in school held novenas for her. It still wasn't enough. I needed her back in the house besides mine. Needed to hear me laugh and tease me.
I called the number. It rang out but nobody picked. I lost count of the number of times I called. Once the call rang out, I called back.
"Kelechi what the fuck?"
"I need to see you."
