In Lara’s second year, it wasn’t really easy because she had people who saw her as highly intelligent and she mentored them. So, she had to try to succeed amid competitions. She studied English.
One thing helped her in school. She had a theory she called ‘the rock and ant theory which she used when pride came knocking: meaning, she was small and powerless but the Great One worked through her to do exploits. So, to her, she wasn’t the one doing all the work. It was a good one she learnt from her grandma’s book. She wasn’t puffed up. Her roommate, Stella was an artist.
Lara had made three close friends in school and they owned a snack shop called “sweet chops”. They decided not to depend on their parents for money, but to be responsible for their own welfare. Even though their parents were comfortable, their desire was, being able to flaunt what they have been able to achieve on their own not their parents. They made and sold cheese, cakes, chocolates, ice cream and lots more after school, not waiting for their monthly allowances from dads and mums. Friends came often to join them. They did group revision after sales at night before going to their rooms.
It was a time when technology took over the world, mobile phones were all over. Nike mailed Lara to tell her that Mike had published two other novels: “Darkened Eye” and “Angle’s wings” which he dedicated to them both. Lara smiled as she read her messages.
She entered her room to see Stella painting a masterpiece. Stella often spent her free time painting. She came in for Fine Art and attended her dance class in the evenings. Lara was really curious, wanting to know who Stella really was.
She sat down, grabbed her pillow and was ready.
“Stella, I was first wondering how growing up was like for you. You seem to love what you do.” Lara started.
“Why did you say that? It’s cool painting your thought on paper. Life is beautiful.” Stella replied.
“Tell me about you. I draw cartoons, not still life or landscape.” Lara continued.
“Really,” Stella said with a surprise.
“What influenced you?”Lara asked.
“It has its pains attached to it,” her roommate replied.
“hmm-hmm,” Lara sighed.
“You still want to know? Okay, it started when I was younger. I used to be a very cheerful fellow until one day, Mum turned Mother Teresa. She brought in a distant cousin, Sammy, who lost his mother a long time ago and his dad, had travelled to England.
Each time I was alone at home, Sammy often held my waist, tickled underneath my feet and kissed and caressed my body. I was ignorant, so naïve. I giggled each time he did it. When mum told me it was time to go to high school, I was so happy. Though, it was a boarding school and we were all girls, but I didn’t care. I was just happy I would be far from home. Most girls talked about the hottest guys they had met. What did we know, we were all innocent. All I thought of was my hurts. I didn’t know how to relate with anybody. I kept to myself most times, painting. I fell into wrong hands several times.
My first year in the University was worse. I had a boyfriend who raped me when I went to his room to visit him. He tore my clothes with no mercy and devoured my body like a hungry lion. I tried joining the volleyball team but I wasn’t doing fine. So, I met another guy named Willy, which was after I broke up with Peter, my first boyfriend. Willy, my colleague here in school, seemed to be so quiet. I was burdened with my past pains and thought I needed someone to talk to. I had no friends. I bore all on my own. I tried to reach Willy, wanting him to talk to me. Instead of Willy helping, he thought I had a hidden agenda. So he mocked me, laughed at me and made jest of me. I felt very dejected. Then, I made up my mind to stand up and become someone great in life. Whatever pain I had faced in the past I turned them into painting. I poured my heart into paintings. Since then things have been cool for me. I joined a dance group when I got into school because I had been stiff for years. I stopped dancing when I got to high school. I guess that’s all about my love for painting. I love painting naturally but my past triggered it.” Stella concluded.
“That was deep. We all have some pasts. We just don’t have to dwell on them. I used to turn my past experiences to short stories, but now I spend time writing books and training others to motivate and help them get better,” Lara said.
“I have a class by 7.00 p.m.” Stella said, packing up her painting materials.
“Can I come with you? I can learn how to dance too. You remind me of my parents. They used to dance in high school,” Lara stated.
“Really, that’s lovely, Stella replied.
“Is your friend still taking us to our favourite eatery today?” Lara asked.
“No! He changed his mind. We’ll go tomorrow but we’ll have a nice time at the class. He’ll be there too.” Stella paused and then remembered,
“I need to make a call. My mum asked me to brief her about my improvement so far.”
“That reminds me. I need to call a friend too. It’s been long we’ve seen each other. We’ll meet there by 6:30,” Lara said as she laid the bed. They both parted ways.
Lara ran out of air time so she couldn’t use her phone. She went to a phone booth to make the call. Dialling Mike’s home number, it rang.
“Hello,” Aderonke answered.
“Hello ma! Is Mike at home?” She asked.
“He just stepped out some minutes ago, wait a minute, let me call him.”Aderonke said running outside the house.
“Mike! Michael! Michael! Come back you’ve got a phone call!”
“I am going to be late for lectures, who is it by the way?” he replied hastily.
“Lara!” she shouted happily.
“Wow! Oh oh ok!” Michael screamed with a smile on his face. He was excited.
His heart skipped a beat, then he dropped his books by the roadside and ran back into the house absentmindedly to get the call.
“Lara! It’s been long. Did you get my emails?” Michael said.
“Yes I did. Thanks for being there. How is your school?” Lara replied fondly.
“I have been working on some new project. I’ll send the details to you later.” Mike said.
“Hmm. Prince Charming, I’m going for a dance class today. You’ll be late for lectures. I miss you.”
“Dance class eh? Interesting development. I miss you too.” Michael replied smiling.
“Bye” was said at both ends with smiles. Lara dropped the call, realizing that she had been sounding like an excited hen while phoning. She turned to leave. A guy was standing outside waiting to make use of the phone. He stared at her and could see her eyes glowing, she thought. She walked away happy, strolling down for dance class.
It was a new season for Nike. She made a new friend in class who wasn’t in the band. Rita’s dad, Stephen, was a movie star and her mother modelled. She had a thing in common with Nike, busy parents. Rita had health issues, and low self esteem, which started when she was sexually abused by her uncle who came visiting when her parents were not around. She got involved with two…three guys sexually, finally got pregnant and had to abort it. Having committed murder, she felt guilty and at the verge of killing herself, she met Nike. So, Rita decided to join the band. They all came up with the idea of taking a new step. They started an NGO (Non-Governmental organization). Felix, who was an orphan in the band, was in charge of proper planning while others handled the finance and awareness. When he was five years old, his parents were killed by armed robbers.
They went to different Secondary Schools, organizing competitions like the children’s fashion parades and exhibitions. They also organized word games like scrabble, word bank, spelling bee, word finder and film shows.
The students were encouraged to design their costumes which would be used for the forthcoming Christmas festival which they planned. They were advised to dress in what they would want to look like in the next ten years. School became fun. ‘Nike’s band “Change Agents,” brought speakers from all parts of Nigeria to talk on Leadership, Etiquette, Academics and Job creation.
They later invited professionals to teach the students Photography. There was a day set aside for boys and girls day out. It was a time when the teenagers were lectured about their different personalities, identity and uniqueness. The students carried placards round schools and streets campaigning against HIV/AIDS and preaching abstinence as the sure solution. Nike’s band, Change Agents, conducted a mock election which was handled by the school prefects. They picked their favourite teachers and announced winners during the school’s award night. It was a way of making the students see the importance of participating in an election that their opinions counted.
The Change Agents visited orphanages and hospitals giving out gifts, clothes and food stuffs. They also helped the depressed, the drug addicts, commercial sex workers, the destitute in the society and preached hope and self discovery to prisoners. The idea was to re-orientate the value system of the teenagers and also to save lives in their own little way.
However, they didn’t let this affect them academically. They scheduled their programmes and meetings for evenings or weekends and focused more during the day and week on school work. Nike and her band lived like a family and they grew in love and strength.
Chapter 10