Purpose

Chapter 1

“Abigail, I’m going now, hope you have packed your things!” Mrs. Ilori asked.

“NO ma, but I’m on it,” Abigail replied. “Have you eaten?” Mrs. Ilori asked.

“No ma” Abigail replied. “Which kind of girl is this that wants to delay me? Abigail, we’re leaving in ten minutes', so if you like, be slow,” Mrs. Ilori said.

Abigail had been very nervous to resume school that day. It was her first time attending boarding school. She was about to enter SS1, and she was also very excited because of that. She had always been a bright student at her former school because of her focus on her academics. She never once won any academic prize but she believed she could. This time, her goal was not only to win academic prizes but also to participate in competitions and win them. From there, she knew her parents would be proud of her.

The car honks. “Abigail, I’m waiting for you outside, hurry up,” Mrs. Ilori said. “Give me ten seconds, I’m almost true,” Abigail said from inside the house. “I knew this was going to happen. That’s why I wanted your dad to drop you off at school,” Mrs. Ilori said to herself. Abigail comes outside, locks the house door and enters inside the car. Mrs. Ilori starts the car and the car speeds off.

The front of “Hilltop Secondary School” is seen decorated with many “Back to school” posters. Aside from that, there are many colorful and beautiful ribbons all over the school. Parents are seen dropping off the children at school while teachers are seen at the front of the school welcoming students back to school. Abigail gets down from the car about to leave. “Wait! You don’t want to tell me, bye bye?” Mrs. Ilori asked. “I was about to!” Abigail replied. “Anyway, before you go, I just want you to remember why you came to school. Focus on your studies. Make your dad and I am proud. Don’t mingle with bad friends. Don’t have any boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. Don’t do anything that will make you get suspended or expelled. I swear if you get suspended or expelled from this school, you will never go to school again. You will go and learn trade. You hear me?” Mrs. Ilori asked. “Bye, I’ve heard you, ma!” Abigail replied. “Your brother is starting creche today. Aren’t you going to greet him for that?“ Mrs. Ilori asked. “Mummy, it’s like you don’t want me to go to school. Okay, Damilola, take care,” Abigail said as she bid her mom and her brother farewell. Mrs. Ilori does the same to Abigail and the car speeds off.

“Good morning ma. Please, I’m looking for the multipurpose hall. Have they started devotion?” Abigail asked. “Since today is the first day of resumption, there is no devotion. You’re supposed to head straight to your dorm”. The matron, Mrs. Victory said, “Okay ma, I’ve been posted to stay in dorm 50b. Do you know where I can find it?” Abigail asked. “Okay dear, it’s just down the hallway to the left." Mrs. Victory replied. “Ma, I don’t still understand how to get there!” Abigail said. “Are you new here?”. Mrs. Victory asked. “Yes, ma, I’m a new student here," Abigail replied. “I’m so sorry. I have to take you there by myself”. Mrs. Victory said. “Thank you ma, I would appreciate that,” Abigail said.

“Thank you ma”. Abigail said, “No problem, dear, anytime. By the way, you can call me Mrs. Victory” Mrs. Victory said, “Okay ma, thank you, Mrs. Victory." Abigail replied. “You’re welcome dear. What’s your name?“ Mrs. Victory asked. “My name is Ilori Abigail," Abigail replied. “See you around, Abigail. This is dorm 50b. You can knock on the door,” Mrs. Victory said, going back to her duty post.

Abigail knocks on the door. “Who is there?” A voice from inside asked. “It’s me, the new student!” Abigail replied. “Is that your name?” The voice from inside asked. “NO, my name is Abigail” Abigail replied. “I’m coming” The voice from inside said as she opened the door. “Hi, my name is Phoebe. You must be our new dorm mate,” Phoebe said. “Are there more people in this dorm?” Abigail asked. “Yeah, we’re not the only ones in this dorm,” Phoebe replied. “So where are the remaining and how many are they?“. Abigail asked. “They are all girls obviously, and they went to the cafeteria to get breakfast, and also they’re two, which now makes all of us in this dorm four.” Phoebe replied. “So, can I drop my things inside?” Abigail asked, looking tired. “Where are my manners? Enter, make yourself at home. I’m sure you must be tired from that long journey to get here!” Phoebe replied. “Thanks,” Abigail said entering inside. “So can you give me a little information about yourself?” Phoebe asked. “Okay, so my name is Ilori Abigail. I have a younger brother. My parents are also doing fine. My dad is a civil engineer while my mom is an architect.” Abigail replied. “So that’s the only information you can give?” Phoebe asked. “Yeah, pretty much.” Abigail replied. “Which part of the bed do you wish to have?” Phoebe asked. “Seriously!” Abigail exclaimed with surprise. “I mean it, choose one” Phoebe said. “I want the down part of the bunk bed because I’m a little bit scared of cockroaches and wall gekkos.” Abigail said. “Don’t worry I understand how you feel. Anyways, I’m late for breakfast. I have to go now unless the food would have been finished!“. Phoebe said. “No problem, you can be going, I’ll catch up with you”. Abigail said still unpacking her things.

“What do you mean you can’t accept him?!” Mrs. Ilori asked. “With all due respect ma, he’s too young to start school”. Miss Rosa, the school secretary replied. “Okay, since you think he is too young to start school, what age is he supposed to start?” Mrs. Ilori said. “Ma, in this school, if a child wants to start creche, he/she with the school permission has...” Miss Rosa began but was cut off by Mrs. Ilori. “Abeg go straight to the point”. Mrs. Ilori snapped. “Okay ma, a child is supposed to start at least eleven months old!” Miss Rosa said. “So, he’s nine months old. What’s the difference?" Mrs. Ilori asked. “It’s actually two months difference ma.” Miss Rosa replied. “Did I ask you, was it not just a rhetorical question?” Mrs. Ilori asked. “I’m sorry ma.” Miss Rosa replied. “You see, that’s why you’re not yet married. Am I not right?” Mrs. Ilori asked. “Yes ma, you’re right” Miss Rosa replied about to cry. “Anyways, since you don’t understand what I’m saying, I’ll be taking my leave”. Mrs. Ilori said. “Ma I understand you”. Miss Rosa said. “Okay you understand me right. Imagine you’re the one experiencing this right now. you beg and beg till you wear out and the result is negative. They tell you your child can not gain admission or enter the school until he/she is eleven months old. Do you know what it took me to give birth to my son, Damilola. I had a lot of miscarriages before giving birth to him. Now after giving birth, you’re telling me my son cannot enter this school because of two months age difference. No problem, at least this is not the only school in town. I’ll take him to another school! It’s not that hard.” Mrs. Ilori said, about to go. “Wait ma, since you put it that way, I think I can reconsider just this once to allow Damilola school here. I now understand clearly how you feel.” Miss Rosa said. “Thank you ma, I’m grateful!” Mrs. Ilori said. “NO problem ma, you can come later today to pick him.” Miss Rosa said. “Okay, thank you. Have a nice day.” Mrs. Ilori said leaving the secretary’s office. “Chai, that woman was a hand full. Even more than that, she was a bucket full. Is this how parents are nowadays?” Miss Rosa asked no one in particular.