COLOR ME

EPISODE FOUR

"Adessa, what is wrong with your mom's face?" Kemi asked.

"I heard that she got disfigured because someone set the house she was in on fire. Apparently, she was there with someone's husband," she claimed.

This was another new low for Kemi—talking ill of my mother like that.

Soren slapped her hard on the face.

"Don't ever talk about my mom like that," he said and walked away from us.

"The good thing is that it was caught on camera, Adessa. I am going to the HM to report," Kemi said resolutely.

"You deserved that slap!" I said. Kemi sneered as she and her friends headed towards the HM's office.

It was a lie. Mom got those marks on her face from an acid attack, not from an arsonist. Someone poured acid on her face before I was born, as she was taking out the trash. It burned the right side of her face; she is partially blind in her right eye. She also has scars on her right hand, breast, and tummy.

Her attacker was never identified. My mom didn't even know why she had been a victim of an acid attack. She lived in constant fear that her attacker would return. Dad loved her; despite everything, he married her and had me and my brother. My mom used to hide the scarred area with a veil and long-sleeved shirts.

Mae and Andrew walked up to me. "Addie, what happened? Why did your brother slap Kemi?" Mae asked.

"She said something bad about my mom, so he hit her," I replied, feeling a mix of anger and sadness.

"Tell him that I am happy that he did that," Andrew said. "At least someone finally put Kemi in her place!"

"You guys, I need to find out what HM will do to my little brother," I said, concern evident in my voice. I left Andrew and Mae behind and headed towards the HM's office. I found Kemi walking out of his office with a look of triumph.

"Midnight, tell your little brother that he has messed with the wrong person!" she said smugly.

The HM followed her out of his office. "Sir, can I please talk to you about why my little brother slapped Kemi?" I asked, trying to stay calm.

"Adessa, go to the auditorium. I am going to make an announcement regarding what just happened," he said sternly.

"Sir, I want you to know that my little brother is not a violent person. He slapped Kemi because she abused my mom. I know you wouldn't have let someone do that to your mother!" I protested.

"Now, Adessa, our school has a strict no-fighting policy," HM Smythe said.

"Yesterday, you saw what Kemi did to me and my friends. Why didn't you say anything about bullying and discrimination? You are so unfair!" I protested.

"Adessa, I won't allow any student to disrespect me," he said, cutting me off. "I have said, go to the auditorium. I am going to make an announcement."

I left him talking to his secretary and headed to the auditorium. As I went, I heard the secretary through the school speakers telling everyone to go to the auditorium. There was a lot of noise and students moving in the corridors. I waited for my friends outside the entrance of the auditorium. Soren found me there.

"Soren, I am sorry that you got entangled in my mess," I said, feeling guilty.

"Don't worry, sis. That b***h had it coming," he said. "She and the other bullies in this school are constantly harassing us because of our color. I am really irked."

His friends whisked him away. Soren had acted out of character today. Whenever I asked him about how he felt about bullying at school, he always said he didn't mind because he loved how he looked.

Mae joined me. "Where are Jensen and Andrew?" I asked.

"They aren't coming. They said they'll be hiding out in the gym," she said. The gym was our hiding spot to skip classes. Tendai was among the last students to come to the auditorium. He was with his friend Fajir. His ex-girlfriend Kemi had already entered. She didn't say a word to me.

"Hi, girls," Tendai said as he walked in with Fajir.

Mae's expression was a mix of confusion and discomfort. Tendai had never greeted us before, so his casual approach left her unsure of how to respond.

I felt a small flicker of happiness at his acknowledgment. He never really said anything to me before we got assigned as partners in Design and Technology class.

"Let's go inside before the Head Boy reports us for insolence," Mae said, glancing over her shoulder. The Head Boy was eyeing us, making his rounds to ensure students were in class. He had already told us twice to enter.

We hurried inside, trying to avoid any further trouble. We took our seats at the back of the auditorium.

The Head Girl led us in a prayer and made us recite the school anthem. The Head Boy advised us on school etiquette and read out the updated list of punishable crimes.

The Head Boy reiterated that carrying food to class was not acceptable. He must have heard about the incident yesterday morning when Mae spilled my food on Kemi and her friends. Kemi and her friends looked behind when he said this.

HM Smythe's turn to speak came. "Students, I have convened this assembly meeting because I want to emphasize that bullying and harassment of any student is not accepted in this school. Yesterday, some students were made to eat food that had a rat inside."

As if on cue, everyone turned to look at me and Mae.

"The culprits have been punished, but the next time it happens again, the students involved will be suspended or expelled. I need to remind you that Article 2 of the school charter states that bullying and harassment are illegal in Riverview Academy. This school was built on a Christian foundation. Our values are inclusiveness, tolerance, and love for everyone no matter their race, skin tone, weight, height, orientation, gender, and disability."

"This morning, a student in a lower class slapped a senior student because she provoked him. This school doesn't tolerate violence of any sort, whether provoked or not. If someone provokes you, come and report to me or any other teacher, and we shall find a way of dealing with it. Violence will lead to an automatic suspension or dismissal."

Twenty minutes later, HM allowed us to go back to our classes. The Head Girl ensured we all went to our respective classes. "No loitering in the corridors," she warned. She refused to listen to me when I told her that I needed to talk to my little brother.

"No, Adessa, you will see him during breaktime," she said firmly.

I gave up and went to class. Andrew and Jensen were already in class.

"How was the assembly?" Jensen asked.

"He talked about bullying and discrimination," I replied.

"He doesn't really care about what happens to the students," Jensen muttered bitterly. "Kemi only got punished because I threatened to tell my dad about what she did to us."

HM Smythe was aware of the rampant bullying and violence but dismissed all reports. The four of us never reported our bullies because we feared it would only make things worse. Jensen had changed schools several times due to bullying.

Whenever he told his dad, the school would immediately expel the students involved, fearing repercussions from the Mayor. Each time, Jensen ended up isolated, with no teacher or student talking to him. He had decided not to say anything at this school until yesterday when things had gone too far.

The lesson was short because we had spent an hour in the auditorium. The bell for break rang. I needed to see Soren, so I told the others I would meet them in the cafeteria.

I went to find Soren in his class.

"I missed the lesson," he said as he wrote notes. "HM called me to his office after the assembly to lecture me. He said he knows I'm a good student, so the only punishment he gave me was to miss the Spelling Bee competition this weekend."

"He let you off easy because of what Kemi did yesterday. If he had suspended you, it would've been a double standard."

"I'm sorry you won't be going to the competition. I know you were excited for it."

"Don't be, sis. I'd do it all over again to defend Mom," he said.