COLOR ME

EPISODE SIX

Mom dropped us at school once Soren and I were ready. The Geography teacher, Mr. Callum Thomas, entered the room after me. Kemi followed him.

"Why are you late?" he asked her.

"I was feeling a bit sick," she claimed.

He allowed her to enter the class without punishment, despite knowing she was lying. Everyone acknowledged her untouchable status in the school, even the teachers.

The day was better than earlier in the week. Kemi and her friends didn't attack me. In the days that followed, they never said a word to me. Since I wasn't talking to her ex, there was no need for her to lash out at me.

During Design and Technology classes, I listened to music. I refused to engage with Tendai, no matter how much he tried. He gave up after a while. Mr. Ngonzi didn't show up for class, making it easier for me to avoid him.

Only Grayson and his friends continued to verbally abuse me. I noticed they stopped insulting me in front of Tendai. Their insults were always the same nowadays: "Adessa, you're dark as midnight." "Here comes my shadow." "You're so black, when the lights went off, the only thing they could see were your teeth." "You're so black, you look like a burnt cookie." These weren't their only insults; there were many more.

A month had gone by since the beating I received in the bathroom. Things had finally returned to normal, and I was glad for it. The familiar routine felt comforting after all the chaos.

"At least things are back to normal," Eloise said as we walked to class. "I didn't think we'd get back to this point."

"Me neither," I replied. "But I'm relieved. It's good to have some stability again."

Since today was Wednesday, I had to tend to the crops in the greenhouse as part of the Horticulture Club activities. I spent the evening weeding onions with Siobhan Nilsson, my only classmate in the club. We finished at 6 p.m.

Only a few students remained on the school campus, along with the soccer team and spectators. I left Siobhan talking to Mrs. Claudine Joyce, the head of our club. My bag was in the classroom, so I needed to retrieve it.

The classroom door was locked, although it was usually left open. I peered inside through the glass and saw a girl smoking a pipe and muttering to herself. On closer inspection, I realized it was Kemi. I ducked out of sight before she could spot me. Why was she smoking in the classroom?

I tiptoed away and hid in the next classroom. Kemi left after five minutes. When I was sure she was gone, I hurried into the classroom, grabbed my bag, and left the school.

Kemi never struck me as crazy before. She was one of the sanest people I knew. Why was she talking to herself?

"Ade, you seem distracted. What's up?" Mom asked during supper.

"Nothing serious," I replied.

"Mom, my friend Levi wants to come over for a sleepover. Is that okay?" Soren asked.

"It's okay, but no staying up late playing video games like last time," she said.

"Okay," Soren said.

That was a lie; they were still planning to play until 3 a.m., just like last time when Mom caught them.

Alone in my room again, my thoughts returned to Kemi. Why was she smoking a hookah in class? Maybe she thought no one else was still around.

I needed to tell my friends. I messaged them on our group chat about what I had witnessed.

Addie: Hey guys 😊

Addie: Something strange happened today... I saw Kemi smoking a hookah and muttering to herself in class 🤔

Addie: I saw her when I went to pick up my bag

Addie: It was bizarre

Andrew is typing…

Mae is typing…

Mae: Oh my God, Addie! That's bizarre 😱

Andrew: LOL 😂

Andrew: I wonder what she was saying?

Mae is typing…

Andrew is typing…

Andrew: What a weirdo 😜

Mae: What do you think she was saying?

Mae: Do you think she's finally lost it? Because if so, I'm all for it 😂

Jensen is typing…

Addie: I don't know, guys. I just have a feeling nothing good will come of this 😬

Jensen: I know what she was doing. That was witchcraft 🧙‍♂️

Jensen: People have threatened my dad with witchcraft before because they hate him 😞

Mae is typing…

Andrew is typing…

Mae: I didn't expect you to know that, Jensen 😮

Andrew: True smh 🤦

Addie: Jensen, does your dad practice witchcraft?

Jensen is typing…

Addie: You're right; my mom tells me that back home in Africa, people bewitch each other 😮

Addie: I'll ask her what she thinks about it

Jensen: Every politician does something to stay in power. Dad isn't special. I won't get into this because someone could end up reading these texts 😅

Andrew is typing…

Andrew: Ok

Mae is typing…

Mae: This is unbelievable. I don't believe in witchcraft 🤷‍♀️

Addie: Jensen, you need to tell us more

Jensen is typing…

Addie: Sorry. Goodnight 😴

Mae: Addie, what are you doing?

Andrew: Goodnight, gotta get back to my game 🎮

Jensen: What time do you go to bed, man?

Jensen: 11 pm

Jensen: Yet, you're one of the first people to show up at school

Andrew: I only sleep for five hours

Andrew: Goodnight 😴

Jensen: Goodnight 😴

Addie: Mae, I need to sleep; I have practice early tomorrow; I'm tired 😴

Mae: Okay

Mae: Goodnight 😴

Addie: Goodnight 😴

My parents' stories from their childhood were now unfolding before my eyes. Dad had always been knowledgeable about this topic. He often recounted the story of his neighbor in Sierra Leone, a notorious witch doctor who had killed many people in the village, including Dad's parents. He and his siblings had fled the village because of him. Witchcraft is real!