COLOR ME

EPISODE THREE

Mae, Andrew, and Jensen went to the dispensary to get some medicine. I hadn't tasted the soup, so I stayed behind. I was left standing there, all eyes on me.

"Hey Midnight, you are in trouble for snitching to the Headmaster. You know what Kemi is like," Grayson said.

"Grayson, don't call her that," Tendai defended. "Kemi did something despicable to Adessa and her friends, and you want her to feel bad about snitching."

It was the first time that Tendai had ever stood up for me. I was shocked, and so was he. He couldn't believe that the words had come out of his mouth.

"Let's go, Tendai," his friend Fajir Eldridge said.

Tendai and Fajir walked out of the cafeteria. I too began walking off but not before hearing Grayson call me Darkie.

After lunch, we had a free period and Physical Education. The others weren't around. Even Kemi, Liz, and Raven hadn't returned from the Headmaster's office. P.E. was better today because there were no snide comments from Kemi or her friends. I could say that I was happy.

I left the changing room earlier than everyone because I needed to see my friends before I left. In the corridor, I found Kemi with her mother. Her mother was beautiful and elegant, with the poise of someone who might have been a model in a previous lifetime.

It was evident that Kemi got her looks from her. Kemi never talked about her dad; her mom was the only one who ever came for school functions. Kemi told everyone that her dad was a busy man, but we all suspected that he wasn't in the picture.

Kemi's mom stopped when she noticed me.

"Listen, you little girl, stop making my daughter's life in this school difficult, or else you will see," she threatened.

This woman, who was way older than me, was threatening me. A young girl in high school—this was wrong.

"Excuse me, Madam, do you know what your daughter has put me through all these years?" I asked.

"I have warned you," she repeated. "Kemi, let's go."

Kemi and her mom walked away. How could Kemi's mom threaten me like that?

"Should I tell my parents?" I wondered. I didn't think I needed to involve them in this matter because it might blow out of hand.

My friends found me in the corridor thinking.

"Addie, what are you thinking about?" Andrew asked.

I told them about what Kemi's mom had just said.

"You should report her," Mae said. "Who the hell is she to threaten you? You're not her child!"

"Mae, I won't for now, but if she continues, I will do so," I decided.

I went back to class to pick up my bag and went to the parking lot to wait for Mom. I found her talking to Soren.

"Soren has told me about something to do with a rat in your food," Mom said.

"Mom, my friend Jensen already reported the matter to the Headmaster. Can we please go home?" I requested.

"No, Ade, the Headmaster has to know that what happened here is bad," Mom insisted.

Mom moved out of the car and went back to the school. I followed her. The Headmaster was in the corridor.

"Mr. Smythe, tell me you have punished the students who put a rat in my daughter's food?" she demanded. "It's a terrible thing that they did."

"My daughter has complained to me and her dad of harassment and bullying at the hands of some students, but I always thought it was not this bad," Mom remarked.

"I am sorry, madam, it won't happen again," Mr. Smythe said. "The culprits have been given a punishment."

"Although, your daughter has never come and reported to anyone about any bullying she has been facing," he added.

Now it was my fault for not reporting, yet the Headmaster showed open favoritism to Kemi.

"Now that I know that it has been happening, I am going to put an end to it," he announced.

When my mom felt satisfied, we went back to the car. Soren was listening to music on his phone.

"Mom, now you believe me when I tell you that this school is very bad."

"I am sorry, Ade, that I didn't believe you when you mentioned it," Mom said.

Mom bought us some takeout along the way because I hadn't eaten anything all day. At the traffic lights, I looked at the billboard of a model who was fair. She was advertising a lotion called Pure Glow. It wasn't a secret that this lotion was used for skin lightening.

"What if I bought myself this lotion and became a little lighter? Would I still get bullied?" I wondered. These were just my thoughts.

I went and shut myself in my room when we got home. I wanted to cry myself to sleep. My life was going to get harder because of today. I wished there was a way I could finish school without actually going there.

Mom and Dad said homeschooling wasn't an option because schooling would allow me to learn how to socialize and network. I had made it this far; I was only left with a few months, then it would all be over. I cried for all the pain I felt that day.

My phone rang. It was a number not in my contacts.

"Who is it?" I wondered.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and picked up the call.

"Hello?" I cleared my nose.

"Hi, Adessa, it's Tendai," he said.

I couldn't believe that he had called me. What did he want?

As if he read my mind, he continued, "I am calling to brainstorm about our ideas for the project."

"Tendai, right now I'm not in the right frame of mind to think about anything."

"I am sorry about what Kemi and her friends did to you. If I had known, I would have stopped it from happening," he claimed.

This hurt me. This was the same guy who had watched his girlfriend and her friends bully me, my friends, and other students. Now he suddenly cared!

"Tendai, I need to rest."

I hung up. Who was he to start caring now that we were about to complete high school? I didn't need his pity.

My thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and confusion as I settled into bed, trying to push away the emotions from the day. I put on my AirPods and listened to my playlist of Nickelback songs. As the soothing melodies played, I began drifting into sleep. Music had this effect on me; it made me relax and escape the turmoil of the day.

When I woke up, I remembered that Tendai had called me last night. It was strange; he, who had never defended anyone at school, had finally decided it was time to speak up. What a loser!

I checked my messages. Mae had sent me some last night after I had fallen asleep.

Mae: Hope you're not asleep 😴, I just found out the punishment HM gave Kemi, Liz, and Raven! They have to come every weekend and do general cleaning of the school for a whole month 🧹.

Mae: Apparently, their parents are super mad 😡, but they couldn't accept a suspension right now 'cause we're in our final year. I heard Raven's dad told HM that his daughter can't clean toilets 🚽 'cause she wasn't raised to do that.

Mae: HM told him that for what they did, they were lucky not to end up on the internet 📱 or worse, with Jensen's dad suing them ⚖️.

Addie: Hey, good morning! 🌞

Addie: That's sooo not enough punishment for what they did. They totally deserve to be suspended 🙄.

Addie: HM Smythe won't do that 'cause he always favors Kemi! 😤

The three of them had received a light punishment for what they had done to us. If it had been any other student, it would have been an automatic expulsion.

I got out of bed and prepared for the day. Feeling bad about the punishment Kemi received was a waste of time. Anyone at Riverview would have seen that coming because Kemi was untouchable.

I went to the dining room as soon as I was ready and ate my breakfast. Dad strolled into the room. I hadn't seen him in days because of his schedule.

"Good morning, Ade. I have been told about what happened yesterday," he said. "This girl, Kemi—avoid her; she seems dangerous."

"Dad, I don't want drama with her or her friends, but they continuously target me because of my color."

"Ade, your color is beautiful. You should be proud of it," he said.

"I know, Dad, but they constantly make me feel like I am worthless."

"Ignore them. Don't allow their words to get to you," he said.

"Easier said than done!"

Soren entered the room. "Dad, we've not seen you for days now," he said, hugging him.

"How's school, son?" Dad asked.

"School is okay. I wanted to tell Mom something yesterday, but Addie's news took over the day," he said.

"Yesterday, I was invited to participate in the school's Spelling Bee competition," he announced.

"That is good news, Soren."

Dad and Mom hugged him. "So, when is the Spelling Bee?" Mom asked.

"It's over the weekend," he said.

"We are so proud of you," Dad said.

All of us were in good spirits when we left home because of the good news. Things changed as soon as we reached school and Mom drove away. Kemi, Raven, and Liz walked up to Soren and me.