CHAPTER ONE
LAST DAY IN SCHOOL
"Valerie! Valerie!
Come out you're going to be late!"
"Coming mum just need to get my shoes" a voice called out from the room.
"Bye mum" Valerie kissed her mum on the cheeks as she runs off.
Wait! Valerie! Val…. Oh she'll no longer hear me. "Well that's how she is," Valerie's mum said with a smile beaming on her face as she watched her daughter run off.
"Hey Val!", Valerie stops as she turns around to figure out where the call was coming from "Valerie"! This time was louder, until she finally saw who was calling her. 'Oh hey Ida you're not in class yet?'
"Of course not, certainly not without my best friend" Ida said as she threw her arms across Valerie's shoulders.
Both girls started laughing as Valerie did the same.'Come on let's go' they said in unison as they giggled and moved towards their class.
Valerie and Ida get sitted waiting for their lecture to begin. "Uhm… Val can uhm.. can…can I sit next to you?" A timid looking young boy with his head bowed down said visibly shy,
'of course…'
"no you can't" Ida said without allowing Valerie complete her statement "you can sit behind if you're really eager to have a seat".
'Ida why'd you do that?' Valerie asked in a soft tone, more like she was whispering.
"Not only him but the entire class wants sit with you, well it's obvious you're the school's beauty so everyone wants to sit with you
…. Well it's true Valerie was indeed a beautiful girl. Her light bright brown eyes which had a cattish look, her nose were small as a clove of garlic but yet cute, down to her lips and thick brown hair, despite her smallish stature, she was still gorgeous, Valerie also had a distinctive personality; she's always kind and caring towards others which made most people like her even more. She also had a nice smile which made her even more pretty.
"Oh common Ida you should have at least been nicer to him you…"
"George Valerie?" Valerie was interrupted as she heard her name,
"here!" She said as she raised her right hand to signify her presence.
"You're being summoned in the admin's office"
"Uhhh….uhmm ok I'm coming, Ida I'll be back" she said as she got up and began heading towards the admin's office. Ida just watched her friend leave the class "I wonder why she's being called" she mumbled to herself.
Thoughts kept entering Valerie's head as to why she was being summoned in the admin's office but she still couldn't get the exact reason. At first she was moving fast but her footsteps got slower with every step she took. Her bright face gradually got gloomy and her fists were clenched real tight.
She ignored everyone who asked her if she was alright because she was lost in her thoughts.
She suddenly stopped, looked up and takes a deep breath as she saw the sign which read 'Administration office'. She gradually released her clenched fists and got hold of the door knob. She took a deep breath again and opened the door.
The person sitting was a middle-aged lady. The lady looked pretty with her hair in a ponytail and she wore glasses on her all black gown.
"Good morning ma'am"
"Good morning Valerie, have a seat" the lady said with a smile as she pointed to a chair in front of her. Valerie sat down still a little nervous.
There was an immediate silence that lasted a minute until the administrator lady broke it saying "well Valerie I know you're probably wondering why I called you, but I'll just go straight to the point… Valerie I understand your situation but you should know that this is an institution not a charity home and it runs with money. You still haven't paid your tuition fees for this semester, even the previous one. I managed to help you with the previous semester but I'm afraid I can't help you this time you have to pay it up".
"I know very well ma'am but please just give me a little time I promise I'll get something" Valerie responded to the admin lady with her eyes showing lots of emotions.
"Like I said earlier, I can no longer help you. The institution has ordered that those owing will no longer be allowed in…I'm sorry Valerie I can not help you" the admin lady said with a look of pity in her eyes.
With despair in her face Valerie got up and left the admin's office. She started heading towards her classroom trying to hold back any tear that was threatening to fall out, she couldn't think of anything else to do, even if she continued to beg she knew the admin lady already helped her enough now she had no other option because she knew she didn't have the money to pay for her tuition yet. She expected to be chased out of school but she never expected it that soon.
Valerie enters the classroom and moves towards Ida.
"What's up Val? Why were you called?" Ida asked, she also noticed Valerie's gloomy face and further questioned her friend "come on Valerie what's the matter?, talk to me".
Ida is Valerie's Best friend, so she definitely has to tell her. Valerie told Ida everything…. "Really! Oh no this is bad, really bad" Ida exclaimed
"What are you going to do now huhnnn?" Ida asked again
"I really don't know,
humph! well I'll just go home maybe my mum can help" Valerie responded in a sober tone.
"Val should I go with you?"
"There's no need Ida, just stay I'll call you later" Ida nodded in affirmation to Valerie and helped her with her bag. "Take care Val I'll see you later" she said as she handed the bag to Valerie and watched her leave.
Valerie was walking along the road kicking a pebble she found on the side of the road and was continually sighing, probably she will not be going back to school anytime soon. Her eyes were like that of a balloon that was full of water about to burst with tears but she held it in because she was on the road. The only thing she voiced out was "Oh well!" and she continued walking towards her house.