THE INFLUENCE OF FRIENDS

CHAPTER FIVE

Tochi was at after school, he remembered his English teacher's advice to him to concentrate on his studies. He determined to continue to be a good student despite the turmoil that was raging in his head because he would have to change his school to another one as his parent move the family to their newly completed house in the city. so, he sat down and did all the assignments that he was given at school.

But after finishing all his assignments, Tochi was not happy. His mind dwelled on what Uche and Ikenna were when he informed them that his parents were about to move him to another school. Tochi and his friends were sad because they would not be in the same school anymore. They would never be able to see one another everyday to study and to play anymore.

Tochi's friends Uche and Ikenna prayed that something should happen that would make Tochi's parents change their minds, they all wanted a miracle to happen. Yet instead of a miracle happening, it was the contrary. Tochi was happy and in the same time sad because he don't want to leave his friends. It was evening, Tochi was still sad in his room when he heard his dad arriving home and calling his mother excitedly, "darling, come quickly", Tochi's dad said gleefully.

"I have got more good news about our new house. The painting and other fixtures have been completed today. I arranged for a truck to move our properties into our new house as soon as possible." Tochi's dad said happily. "Oh, I'm very happy too, I can't wait to move into the house, now we are house owners in the city, our dreams has come true at last" Tochi heard his mother gushed.

"Yes I'm so happy, now we have got to pack what we would need in the house from this evening, so that when the truck get here tomorrow, we're ready" Tochi started sobbing in his room as he heard his father saying that they will move tomorrow. "Oh God", he cried "how I wish we could continue to live here I've got a strange feeling that something unpleasant would happen to me where we are going how I wish my parents would change their minds"

Then Tochi heard a knock at his door, he opened and find his father smiling bat him "Tochi how are you?" "how was school today?, come to the sitting room, I've got something to tell you". Tochi followed his dad to the sitting room already aware of what to hear from him because he had overheard him and his mother discussing ecstatically about moving into the new house tomorrow. like a zombie, he trudged after his dad into the sitting room and sat down.

"You don't look happy" Tochi mother observed as he sat down. " you have to be happy things will work fine". "Don't worry about him anymore" Tochi's dad interrupted . "Tochi it's tomorrow we are moving so get your things together as from this evening, the truck will be here tomorrow at noon". Tochi's dad Said angrily.

"Okay,dada" Tochi sniffed, I'm going with you tomorrow to your school, I've to inform your school authorities that you are will be leaving the school soon, I will also explain to them why you have to leave the school. How I wish your school had boarding facilities, you could have completed your secondary education there if they have." Tochi's mom said. "Then when we return from your school, we would move to our new house, then the Truck who will help move our things will be waiting for us by then" Okay" Tochi said lethargically. He know there were nothing he could do anymore to change his parent's minds.

He would have to leave his school where he was one of the best Students. He would also have to bid good bye to his friends, Uche and Ikenna, with the miracle him and his friends prayed for did not happen.