A thing about life

Chapter two: Bizarre friends

Coral's Pov:

The past couple of days has been...I don't know but it's quite alright Alena is always fawning over me and telling me about everything that goes on in the school since she claims I gotta be in tune with my environment.She is annoying but in a cute way . She is not the first person to befriend me but like the others before her she will one day get bored of me and leave for cool friends. I'm not the friendship kind of person, like every relationship, it's stressful and I hate to add more stress into my overly stressed life if that's even a word or sentence. Hey thinker! Geez Len ,you scared me ! Because you were doing that again. Doing what again? The thing where you have the look of someone with the world's burden on their shoulders. What if I really have the world's burden on my shoulders? Well I got good news for you , Jesus is here to release you of such burden should you ask him too. Oh how nice of you to say that. Jesus please come release me. I blurt out sarcastically. It doesn't work like that Coral, don't you go to Sunday school? What are you Len? Five?

Who goes to Sunday school while in form

one? Well me ,I'm not eighteen yet so I got to wait till I'm eighteen then graduate. You must be a church girl.Why do you speak like you are not . Alena, my family stopped going to church when I was barely eight. That's preposterous! You have to start going to church again, both you and your family. Thanks Len but

as of now church is a no go area . Why do you say that? Before I can answer that a large football hits me in the face. Wow so much for thinking luck had found me why the hell did I come to the pitch in the first place?

Coral!! Stop screaming I'm fine. The supposed posh girls in my class begin their hellish laughter ,Lucifer should definitely hire them to frighten people in hell . seriously their laughter is so horrible.While the boys on the field jeer at me. So sorry. A boy about 6'7 with a slender body and thick eyelashes apologizes . His body is filled with sweat but he doesn't reek of bad odour like the other boys in the school. I didn't intend to throw that far. You are careless. You could have hurt her. what were you thinking? Alena to the rescue,yay. Don't bother Len , it's okay,I'm okay. I was about handing the ball over when one scrumpy and sour face tofu boy made a comment about 6'7 feet getting the ball from a ghetto girl like me. Well let's show em how a ghetto girl plays . Change of mind I'm not handing the ball over. Emm you don't want to do that.6'7 says like I care . Well shoo ,no time to diddle with a ghetto girl so off you go . From the corner of my eye I spot sour tofu and three others heading towards where we sat under the mahogany tree. Hand it over ghetto trash. One tall goat with stained teeth and a bad odour says to my dismay. Hey you that's no way to talk to a girl especially my friend.Stay out of this Alena,I don't know why you have started associating with trash like her . Can't you see the other girls in class stay away from her .Oh it seems they are all in my class how pathetic. With a sinister look on my face I take out my cutter while they are distracted by Alena and slice through the ball. Here you go losers. I throw it back at tofu and bad odour. You!! Tofu charges towards me but Alena stands in for me and gets pushed to the ground instead. No one hurts my friend. I kick tofu in the groin . He screams like a butchered cow. You snake ... I'm about hitting bad odour but a hand holds me back. With a frown I turn to find my brother. Let go of my hand . I say angrily.

Caleb is bulky and more stronger than me I guess life in the ghetto makes a 17 year old boy look like a body building man. Mark what is it ? Caleb turns to bad odour who is actually called Mark ewww.

Your sister just ruined my ball. My father just brought it abroad for me . Liar . I spit out. Mark growls and Caleb gives me a deadly look. Not having time for this nonsense I move to where Alena is and I walk off with her . That was risky Coral. Those boys could have hurt you . You heard them Alena,I'm a ghetto girl. She seems taken aback for a moment but recollects herself quickly. I bet your Jesus says not to mingle with ghetto kids. That's not it Coral I'm just surprised didn't take you to be a ghetto type because... I'm fat. I finish for her. No ,if you are fat then what am I ?I'm about to debate with her but she cuts me off by hugging me . No matter who you are ,where you are from and what you are ,you will be my friend.

Why are you laughing. Don't you believe me. You are going to leave soon Alena,they all do.I say while increasing my pace . Think whatever you want Coral ,I'm here to stay . She says happily taking my hand and leading me to class

She is always happy and chatty good for her .

Mary's POV:

The thing about life is that you never get what you ask for , don't disagree with me just because you seem to have everything you require maybe just like all those rich born, luck is smiling at you. Hey pure! A man in a public bus calls to me . Welcome to my world, I sell iced water on the street to make a living. Don't worry about my parents,they are your usual slum parents with uncountable kids yet have no means to support them . I rush over to the car and hand over two pieces of sachet water .Here you are . The man hands over a one cedi note . Saying thank you I move to the safer side of the road can't risk my life though I wish for death . After all when I go no one is going to take care of my five siblings. The hot afternoon sun burns into my entire body causing me to sweat like a gaping cockroach.

By my guess it's probably noon,got to get ready for school though I'm already late

Another afternoon of insults from my teachers but never mind they know nothing of me got to fight my way through everything. I get to our kiosk at exactly 12:12pm ,22 minutes to get ready for school. You are back already.Aku asks like she cares enough. Everyone meet my egg donor, can't call her mother doesn't deserve it. She reeks of booze . Not paying any attention to her I move to take my bath behind the kiosk. After freshening up I find Samuel sitting outside with his pan of oranges. Meet Mario my twin ,we don't really share the bond of twinship since we rarely have to indulge in that nonsense. Just like me he also has to fend for the family as we are the eldest and all that . Frank who is following after us and is 12 years of age stands by him in his dirty shirt and running nose . He has caught the flu and has to stay at home for sometime. Rachel and Rose I guess are already of to school. Bad day I assume . I say to my twin . Yeah . He replies with a sour face . I want to comfort him ,tell him everything is gonna be okay and we have got each other no that's a lie I tell myself can't afford to give him such high hope after all I came out before him. Have to act tough. I say nothing and head inside. Within minutes I'm done dressing. I hand over ten cedis to him . See you later . I say rushing out not waiting for the thank you .

Judging by the silence atmosphere second break must be over . I stealthily make my way to form one classroom escaping the wrath of the headmaster who comes out as such times for the likes of me. Good afternoon. I greet our English teacher who is also my class teacher. Late again Mary . Sor... Hold it lady !always apologizing. When will you change ? After this semester you are moving to form three, turn over a new leaf ,you mates in your similar situation make it to school on time . Well they probably have responsible parents or a guardian at least. I mutter under my breath. Want to say something? Yes please,can I go sit down as you were saying I'm already late need to make good use of the time I have . What are you trying to insinuate? That I am wasting time advising you? Not from my lips but yours but you can say that. Mary! Sir Ofori! The class burst into giggles. You think you have the mouth now fine we live to see you do well in life with that smelly mouth of yours . His words struck a cord in my chest . I'll do well someday sir ,mark it somewhere. Look at you oo,class look at her . He says in a taunting voice I look at my classmates,most have them have it better than me but it doesn't give them the right to make fun of my situation. Some have pity on their faces while others look at me like some trash . My eyes meet up with brown eyes with no pity look or condescending, but just unspoken words of understanding. Coral , that must be her name never spoken to her beyond our usual hellos and good morning. Our kind should stick together. I make a mental not of meeting her after school . Hopefully I'll find someone to share thoughts with.