Dawn in the creek

It's a rainy day in Yenagoa city and I just got back from school. Usually I stroll down to the market which is a walkable distance from my house where my mum sells are veggies after taking off my school uniform and having lunch. But today went in a different direction. I decided to go to my friends Alex and Tari's house to spend the afternoon. They have this table tennis board In their compound which attracts children and teens from far and near to come play table tennis and gamble. During my walk down the street to my friends house, my mind wanders to the various things that happened in school today. I'm usually a shy kid and this is because I have been on the receiving end of bullying most of my childhood. I'm the only child of a widow who sells veggies at the local market close to my house called opollo market. I have been constantly teased due to the nature of my mother's occupation but I have learnt to turn a deaf ear to it. Most people will think that since I have that figured out that I have got my emotions and the raging hormones that is always present on the lives of growing teens in check but that is so so far from the truth. Just like every other kid my age who have at one point in their teenage years have been a victim of bullying I have had my fair share. As I approach the gate of my friend's compound I try to cheer myself up and try to forget about what happened at school earlier today which doesn't actually work. As I walk into the compound, my friend Alex sights me and waves me over with a huge grin on his face. I don't attend the same schools with my friends because my mum cannot afford to send me to those pricey private schools Like their parents can so I only get to see them in the evenings when we get to hang out or during the weekend when I'm done with doing chores for my mum. They are so happy to see me so we exchange pleasantries as we start the game. After playing for about thirty minutes, we take a break because I wasn't really concentrating. Tari tries to get my attention but I was so lost in thought that I didn't get to hear what he said. He taps my shoulder and I turn towards him with fear, he notices that my eyes where red and overflowing with unshed tears then he says "Ebimo ! what is the problem? Are you ok? " I try to wave him off by telling him that nothing was wrong but he refuses to believe. This exchange catches the attention of Alex who was initially staring at a girl who came from across the street to fetch water. Alex approaches me and ask "guy how far now? what is eating you up? " This makes me break down and tell them about what happened to me at school today. THE BULLIES..... The school day started as it normally does with the morning assembly and announcements after which we went to our various classes. One my way to class I was stopped by a junior student from basic eight (jss two) who informed me that a senior named Peter wanted to see me during the break hour. I told him that I'd heard and I would locate the senior at the said time. Mind you I was in basic nine (jss three) in the same class with my friends Alex and Tari even though we don't attend the same schools. On getting to my classroom I noticed that the classroom had gone quiet and everyone was pretending not to notice that I walked in. I shrugged off the awkward feeling I was having and headed towards my seat. After putting my bag in my locker I attempted to sit on my seat and immediately stood up due to the pain I felt that went up my rear end to my feet. Suddenly the classroom became activated with laughter and everyone was pointing and laughing at me. I turned around and look at my seat and discovered the reason for my discomfort. Someone had set his pen for me to sit on. I tried asking who did it but nobody replied, they just continued laughing at me. When I started to feel like the day could'nt get worse, I discovered I had forgotten my maths assignment at home and I needed to submit it immediately because the maths teacher was already in class asking for the assignment. I raised my hand to signify that I wanted to say something and he signalled for me to speak. Then I said "Good morning Mr Thompson, I'm sorry sir! ", then he said " what are you sorry for Ebimo? " I replied " sir I forgot my assignments at home" he stared at me for a few seconds and then asked "are you sure you really did my assignments?" I replied that I did, he then instructed me to come forward and solve one of the assignment questions on the board in front of the entire class. I was very shy but I was also confident that I knew the answer at heart. so I solved the problem on the board while everyone watched. It was nerve wrecking for me because I hated the spotlight. After Mr Thompson stared at it, he confirmed that it was absolutely correct and everyone should clap for me. While they clapped, some of them called me names like wierdo, ugly duckling that will never be a swan and rabbit. I walked back to my seat with my head down trying not to show how much their hurtful words got to me and wrecked my equilibrium. I spent the rest of the morning period focusing on my lessons and keeping to myself to avoid further comments since they had their hearts set to bully me. When it was break time I went in search of that senior who sent for me and that's when I realised that my day had gone from frying pan to fire.