SHADOWS AND SPOTLIGHT

Chapter 2: An outcast

DARELLE

I walked into the school hallway and marched straight to my locker. I breathed nervously as I opened it.

I still felt nervous anytime I went to school. It wasn't easy being alone without any friend.

There were times I tried talking to some people but it didn't work out. Most of them did not want to encounter my father's wrath. The few times I found a new friend, just when I feel like we are finally starting to get close, they suddenly act like I don't exist.

Once someone saw I was being close to another, they would take it upon themselves to inform my new friend of the kind of person my dad was and just like that I became an outcast.No one wanted to associate themselves with or being seen close to me. I often felt lonely but I had gotten used to it.

I walked to my first class for the day.

“English literature class.” My favorite. Mr Finn was the teacher and although I never said anything in his class, I really loved and enjoyed it.

I was five minutes early and as a result of that, he wasn't there yet. The class was a bit noisy and I could hear chatters from different kids beside me.

I took my seat and placed my head on the desk. Looking around would do me no good.

Good morning class, Mr Finn started in an exciting voice.

“Ohhh,” they all echoed. I guess most of them had a hard time with it but I loved it nonetheless.

He started by reading one of Shakespeare's famous works. “Hamlet.”

The English alone was enough to make them not understand but Mr Finn took his time to explain every bit of it.

Just as the class was about rounding up, he started saying something.

“We'll be having a test next week.”

“No ooo,” they chorused again but silence immediately followed giving him room to talk.

“The test is easy.”

“You are not writing on any paper. I am going to group you all into four. Each group will choose a scene from the drama and act it.”

“If your group doesn't perform well, it would affect everyone.”

“That's not fair,” they protested.

While all this was going on, I casually glanced at them all expecting the teachers next words.

He started grouping and just when I thought I didn't hear well, all eyes turned to me.

“Darelle,” Mr Finn spoke, pointing to me.

“Join this group.” He pointed to a group that already had four students in it.

Now their eyes were glued to me. I got up and walked to them irrespective of their awkward stares. I was used to it already.

After placing everyone in different groups, he left and we all returned back to our seats. The other students agreed to meet at Liz's house. She was one of the popular kids at school. She was a queen bee and a snobby brat who acted like everyone else didn't matter.

The rest of the day was boring and I was glad when it was finally over. As soon as the bell rung, I grabbed my brown leather backpack and walked out. Approaching the school gate still had some hold on me. Although I was older and I knew that he was not going to be there, I still felt nervous about the thought of meeting him there.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I walked past the gate. I gradually hummed in my mind until I got home.

“How was school?” I heard mum call out from the kitchen. I guess she was in a good mood today.

“It was fine,” I answered back.

“Welcome honey.”

Go and freshen up and come back here.

I ran to our shared room as I threw my bag on the bed and walked straight to the bathroom.

Few minutes later, I was back in the kitchen and what I saw next surprised me.

Mum was cooking and Dad sat on the countertop eating an apple. They were literally having a conversation. I was shocked and literally stood still until she spoke.

“Won't you come here?”

“Uhm, yes mum.”

“Here,” she said, handing me tacos.

“How was school?” he asked between bites.

“It was fine.”

What happened to both of them? If I didn't know better I would deny that they didn't just have a huge fight yesterday.

Without another word, I ate very quickly and left them alone.

Just when I was about to head to my room, I remembered that I had not told Mum about visiting Liz's house the next day.

“Mum,” I called.

“Yes honey” she answered as both eyes were now on me.

“There's this test I have next week and we have to work as a group for it. I would be visiting Liz's house tomorrow. She's my classmate.”

“Okay,” she nodded.

“Is it a girl?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Don't come late,” he answered and continued talking to mum.

My parents had the weirdest relationship I could ever imagine. Yes, dad was abusive but there were times he acted normal. That's only possible when something good happens. It had been a very long time since that happened and I was definitely not expecting to come home and find him there. Not even in the kitchen of all places.

He was mostly drunk and rarely came home.His behavior today simply meant one thing, something good had happened and I knew better than to ask him myself.

During this time, we walked on eggshells around him so as not to upset him.

I finally left them and went back to my room since I was already tired from the days work.