Like Stars At Night

Three

“He's joking, right? I'm really not the one she sent him to call,” I turned fearful eyes to Kenny.

She shrugged. “You know Obi never jokes.”

“Why does the Principal want to see you, Amara?” Sylvanus blinked at me.

“I don't know, but I'm going to find out,” I got up and Sylvanus followed suit.

“I have to head to class,” he said. “You girls will fill me in during break right?”

Sylvanus was an art student whose class was just down the hall.

“Sure.”

Kenny scoffed. “If you don't manage to kill yourself before then.”

“I know you can't wait to see my fine face again,” he winked at Kenny and left.

“If only his brain was as big as his ego,” she sighed.

“Aren't you escorting me to the Principal's office?”

Kenny jumped down from the table and we started on our way.

Now that Sylvanus wasn't around I began to freak out properly. Getting called to the Principal's office was for the rule breakers, I'd never broken a single rule since I started five years ago and me and trouble were like parallel lines. Unless . . .

“You don't think she's calling me about that bust do you?”

All of a sudden I felt the warmth leave my hands.

“What? Of course not, that was last year, and you did not break that stupid sculpture. Do you hear me? You did not break it!”

Kenny said it with so much conviction that I almost believed her.

We took the last staircase up and I had to hold on to the metal for support.

We stopped in front of a strong oak door with the word Principal carved into it in gold.

I took in a deep breath and faced Kenny. “How do I look?”

She studied me a while before smoothing back my hair. She gave a thumbs-up.

She grabbed my shoulders. “Don't be scared, she's not going to flog you, ok?”

I nodded.

“I'll see you in class, abi?”

I nodded again.

“Good luck.”

She hugged me and I stood there listening to her retreating footsteps.

My anxiety tripled to the point where I could feel my legs shaking when I realized that to the right was the staffroom. This stretch of hallway was unfamiliar to me and . . . honestly Amarachi you can exaggerate. It's nothing big, you shouldn't be so scared. Now stop being so silly and knock!

I heeded my inner voice and knocked.

I opened the door and came face to face with a small reception area. There were comfortable-looking chairs surrounding a small glass coffee table with newspapers on it. A desk was placed in front of a display case showing off every medal and trophy the school had won, the desk was currently occupied by Mr. Peter who was absorbed by the football commentary going on on the plasma TV mounted on the wall.

“Mr. Peter . . .”

He just pointed to the door on my left without even looking my way.

I strode to it and raised my hand to knock.

“Just go inside.”

I looked back at Mr. Peter and it seemed like his eyes never left the TV.

I pushed the brass handle down and entered.