A Gift in The Dark(Olufunke Kolapo) CHAPTER ONE

It was the first day of resumption for the students of Diamond International School, Osun state. Adebayo Komolafe was driving his son Richard to school. Bayo was the legal adviser to the executive Governor of his state. He was smart, colourful, dashing and wore expensive clothes. He loved power and had gained it without yielding to the conventions generally connected with elective office.

He was a devoted but a strict and no nonsense husband and father. His duty to the state made him a very busy man but he still had time to see to his children’s well being. He believed in giving his children the best education money can acquire, the only weapon to fight poverty, and this can only be achieved by enrolling his children in a boarding school where they wouldn’t be able to think of anything, but their studies. Hence, his choice of Diamond International School.

Diamond was the best private school in the Western part of the country. It was the school where some of the rich and prominent politicians, who do not want their children to study abroad for fear of drugs and other vices which may spoil their names, and also for adequate care and security, sent their children. It was also known for keeping the parents’ identity secret, if they so desire, due to the fear of those who might want to harm their children in order to get to their parents.

Bayo hardly drove his son to school but made today an exception in order to have a heart-to-heart talk with him about the appearance of a strange girl who came to ask after him some days back. He cleared his throat and turned sideways to look at his son, “Richard, I know you might be wondering why I chose to drive you to school myself.”

Richard’s heart sank, he already knew what his father wanted to talk about and had been dreading this minute but he knew he had to face it now since there was no escaping it, so he braced himself for the lengthy sermon “Yes daddy,” he mumbled.

“Listen son, about that girl who came to see you the other day, you are not physically and emotionally ready to start a relationship now, unless you are planning to get married in a year or so. Are you?”

“No dad”

“Good, then I think it will be in our best interest if you steer clear of these street girls,” Richard winced at his father’s choice of name for the girl who came to see him… “and face your study squarely. You know I want the best for you,” here comes the sermon Richard thought, “Besides, these girls might be sent to set you by my enemies as a way of getting at me,” he paused to see if his words were hitting target, “so I think you should wait until you are good and ready. Are we on the same page son?”

“Certainly dad.”

“That settles it then,” he said as he focused his attention on the road. Richard heaved a sigh of relief when he realised that his father had finished with him, he settled comfortably in his seat and covered his face with his face cap.

Adebayo looked sideways at his son who looked so much like him when he was his age and understood why girls would always seek his company.

Richard was a sixteen year old boy, too tall for his age. He was smart, intelligent, handsome, and the best male student in his school. He was a soft hearted, cool-headed lad who loved his parents and respected his family name and would never do anything to hurt them, especially his father, even at the expense of his own happiness. He adored and loved his father and wished he would be more caring and understanding, but was too scared of him to say it out. He wished he were more like his immediate elder brother, Simeon. He had his own mind and would never allow anybody, even their father, to plan his life for him. Their father wanted him to study medicine but he chose an engineering course instead because he couldn’t stand the sight of blood. When he asked why he went for another course, Richard would never forget the look on his father’s face when Simeon told him that it was his life and should be allowed to make the decision. He thought hell would let loose that day but nothing happened, except the silence that followed after his father stormed out of the house and Simeon banged the door of his room and refused to come out throughout that day.

He wished he could be like his friends for once and do something wild to see how his father would react. He wondered what he could do to make his father release the short leash on his neck. He was still thinking about this when he realised that the car had stopped and his father was talking to him. He sat up and rubbed his face. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, dad I’m cool” he mumbled as he got out of the car, opened the side door and grabbed his duffel bag and knapsack. He poked his head through the side mirror to bid his father good bye.

"Alright son, don’t do what I wouldn’t do," with that he turned and drove his Toyota Camry out of the school’s compound.

Richard stood still for a while, took a deep breath and surveyed the school compound as if it was his first time there. He looked up at the tall trees planted on each side of the path leading into the school premises. He remembered the first time he came here. How he thought the greening trees and the tall fence made the school look like something out of a European movie. He fell in love with the picturesque view of the school, the beautiful flowers planted around it, the blooming bushes and the lawns. But now as he looked around, the fence and the gate made him feel as if he had just been transferred from a minimum to a maximum security prison. The trees were looming above him like giants. He prayed silently that his time be miraculously shortened so he can be freed. He immediately felt so lonely and homesick and thought about his kind and soft-hearted mother and hoped she could stand up to their father whenever he made those decisions of his without putting anyone into consideration.
He remembered the last time he pleaded with his father to allow him not to attend a boarding school.

“And why would you want to change to a day school?” his father asked without looking up from the book he was reading.

“I like it at home,” He looked at his mother nervously for help.
“Honey,” Yemisi said tentatively, "maybe we should consider his request, he never mentioned this before. Moreover, boys his age sometimes feel the need to be closer to their mother…. I mean family”. Both mother and son waited for what seemed like eternity before Bayo finally dropped his pen to peer at his wife for some seconds.

“I thought you’d know better than support him. You know the situation of the country, how people like us are getting kidnapped on a daily basis. I won’t have my son kidnapped by some medieval psychopath. As for you,” he turned to look at his son, “Diamond is where you belong.”

“But Dad, don’t you think you are just being paranoid over nothing. There is nobody out there to get me. These people are not kidnapping children they…”

“Don’t you talk to me about paranoia, Richard Komolafe,” he interrupted him, “I know how these people’s minds work. When they run out of adults to kidnap, they will turn to our children. All I want from you is good grades. End of discussion,” he dismissed and focused on his book.

Richard was only brought back to the present by the sound of the lock on the gate. He sighed deeply, picked up his bag and walked towards the administration building.


CHAPTER TWO

At the girls’ hostel of Diamond International School, Rita Smith walked into the room which she shared with six other girls, her friends and two juniors. They screamed with joy when they saw her and rushed forward to help her move her stuff in. As soon as she settled down they started rummaging in her bags to see the new stuff she brought as was their usual practise whenever they came back from holidays. They were thrilled as they saw the beautiful things she brought.

Rita was an easy-going, brilliant and loving girl. She was the current Miss Diamond and had won so many competitions for her school. An undeniable intelligence lay behind her clear penetrating dark eyes. She was the pride of all her teachers. Her humility and generosity had won her the love and respect of her mates and other students.

She was the only child of her parents. Her father lived abroad where he worked and studied while her mother was into the sales of imported goods of clothing materials of different kinds and kitchen utensils. She travelled to different countries to buy her wares. This made it difficult for her to spend quality time with her daughter which is why she enrolled her daughter in a boarding school against her father’s wish.

“Gee, Rita this is cool,” said Aisha, the daughter of a wealthy philanthropist who specialises in the sale of flour and cement. “I’m sure this is not from here?”

“No,” Rita replied in her usual calm manner. “I bought it in Amsterdam when my father took me on a shopping spree.”

“What did you expect from daddy’s girl? Rita hardly spends her hols here,” said Enny, the Principal’s niece.

“I think someone is turning green here girlfriends. It’s not as if you don’t travel out too Enny, at least you do once in three years. So, get over it,” said Betty as she brought out a spaghetti top and tried it on. “Oh my God Rita, I l-o-v-e this and I’m so going to take it.”

"No, you are not", said Enny. "You have something like this", she pulled it from her hand as Betty struggled with her. “Wait,” Rita said in her usual calm but firm voice which made people obey her. “I actually bought it for her."

“Oh, you had better have something for us all or she gets nothing,” quipped Aisha.

“Trust me, I do,” she assured them and gave them different colours of the spag she gave Enny with shorts to match.

“Oh, this is really hot, Rita, thanks a lot,” Aisha said as she tried on the top.
“Girlfriends," she continued, “I think we should go to the admin before the witch from the valley appears to drag us to the gas chambers” the others laughed and hurried out of the dormitory to check in with their house mistress.

************


CHAPTER THREE

On the field outside, the students were sitting in groups while waiting for the principal to address them. They were discussing how they spent their last holiday.

Among the students in group was a small group of four students, Joseph Adenigbagbe, a shy and funny looking boy with small nose and big eyes that keep darting around as though the people around him are wild animals and likely to pounce on him any minute. He was quite small for his age and that’s why his friends call him ‘Big Joe’.

“I don’t like holidays,” he suddenly declared, “in fact, I wish we never had to go for holidays.”

“What do you mean you don’t like holidays?” asked Alexander Sokoya, "Holiday is the period when you don’t have to do things according to time-tables drawn by some stiff-necked prim and proper freaks,” he said beaming with smile while Christopher Maduka exclaimed loudly.

Lexy was a troubled troublesome sixteen year old son of a king in one of the small towns in Ogun state. He was notorious for defying school rules and breaching the peace of the school by playing pranks on the students and even teachers. Rumour has it that he was banished to this school when he sat on his father’s throne with a girl on his lap which was an abominable thing to do. His mother smuggled him out of the palace to Lagos in the night where her sister suggested that he should be taken to Diamond International. That was why he never spent his holiday in his father’s palace but in Lagos.

“I think holiday is the time you get to cruise around with lots of babes and guys who know how to do things, you know cool stuff,” Chris said and shrugged. Christopher’s parents lived and worked in the United States of America. He was from the Eastern part of the country. He used to live in the States with his parents but was sent to Nigeria when his mother caught him smoking pot in his room.

“Well that’s because you don’t have parents like mine,” Joe said dryly in response to Chris. “I can only go out on Saturdays,” he continued with a pained expression on his face, “for just two hours,” this elicited a gasp from Chris and Lexy. “I attended computer classes in the morning; my father employed some teachers to teach me in the afternoons, an hour siesta in the evenings. I got to listen to the news later in the evening. I’m like a prisoner in my own house. Tell me; is there any difference between school and home?” He finished lamely, his owlish eyes darting from one face to another and finally resting on Chris.

“Well... err. That’s boring I think, but to answer your question, there is a big difference between school and home from where I’m standing,” said Chris. “At home, I can go anywhere because there’s nobody to stop me. My brothers hardly hang around long enough to worry about me. And my parents, they seldom come home and when they do, they have a lot of functions to attend or guests to entertain to care about me, their last child. I am simply invisible. You know what they say,” mimicking American accent.
“Chris is now a changed guy, and he is adjusting well. The moment they leave," he whistled, “I resume my extra-curricular activities”, they all laughed. “I really like hols; I don’t have to sneak out to be with my pals.”

Joe raised his eyebrows in questions, “sneak out? You sneak out of here?”

“Of course, what do you think, that we spend all our week-ends in this hell-hole?” quipped Lexy.

“How do you do that?” Joe asked with interest, "you just have my curiosity bubbling like sixty.”

“Look at you, all you have to do is give the guards a few bucks and you are out,” tapped his fingers, ‘like that’

“I’d really love to join you guys.”

“That’s cool,” said Lexy, “actually I was thinking of inviting Richie tonight.”

“Richard?” Asked Chris with surprise, “You are kidding right? Richard will never break a rule. He’s a sissy.”

“Come on, that’s too harsh,” said Lexy. “He’s tough, he just respects his parents too much, though I don’t know why he bothers, really I mean parents who do not care so much about us. They think we are too much a handful for them and banished us to this …this…." He was still thinking of the word to use when they saw Richard approaching, grinning from ear to ear.

“Talk of the devil, whispered Chris, “Hi Richie, how yah doing?” they shook hands and hugged.

“God, you look more handsome Richie,” said Lexy with open admiration.

“You don’t look bad too,” replied Richie.

“How is your old buddy?” asked Chris.

“Same as ever,” he replied without interest.

“Did you see the girl I introduced to you online?” Lexy asked changing the subject.

Richie sighed in exasperation then rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet while the others watched this performance with increasing curiosity. “I didn’t see her,” he said at last. “We had an appointment but I couldn’t make it,” he added lamely.

“Why, what happened?” asked Joe his hands folded on his chest.

“I just couldn’t,” he said with irritation. “And guess what?” He added after a while, “She came to our house.”

“She did?” Chris asked with amazement, “She’s got guts.”

“Yeah, she has more guts than brains, and guess what my father did? He practically walked her out and called her a street girl.” Lexy opened his mouth to say something but Richard waved him off and continued, “Look, I’m through with girls. I don’t want you arranging girls for me again. Guess I will just do what my father advised.” He finished lamely and sat on the grass beside Chris.

“And what’s that?” asked Chris

“Wait till I’m good and ready,” he said indifferently.

“I don’t know why you bother, he already has a babe,” Joe said suddenly. They all turned to look at him. “Look at you; you can have any girl you want. You are the most brilliant, if not the most popular guy here. Almost all the girls want to be with you. Rita for instance, that girl is hot and she likes you but you don’t give a damn. If I have what you have, I’d have all the girls here where I want them to be.”

“Hey, get over yourself, didn’t know you could speak this much,” Richard said with irritation.

“Come to think of it Richie, I think he’s right,” Chris said after a while. “You and Rita are star-crossed like Romeo and Juliet. I think you are destined to be together. You are like two sides of a coin and I know she really likes you.”

“Well, thank you for that well planned sermon. It’s really inspiring. We are just friends.”

“Friends, whom are you kidding? asked Lexy, “Everybody knows you are sleeping with her. I will give anything to see that girl naked,” he said dreamily.

‘J-e-s-u-s,’ Richie gasped and looked around to check if anybody overheard them. “How could you say such a thing? We are just friends and only study together sometimes.”

“Well,” Lexy shrugged indifferently, “then do something about it, I mean your status. You belong together. Richard’s eyes clouded with concentration as if considering what Lexy said, then hardened with irritation. “This discussion is over,” he blurted out. “In fact we never had it. Come with me, there’s something I have to show you,” he said changing the topic. “It’s in my locker.”

The others exchanged meaningful looks. “Oh yeah,” said Chris, “guys, come on let’s go,” he added as he stood up to brush the dust off his knee length extra baggy shorts. They all walked to their dormitory.


CHAPTER FOUR

The principal, Mr Oguntade, is a chubby medium height dark complexioned man with an unlined impassive face that gave no clue of his sixty years. He had a round head without hair and grey beard which he often stroked when in deep thought. He had the kind of face that communicates power and confidence. He was sitting in his office holding a piece of paper that was just handed to him by the school’s secretary.

The piece of paper was an invitation to A Week Extra-Curricular Activities. He had earlier sent for the teacher in charge of the literary and debating club. After about an hour discussion, they agreed on sending five students to represent them at the competition which would be led by Richard and Rita. He was still going through the events of the school’s last Founder’s Day when he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in,” He smiled broadly when he saw Richard and Rita and adjusted the scholarly spectacle hanging on the bridge of his nose.

“Good morning sir,” they said in unison.

“Hello, do sit down please,” he said in his usual soft and compelling voice. Rita mumbled thank you and perched on one of the chairs opposite the principal as if ready to take a flight. She had always been scared of the principal’s black piercing, discerning eyes that looked as if he could see right into your soul. She was grateful she had no evil thought in her head just then.

“I sent for you because of the invitation we received for the Literary and Debating Week.” Rita startled as his voice broke into her head. “Both of you have made this school proud with your achievements so far and I’m very proud of you,” he added with a big smile that made his cheeks wobble.
“So,” he continued “you are to represent us at the competition. Go and see Mr Alake for further instructions. Good luck.” They both mumbled their thanks and walked out of the principal’s office to see the teacher in charge.

“How are you doing?” Richard asked Rita as they were descending the stairs in front of the principal’s office.

“I’m fine thanks, and you?” she replied shyly.

“About our last discussion, you have not said anything. I’m still waiting for your response.” When she said nothing he took her right hand and led her to the back of the computer laboratory.

“Richie,” she said at last, “We are too young and inexperienced for this type of relationship.”

“I did not mean we should do anything untoward, I just want us to take our friendship further. Do you know everybody thinks we are …...?”
“…already sleeping together,” She interrupted and rubbed her forehead. Richard was surprised that she knew about this insinuation and it never bothered her. This made him respect her more.

“Look,” She continued in her usual calm manner that made it difficult for people to know when she was annoyed, “I have heard those words so many times I can even recite them in my dream, but I don’t think you should do something you are not doing simply because people think you are doing it. You don’t allow what people are saying about you to dictate the way you live your life,”

'This girl is even smarter than I ever imagined.' Richard thought.

“If you are not comfortable with our studying together then let’s quit.”

“No, I’m not uncomfortable. Listen, I will never do anything that can jeopardise our future. I like you a lot and will never hurt you or…’ his voice trailed off. He looked into her eyes then. ‘Don’t you love me?’

She exhaled deeply and shifted her weight from one foot to another. “I do. Honestly, I do,” she declared and smiled.

“I promise we’ll be careful okay? I’ll make sure we don’t …..”

“Alright.” She said cutting him off. “Let’s leave this place before people start wondering what we are doing here. I’ll see you later.”

Rita left for her class while Richard stood still for a while. He realised that for the first time since he got to this school he actually felt alive and not so lonely. He wondered if he was really in love and if someone his age could feel this way. He was even more surprised to see that he was whistling as he walked towards his class.

****************

Mr Alake liked to be in charge. He especially enjoyed the exhilarating feelings he experienced whenever he walked into a class and everywhere went suddenly quiet that you could probably hear yourself sweat. The students feared and respected him. He never used cane but he had an unusual way of dealing with students who disregard his rules. Mr Alake is attractive in an athletic way, tall, brown eyes, and exceptionally white teeth with thin unsmiling lips. He was dressed in a blue short sleeved shirt, khaki trousers, and black shoes. As he entered the Literature class where the members of the Literary and Debating club were to meet, the students quickly settled in their seats and sealed their lips. The president of the literary and debating club finally found his voice and asked the students to stand up to acknowledge the teacher’s presence.

“Good afternoon, sir.” they chorused.

In response, he peered at them as if he expected one of them to suddenly sprout a second head. He knew he had the ability to make people nervous with his unnerving eyes which he always used to his advantage.

“Afternoon,” he said after what seemed like eternity, “you may sit,” he said gruffly. The students sat quietly without the usual scraping of chairs, the groans or the murmurings that usually accompany a teacher’s arrival.

“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, “class, I’m sure you all know why I asked you all to wait after the lesson? The competition is in six weeks so we need to put our heads together and figure out what to do, not that you would be willing to lock heads with me anyway. So what do you suggest we do?” he scanned their faces but they averted his gaze. “Well… uh ..,” he stopped when he saw a student raised up his hand, “Ah finally, someone has decided to speak. Yes, Christopher.”

The boy stood up and fixed his gaze on the chalkboard behind his teacher to retain his confidence, because one needs that to speak in Mr Alake’s class, “Sir, I suggest we choose the play we presented during the last Founders’ Day. It has the same theme with this programme which is ‘Educating The Girl Child,” he finished and waited for the change in the colour of his eyes, followed by the flare of his nostrils as he inhaled mightily, then the roar ordering you to shut up and be seated, if he was in a good mood. Instead, he was rewarded with a marvellous smile and a ‘thank you, please be seated.’

“You know, that was what I had in mind, but I just wanted to know if my students are as smart as I expected them to be.” The students exchanged meaningful looks. Rita wondered why Mr Alake always had other people’s idea or opinion in mind before they made it known and was always kind enough to let them say it first. Why he would never say it before they did, so we can know who is the smartest. His voice broke into her thoughts startling her a bit.

“Do you all agree with me?” He asked the class in general.

Now the idea has become his, Rita concluded the thought with a sigh.

Then Richard raised up his hand and stood up to talk. “Sir, there are about eight characters in the play but the organizers said, not more than four characters. They also requested for only five students for the competition which includes drama. I don’t see how,” he shrugged helplessly and sat.

“Thank you for that observation. I already thought of that and figured out how we can reduce the characters to meet up with their requirement. Rita and Richard are going for the quiz and the debate; they are also in the play. See, problems solved.” He focused his attention on the two students in the front row, “Rita, Richard, you have a lot of work to do. We will make some adjustment to your lines. I assume you still have the script.” They nodded affirmatively. “Great, rehearsal starts tomorrow. Anything else?” Without waiting for a response, he wished the students a good day and marched out of the class in his usual military manner that makes one wonder if he chants “left, right” in his head when walking or simply marched to an imaginary military parade.

The students released the suspended air in their lungs and breathed freely. They filed out of the class, each dreading the four weeks they were going to spend with ‘Avatar’. Their experience during the preparation for the last Founders’ Day was still fresh in their memory.

*********************


CHAPTER FIVE

The students of Diamond International School usually have a free time for themselves on Sundays. They were free to do whatever they liked for three hours as long as they remained within the school premises. Rita and her friends spent this time in their usual spot, under the Iroko tree at the back of the library. They were helping Rita to prepare for her rehearsal. She said her lines while the others took up the other characters’ parts. Eniola was getting bored of the routine so she changed the subject. She cleared her throat to get their attention. “Rita?”

“Yes sweetie,” she replied pleasantly without taking her eyes from the script she was holding.

“When are you planning to tell us?”

She looked up and stared at Enny for a while. The smile on her face dissolved into a frown when she saw the look on her face. She directed her gaze to the others and discovered that they were as confused as she was. “What?” She finally found her voice. “Tell you what? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, cut the pretence. You know I mean who, not what, and he is called Richard.” The others heaved a sigh of relief.

“What about him? There’s nothing to tell.”

“Liar,” Rita shrank back as if she was slapped. She was surprised at the vehemence of her friend’s word. “You know it and we know it but you wouldn’t admit it to us. Do you call that friendship?” she asked the others, Aisha nodded in agreement.

Rita looked at her friend’s face, her eyes finally rested on the one who seemed less annoyed with her, “Betty, it’s not true. We never… She hadn’t finished the sentence before Aisha interrupted her.

“I knew she would deny it. She loves listening to the tales of our escapades with our boyfriends but keeps hers to herself. Everybody knows you are…..”

“….. Sleeping with him?” Rita cut in sharply, “I can’t believe you of all people believe that rumour about Richard and I." her eyes swept over the three of them. “You know I thought we were friends, and the only reason I could bear that false accusation was because I thought my friends would never doubt me, but I guess I was wrong.”

“You mean you are just friends. You never….”

“The only thing we do together is studying,” she replied through clenched teeth. Rita took one look at her friend’s face and sighed with resignation. “Richard never said anything to me about a relationship until yesterday and I was going to tell you today before you all went witch-hunt on me. I swear we are... we were just friends.”

Aisha laid her hands on Rita’s lap and patted her. Enny licked her dry lips, breathed deeply and apologised on behalf of the others. “We are really sorry. So,” she continued, “what was your response, did you say yes?”

“Enny!” Betty shrilled.

“What!!” She yelled back.

“Lay off!”

“If the golden boy finally spilled out his feelings to the Diamond Queen, then I’ve got to hear every juicy detail. If you are not interested, you can cover your ears.” She turned her attention back to Rita, “Now, my Lady, what was your response, because if you didn’t accept him, I might just ask him out myself. That guy is so cute.”

“Well you are welcome to have him.” Rita said without interest, “Because I am not ready to be anybody’s babe, lover, girlfriend, sleeping mate, or whatever. Right now my books are my lovers.”

The girls burst into uncontrollable laughter calling Rita all sorts of names like Virgin Mary, Holy Mother of God. Rita turned pale with embarrassment. Then Aisha stopped as if she suddenly remembered something. “Wait, are you a virgin?” Rita was irritated at the question and answered in the same manner.

“Of course, I’m a virgin. Why…”

Aisha rushed forward to cover her mouth.

---