Senior David

Senior David(Fortune Ohaegbulam) Mum must have felt a change in my composure because my hand had tightened around hers on instinct and, being the ever vigilant one, she turned and gave me that look.

‘Hey honey, what’s the matter?’

I ran my tongue over my lips which seemed to have dried up in an instant. That didn’t help either. My palms had gone moist and clammy.

‘N…no…nothing mum.’ I stammered. ‘Maybe I’m just nervous at having to get the result for my promotional exams’.

We were headed towards the row of classes adjacent to the administrative block. There were students and parents everywhere; saying their goodbyes and moving their luggage about. It was the start of the holidays and everyone seemed eager to be on the move.

The object of my discomfort was descending down the stairs of the administrative building and headed towards us. He had spotted us first and smiled as he approached.

‘Good morning ma, you must be Joseph’s mum’, he managed a bow. ‘My name is David’. He spoke in that sing-song voice that endeared him to many.

Mum took to him in an instant. Who wouldn’t? David had the looks to die for. He was always impeccably dressed and was a striker for the school football team. He doubled as the assistant food prefect which made him quite popular among the junior students.

‘Hello young man, very nice to meet you. How are you doing?’

‘Hello Senior David’, I managed a murmur in greeting. Thankfully, mum didn’t notice.

‘Have you collected your results yet?’ mum asked David. He smiled, revealing a set of white teeth and adjusted his glasses.

‘I’ll do that in a bit ma. I had to see the vice-principal to run an errand for him.’

‘It’s alright. Please ensure I see you before we leave. I like to appreciate anyone who has made Joseph’s first year in secondary school quite interesting.’

Clouds formed on my face and I was sure in an instant lightning and thunder would follow. I tugged on my mum’s hand.

‘Mum, we had better get going. We don’t want to be left out now…do we?’

I caught David as he winked at me. My blood curdled.

Interesting indeed! If only my mum knew the half of it.

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

The slap roused me in an instant. I had fallen asleep in my chair and at night prep class too! This was considered an abomination among the students as the punishment to be meted out would depend on the mood of the class prefect.

The stress of having to stare at equations which seemed like Greek must have taken its toll on me coupled with the wraps of fufu I had consumed earlier before heading for class. Still, I could not be bothered as I would rather face punishment than endure another session with algebra. I ran my hand over my face to wipe away the trace of spittle which had started to dribble down my face.

‘Joseph the dreamer’ the class prefect intoned and the whole class burst into laughter.

I was made to do a couple of frog-jumps outside the class for about ten minutes when I heard his voice.

‘What sins have you committed? Surely you don’t strike me like the troublesome type’. David smiled at me.

‘I’m sorry senior David. I slept off in class.’

‘Well well…you know what they say. He pays the piper who calls the tune.’ David nodded at Kenneth, my class prefect, and a look of understanding seemed to pass between them. He thrust his books at me.

‘You’ll take my things to the prefect quarters. You know where it is? My room is number 4.'

I could not believe my ears! Had I heard correctly? This was my punishment? I collected his books and made to leave but not before catching the looks of envy on my classmates faces. The privilege of visiting the prefects’ quarters didn’t come easy.

I made my way to the quarters and located David’s room with ease. His was the last in the block. I dropped the books and took time to study the layout of the room; pausing to admire the wall posters of the Real Madrid team, briefly running my hands over the faces of Ronaldo and Benzema.

‘Aaah! A fellow Madrid fan I see!’ David must have tip-toed into the room as I barely heard him sneak up on me. Perhaps his sneakers gave the added effect.

‘Sorry to snoop around sir. I must be heading back to class.’

‘It’s no bother. I’m sure you won’t be missed. Come and have a drink on me. At least I can show you my Madrid collections’.

I collected the half-empty can of fruit juice and helped myself to a cup. What an evening this was turning out to be.

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

It took a while before my eyes could adjust to the dimness of the room. The feel of the mattress on bare skin and the dampness of the room gave the indication that I didn’t have my clothes on. I tried to move my hands and legs and the tautness in my muscles and joints dawned on me. I was lying spread-eagled on my stomach!

My brain tried to process information as to how I got to be in this position but my sensory receptors had taken a holiday. I suspected that somehow I had been given a drug in my drink to induce that effect. I tried to shout for help but the rag stuffed in my mouth made a mockery of my efforts. I had to stop as I was starting to gag.

I tilted my head sideways to get a clearer view of the room. One thing was certain. I was still within the school grounds as I could hear the sound of bells. From the intensity it sounded like the last warning call for lights out. I struggled harder with my restraints.

The spring bed I was on was different from the bunk beds we had in the student dorm. It could only mean that I was still in the prefect’s quarters. It was a section of the student community we all looked forward to being in. it was a pity I was there in this state.

I felt hands grope me before I could see the face. I struggled harder but the restraints didn’t yield. The strong whiff of Vaseline hit me before I felt it being slapped all over my rectum.

‘Finally he stirs’. I heard the words come out in a slur.

I turned in the direction of the voice and in the dimness could make out David; naked as a new-born babe. What terrified me was the size of his member as he strode towards me. The way a cat would a cornered mouse.
‘Senior David please….please just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone.’ The words were eaten up by the rags.

White-hot pain shot through my buttocks straight to my brain as he slammed into me. Visons of my father on the pulpit condemning homosexuality heralded me as the blackness closed in on me.

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I waved my result for anyone in the face of anyone who bothered to notice. Mum had fulfilled her promise of buying me the jumbo-sized ice-cream cone if I came first in my class. We were headed for where our car was parked when my mum shrieked.

‘Look who we have here. David! Have you seen your results?’

David cut a picture of a sheep which had lost its wool. His shoulders drooped and he had this pain in his eyes I had never seen before.

‘I failed my exams ma. My dad has threatened that I’ll have to repeat the school year here. I don’t think I can handle such disgrace. I’ll have to seek transfer to another school.’ He had this faraway look in his eyes; a lost puppy.

My mum could not help but pat him on the back.

‘Aww…so sorry to hear that. I’m sure it’s all for the best’.

She dipped her hand in her bag and extracted crisp naira notes and stuffed them in David’s hands. My eyes blazed fire.

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

Our car joined the line of cars waiting to be checked at the school exit gate. I was already looking forward to the holidays and could barely wait to begin.

‘There’s your friend, David. Such a pity. A fine fellow too. Wave goodbye to him…will you?’

I looked towards the solitary figure. The burden of the secret I carried and all the hate that had been buried underneath the scars I bore rose to the surface and I managed a grin.

‘I pray I never see you again’

It was best for both of us.