Chapter 41

• The next morning, we prepared to go to Jontile Girls’ High School. I wore an orange African Print A-line dress, slightly above my knees. It had a front slit from the waistline to the hem. The bodice was plain orange, while the skirt was the floral part of the fabric. The neckline was a round collar made of the floral fabric. It had a matching short, mid-thigh length, also made of the floral fabric. Ray wore a black pencil trouser, embroidered in the floral part of the same African print fabric at the hem and pockets. The shirt was also made of the same piece of fabric with the front being the floral part and the back being plain orange. I had made them when I was at mum’s place. Ray didn’t know about the clothes. I gave them to him that morning.
• They fitted him well. He was delighted. “You are talented, sweetie. This is what you should do” he said.
• We arrived at Jontile in mid-morning. We signed in at the gate and walked towards the principal’s office. There was a class which was going out for physical exercise class. They stood and looked at us. I could hear them shout, “It is Stephanie!” Some of the girls ran to greet us, especially those who were my friends. One of them was Rita, the girl who had offered to clean my clothes when I was discharged from hospital. I introduced her to Ray. “I know Mr. Raymond. You don’t have to introduce him. Everyone speaks of him since the days of your miscarriage. So you are still dating him up to date?” she asked. I laughed and told her that we were taking our relationship to another level.