Chapter 4

• Christine's POV
• The class representative was getting irritated at Jackie's announcement. She clearly knew well that if the teacher on duty found the class making noise, she would be punished as well. Everyone turned to face Jackline with much curiosity of what she was to say. Trizah seemed undisturbed it was as if she was ready for tonight.
• "Jackline Mutheu. Shut up!" The class representative roared.
• "C'mon ... Let her speak.. You never know, perhaps this is not one of her jokes". One girl said. She was commonly known by the name of 'Supu' meaning in English "Beautiful"
• "Yes let her speak" Trizah defended.
• "Hmm okay then Jackline, but if it is one of your nonsense, I won't let you off". The Class representative warned.
• "Okay.... Everyone, as I was asking, In case something happens tonight, will you all run for your lives or will you just sit here like potatoes waiting to be peeled and cooked?" She asked.
• "Heee!!! I would run like no one's business!". Alice my desk mate responded.
• "Jackie, I don't understand you, what do you mean?" Supu asked.
• Jackie took a deep breathe and spoke out, "I must admit... of late we have all heard about different schools around our country striking because of the mock exams, right?"
• "Yes". We all responded in unison
• "And it's the form four's doing because they don't want to sit for those horrible exams and d'you know in most schools which they have already striked, they were being helped out by form three's and I'm not saying that we should strike but I'm just telling you girls to be ready because we never know what the form fours are thinking right now. We may end up being victims". Jackie explained.
• "Girls just keep yourselves safe and ready in case of anything". Trizah added.
• "Are you two done bluffing off that nonsense?". The class representative asked.
• "Hey! That was not nonsense and the fact that you are our monitor does not mean that you have the right to talk rudely and harshly to us... You may never know how long you will be on that position... nothing lasts forever!". Alice exclaimed. I was always amazed by the outburst of courage that she always had. I smiled at that, Alice was indeed a good girl.
• "Yes am done monitor!. Alice, thanks for that but you know some people think that they are angels when infact they are the demons here!". Jackline said in a mid anger tone.
• I could see that the class representative wanted to talk back but the bell indicating that preps time (study time) was over rang and most girls got out of class happily racing to their dorms. I really wanted to talk to Jackline but she was busy hugging Trizah, I admit, I was jealous but there was nothing I could do other than walk away.
• "God, please don't let that strike go through. I'm afraid of the impossible that could happen..". I prayed silently. And I hoped I would be able to sleep soundly with nothing to disturb me.
• Though am a light sleeper, I just did not want to think about the strike.
• SIX HOURS LATER...
• The bell indicating that everyone should wake up and start preparing for the new day, rang. I woke up and looked around. To be honest, God had answered my prayers, I had slept like a babe and I felt a certain peace within me.
• The strike never happened.
• Though it was still dark outside, it was four o' clock in the morning and I'm sure with most people awake at this hour, that strike would never take place.
• Yes, we usually woke up at four every morning to prepare ourselves, perform our duties by cleaning the school because the school's director couldn't hire any workers to do that job. We cleaned the school by ourselves and after that we went to class for morning preps and took our breakfast after that.
• "Hey, Chris! wake up ... Lets go and bathe. I have already fetched some water for you. It's in the bathroom". Hawo my best friend said. I must admit she was much better than Trizah, more considerate and helpful.
• We were good friends and we also shared the same cubicle. She was a medium height girl, light skinned, slim and above all she was a Muslim but I never discriminated her because of her religion.
• I groaned as I got out of bed and wrapped my towel under my armpits around my chest, on top of my night dress.
• "Thanks Hawo." I responded.
• "Why that face? Aren't you happy you woke up today or?" She asked with a slight chuckle.
• I was not a morning person and all I wanted everyday was sleep longer but that wasn't possible.
• "No, It's nothing. I'm just homesick". I said flatly as we walked out of the cubicle into the bathroom.
• Yes, I lied. I didn't know how to break it to her that there was a strike being planned out by the form fours.
• "Oh don't worry, just several weeks remaining and we will be at home". She said with a grin.
• Now those are the words that I did not want to hear at all. They were so discouraging and for once, I found myself wishing that the strike had gone through.
• Japheth's POV
• Everything had gone as planned. So far, so good... we were miles away from school and I was sure that by the time the students and school administrators learnt of our absence, we would be out of reach. Other boys who were not part of my gang had also joined up, they were afraid and also shaken by the sudden outcome of events that they were unaware of.
• To be honest, such situations were traumatizing but what were we to do?.
• "Dude! Can we at least decrease our speed now?. I'm exhausted!". Fred exclaimed as he tried to catch his breathe.
• "We have no time for that Fred!. I hope you understand we have to be miles away before they think of coming after us". I responded as I tried to catch my breathe too.
• "Okay man, will be patient and will try though it's hard." He responded.
• We were to go to Lulu Girls High School. We weren't planning on striking alone. Another school, especially a female one would be fun. Though I knew girls were weak and fragile, my intention was to at least pass a message to them, letting them know that 'all study with no play makes jack a dull boy'.
• During the funkie I had managed to inform several girls from that school; some were from form four, others were form three's and less were in form two. The more, the energy and saich of striking would be. All I hoped was that they never told on us. I also hoped that they had prepared themselves for this.
• I took in a deep sharp breathe as we wound up on a Conner which let us on the main road. From a far, I could see light from the horizon. The sun had started to rise... which was bad news to us. We were running out of time.
• "Hey! Japheth?.... are we still going for the girls? I can see the sun is rising.. perhaps they are in class or they are waking up now...". George one of my classmates said.
• "We have no other option...". I remarked.
• "C'mon man!... we don't know how the security over there is, at this particular time!". Fred remarked back.
• "No problem, if they are awake or asleep at this time, or whether the security is tight or loose, we can make a small commotion and I'm sure the girls in one way or another, they will do something". I responded.
• "Okay as you say. But what if they don't come out?". Fred asked. I slowed down and looked at him. My brows furrowed at that statement.
• "It doesn't matter, I will wait for this coming night and wait for them to act. I'm not yet ready to go home".
• "I'm not yet ready either.. especially in facing my mom... so I will help you. I will ask some other guys if they are willing to tag along with us". Fred offered. I managed to offer a grin.
• I knew his mother was like a tigress. She was one strict woman. We couldn't blame her, she was a single mother and perhaps raising Fred alongside two other kids wasn't easy. So, if Fred went home now in the name of "being among those who striked", he would totally be skinned alive.
• "Thanks. At least ten boys will do.." I suggested.
• "Okay.. will do..." He responded. Well, he was afraid of his mom while I was afraid of both my parents but most especially my father. But now it was high time he knew, he was the reason to why I was this cold and hardheaded.
• MINUTES LATER....
• We were now in front of Lulu Girl's School. We stood there for several minutes trying to catch our breathes and at least stay calm before we made our 'small commotion'. Some classes had their lights on, indicating that the girls were already awake. But it didn't matter at least it would be easier because they would hear us.
• "Guys, are you ready?" I asked.
• "Yes we are!". They responded in unison. I took in a deep breathe as I took off my shirt thus I remained with my vest only, then poked it in my back pocket though it wouldn't fit in, so the remaining part of the shirt was left outside hanging.
• "Guys! Are you ready?" I asked now a bit louder and energized than before.
• "Yes we are!."They responded again in the same tone and energy.
• "Good, we all know what we've come here to do. Let no one disappoint me". I said as we moved into position while holding the grills of the outer gate of the school.
• We started shaking it.
• It wasn't strong as we thought. I wondered what the director of the school, thought while he said that there was tight security in this school.
• How could the security be tight while the school's outer gate had rusty inches?.
• "Okay... Lets do this!" I muttered as we started shaking the gate to and fro so as to make it fall and advance towards the main school gate.
• "Lulu girls! Woooohooo! Come out! we have come for you!" Some of the boys shouted as we continued to shake the gate which was making a gusty loud sound. They shouted again and this time louder. I saw several girls peep through the windows in the classes upstairs as they looked down at us.
• "Japheth, I have found an entrance through the face.. some of us can pass through there". Fred said.
• "Okay, Pick out a few boys and go through that way.. cause commotion at the front gate". I instructed.
• I was confident that over fifty boys could not be defeated with such a gate. It was almost breaking, I could almost smell my victory. If it did have a scent.