Fiction | Fingerprints

The siren went at 7:45am at Carter Hill School. Students trickled out from various classrooms towards the assembly ground where a prefect was standing barking out orders.

“Double up! Double up!! If you’re standing, you’re wrong!”

Two kids picked up their paces, from across the yard clutching their backpacks tightly with excitement dangling on their faces.

“Are you serious, someone beat-up Tosan in this school? Unbelievable!”

“Yes, I saw it! The bully was humiliated.”

“Where? Who? I bet he won’t be able to come to school today.”

“I saw it in my dreams”

“Ha! Dreams, no wonder. Who can dare?”

“You did, am serious.”

“Well, you said so; it can only be in your dreams.”

“Who are those scrawny little badgers there? Double up here or I’d get fifty laps from you this morning!?”

The prefect’s voice jarred the boys to quickly join the lines on the assembly.

The assembly started for the early comers with songs, drills and a pep talk from the prefect on duty. Soon, the lines grew with the arriving students. At 8:00am, the Vice-Principal administration came and gave an exhortation to the students.

“Today, like other days, we expect you to maintain decorum at all times. If you have a free period, find your way to the library. We shall not tolerate, the loitering and idling around. You’re all born to be great; so, I charge you, go and contribute to that greatness with all your activities.”

As the students dispersed to their classes, Dale noticed the excitement all around the JSS 3 boys. Andrews has obviously been giving them one of his legendary tales.

Soon eyes were glancing his way as if they were sizing him up. Then those set of eyes went the way of Tosan, who was being spanked for turning up late by a Man ‘o’ war cadet.

Suddenly, Dale connected the dots. Andrew has been feeding them in on the dreams he had. Dale had enough worries on his mind than add Tosan’s. He ran to them shouting,

“It’s a lie!”

Everyone in Andrew’s company burst into a laugh.

“So, who thinks it’s true?” a lanky kid asked

“Dave, I swear it’s a lie. How can I beat Tosan?

Dale looked, nervously, the way of Tosan, who was swaggering near having chested the spanking of the cadet. Ladies looked on in admiration and boys in envy. Tosan could withstand any stroke of the cane with showing any pain.

“Dreams are foolish we know. But it would interest our friend Tosan to know the news about his imminent defeat.” Someone suggested from the crowd

“Leke, please don’t do that. Common Andrew, tell them it’s a mere dream, please!”

Leke ran to Tosan as he swaggered into his class. He murmured some things to him and told turn around to look in the direction of Dale and his company.

“We shall decide that at closing, boy!” a bass voice rumbled out to Dale.

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Now, over to you, what do you think will happen? Take a guess, it’s safe on me and not a damn lottery!

The Alarm went off with a thud movement on a bed, in a dark room. An outstretched arm tapped a bedside switch, the room was illuminated.

The figure sat up in bed, cupped his head in his hands. He entered the bathroom. He stepped out into the room. He wore his clothes perfunctorily: briefs, singlet, pants, shirt and a tie.

6:30am he went to his front yard to empty his trashcan, a neighbour shouted greetings from across the yard.

“Good morning, Mr Grey!”

“Morning, Maloney”

Maloney is an amateur gymnast who has for 3 year set his regimen by the time Grey wakes up and when he goes to empty his trashcan.

Grey went back inside, sniffed at a hot cup of coffee. Sipped gingerly and looked on at the grandfather’s clock that chimed away above the bookshelf adjacent to the dinner table.

This is a contribution to the Household of FridayFictioneers. It’s a joy to be among you folks again. All comments are appreciated. Thanks to rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com for hosting us as usual.