Erica's Peacock Robe - The Ink Well Fiction

Mom, I can handle it myself.

Mrs. Ekpo looked at her fifteen-year-old daughter. She is just too confident of herself and she does it with so much ride.

Alright then, first thing in the morning, you'd put on that new uniform and go to Margaret Olubunmi College.

Erica frowned continuously. She doesn't like to be ordered around.

Ok, mom.

She answered and walked away from her mom's presence to her pink-painted room. Erica has been out of school for six months since her expulsion from Tailgate High School, Asaba. As the only daughter of the Ekpos and the last child, she was pampered to a fault.

Erica took her new uniform and ironed it so perfectly that the gators were straight and sharp. Her black Cotina shoes are polished. She was set to appear nicely in her new school the next day.

Very early in the morning around 5:30 am, she woke from the sound of the alarm by the side of her bed but didn't leave the bed until after an hour later. By the time she was done taking her bath and munching breakfast, it was already past 8:00 am. Mrs Ekpo, a retired principal called Erica from her room:

Erica, you are late for school. It's your first day. First impressions last longer.

Sluggishly, she picked her haversack and moved out from the house towards Margaret Olunbunmi College, an only girls school. The girls were already moving into their classes when Erica arrived at the school gate. The school perfect who were at the gate were already moving to their classes when Erica arrived.

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When they saw her, they knew immediately that she was a new student. One of the perfects, Maureen walked waved her welcome and asked:

Hi. What's your name?

Erica winked awfully at her and said:

How is that any of your business?

The girls were taken aback at her rude behaviour. She did not have any sign of respect for Maureen and the other girls hated her so much but Erica cared less.

Could any of you girls be kind enough to direct me to the principal's office?

They looked at each other and walked away, leaving Erica to settle the puzzle of where the principal's office could be. After what seemed to be a merry-go-round, Erica found the office of the principal close to where she had met the girls earlier. There was simply no remorse that she was not at her best behaviour before the girls.

Good morning.

Erica said, greeting Mrs George, the Principal of Margaret Olubunmi Girls College. The grey-haired woman looked up and said:

You should say good morning ma or good morning, Mrs. George. Now, get out there and walk in again. Let's act like we haven't seen today.

Again, after looking at Mrs. George from hair to her chest region, she turned nonchalantly and walked out. Erica stayed behind the door for over five minutes. She was raging. "Who the heck does she thinks she is". Erica argued with herself. She felt like going back home. But on a second thought, she took a breathe in and out and knocked at the door, went in and said:

Good morning, Mrs George.

Her eyeglasses hanging at past half of her nose, she looked up and said:

Good morning. What can I do for you?

Erica looked stunned.

I am Erica Ekpo. My mom, Mrs Ekpo asked me to see you concerning my resumption at Margaret Olunbunmi Girls College.

Mrs George sat up on her chair, she looked at Erica again, and said:

You are Mrs Ekpo's daughter.

She took the land-lined telephone on her desk and dialled a number.

Mr Ojo, come to my office immediately.

In no time, a man with a long can wrapped with sellotape appeared in the office.

Good morning, Oga.

He greeted Mrs George who told him to take Erica to the grade twelve class but first report to the form master, Mrs Okogie, so that her name would be registered.

Erica stood there while all the conversation was made. She wanted to sit but her mind told her not to dare it. Mrs George would skin her alive.

Mr Ojo did as he was instructed as Erica followed him to the staff room where she was introduced to the form master of grade twelve and later taken to her new class.

In her new class, she met Maureen and the other girls she insulted. It's going to be a thug of war. Erica was prepared for the drama as she was never ready to accept that she was wrong.

Mr Ojo took the lead. He attempted to introduce Erica to the class. As she mentioned it, the four girls who had encountered Erica the first time, turned their backs in an irritating manner which when interpreted suggested that they did not welcome Erica. Maureen and her gang vowed to be a bone in the neck of Erica throughout her stay in the school and they meant it.

At the end of the first day, when Erica got home, she brought out her books from her back but found only grasses. None of her books could be found. Funny enough, she took all her books to school. She was pickled.

What could have happened?

She looked confused. Quickly, she went to her mom's room to report the case.

Mom!! Mom!!! See what I found in my bag? And all my books are gone.

Mrs. Ekpo smiled and said to Erica.

What have you done again? It's your first day. I know you too well. You must have done something wrong to somebody.

Go and make up with whomever you have wrong. Young woman, if you are expelled for any misbehaviour from your new school, I won't move an inch to getting you another school. Let that sink in.your head.

That night, Erica thought of many things but gave up her pride and decided to make friends with Maureen and her gang.