Gone Forever!

I lay on my bed, arms on my chest, looking out through the glassless window, lost in thoughts. My neatly packed bags were beside me. Everything I owned was in a bag. Just a little while, and I would be gone, never to return.

Barbara B

The sound of the whistle brought me back to reality. It was time for the school principal's final address. We never got along, and I don't blame him, not after my numerous attempts to escape from school.

Nancy came down from the upper bunk bed and sat beside me.

"Since everyone was leaving, how about IJ and I carry you with your bags to the school gate",

"Yes babe, I don't mind". IJ responded. She walked to my bunk bed and squeezed my arm in reassurance. "Don't worry, you are going home soon". She smiled at me.

Thoughts of home brought water to my eyes, and I wiped them off with the back of my hand. I thought of all the beautiful things I had been away from. The vanilla smell of my mother's cupcakes every morning, the hide-and-seek games with my siblings, and Saturday movie night with my parents. I miss playing in the rain with my siblings. When it rains, we make paper boats and sail them in the water gathered in our compound to see whose boat capsizes first. I wondered if my little sister still cries at every meal. It used to irritate me, but now I wouldn't mind if she sang me a song with those cries.

The boarding school was my father's choice. He believed that a boarding school was the best place for a child to learn.

"You'd study without any outside distractions. There, it'll just be you and your studies''. He always defended himself each time I needed answers to why boarding school was necessary. It's a surprise I didn't lose my eyeballs from rolling them each time I got that response.

Unfortunately, my father forgot that a child's education is more than just schooling in a remote location away from all forms of civilization. My school was situated in the mountains, far from the city. It could pass for a natural park, as the animals appear to attend school there as well. Every kilometer, there is a tree with lots of bird nests. Sitting underneath is an invitation to a taint of bird droppings. There is lots of greenery, with small pools of water scattered about. Whenever it rains, the toads and frogs come out to play on the walkway leading to the hostels. The hyena laughs at our misery at night, and snake hisses can be heard not far away.

Herriest

I fell ill during the third term and was taken to the school clinic by my school mother. The clinic nurse prescribed some medications, but the illness worsened after a few days. It was so bad that I couldn't walk from the hostel to school. I was mostly alone with the hostel mistress while the other students were at school. She tried to take care of me, but I didn't get any better. I lost a lot of weight because I was eating poorly. I missed out on my exams, and I knew I wouldn't be promoted to the next class.

It felt great to have the school go on vacation. After what I had been through, I knew my parents would not keep me in that school for another second. My father valued education, but he valued his daughter's life more.

Nancy and I.J carried me from the hostel to the school gate, the venue for pickup. They laid me on the bed and then left for the briefing, which lasted for a few minutes.

Soon after, parents began to arrive, and happy faces with lots of hugs and kisses were everywhere. I saw my father highlight from his car. He walked up to me, his eyes widening as he saw me. He looked into my eyes for answers, but only found tears. He couldn't figure out how his once-chubby daughter had become so sickly and lean.

"Is this my daughter? How long have you been sick? Do the school authorities know?" The questions poured in.

"Take me home, daddy", I whispered. This was no time for questions and answers.

My father helped me out of bed and into the car, gently placing me in a lying position on the back seat. He stuffed everything I owned into the trunk of the car. I was certain I would never return to that school.

I closed my eyes as the sound of the car's engine came alive. A smile spread across my face as I remembered the lovely people who awaited my return. It was the most amazing feeling I'd had in a long time. I was finally going home.