Chapter 4: Public Shame, Private Stand

"Ifedike, Class 02, Electrical Engineering, leave school without approval for one week, no join school activities, skip class without reason—this na serious wahala. According to student handbook, this punishment dey: one-week suspension from class to reflect; formal warning; all awards, honors, and campus leadership for this year cancelled; disciplinary report go enter your file. If you mess up again, punishment go increase, even reach expulsion."

"@everyone Make una see am—if you try leave school without my approval, na this kind thing go meet you! If you feel say you fit bear am, try am!"

Last last, she tag me: "Write 5,000-word reflection, submit before 9 a.m. tomorrow. One minute late, punishment go increase."

Omo, wahala dey.

I just talk am.

Suspension, cancel awards, campus leadership, even threaten expulsion—counsellor no dey play.

Guys for hostel no even breathe, just dey look me.

Everybody know say if dem put this kind thing for file, e fit spoil your chance if you wan do NYSC or get government work later.

Hostel leader frown, dey worry pass me: "How we go do now, Third? Maybe call her, beg make she reduce punishment?"

"How woman go wicked like this?"

"You no get sense? You no know as she be before? She always dey like this."

"Third, maybe just gree. True, na her fault say she no approve your permission, but she be counsellor—our graduation, future dey her hand."

I no talk, just reply for group:

"I no go write reflection, I no gree with your punishment." I even drop that stubborn goat sticker for effect.

As I send am, three of them for hostel just shout together.

"Third, you dey craze?!"

My finger still dey shake after I send the message. For Naija hostel, if you talk back to teacher like that, na legendary wahala you dey find. But my chest dey free, at least I talk my mind.