Reaching: Whatever It Will Take

By Adina Araptai

Vanessa is a new girl in school. She is beautiful, smart, and every boy in school is after her. Born in the United Kingdom to immigrant parents, she decides to join one of the top high schools within the country. She soon becomes the attraction of every boy in school, dethroning Esta, who previously held the title. She creates rivalry with Esta after dating her boyfriend, Joel. Arthur is a student in the literature class. He is Joels best friend and the most unpopular boy in school with the most popular friend in school.

Soon Vanessa starts to get attracted to Arthur after getting to know him. When she breaks up with Joel, he is so mad that he gets his best friend expelled from school. With Arthur gone, he gets back with Vanessa, who is so in love with Arthur even after he is expelled. Esta suspects the reason Joel got his friend expelled from school is far from Vanessa, and she is determined to find the reason as Arthur is her friend.

Arthur finds a new school and promises himself that what happened to him will not go unpaid. He will go back and find out who set him up and pay back.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Africa
• Release date: Apr 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482861044

Adina Araptai

The author has a unique, vivid imagination that he brings to life through the various characters in the book. The author allows you the reader to see the characters in the story as part of your everyday life, which makes the reader part of the story.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by adina araptai.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/africa

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Ninteen

Twenty

Twenty One

Twenty Two

Twenty Three

Twenty Four

Twenty Five

Twenty Six

Twenty Seven

Twenty Eight

Twenty Nine

Thirty

Thirty One

Thirty Two

Thirty Three

Thirty Four

Thirty Five

Thirty Six

Thirty Seven

Thirty Eight

Thirty Nine

Forty

Forty One

Forty Two

Forty Three

Forty Four

One

Today, I will have a fight with my father; I know that because he is my father. He has been since 19years back. So don’t doubt when I say I am going to have a quarrel with my father. I have a curfew even at my age.

Sam 19years

Today I had a quarrel with my father; I wanted some money to go hang out with my friends but he said he didn’t have money. He has been saying that since I understood what money is. He has three cars, pays fees for over 30 people and three buildings in town but he can’t afford 10 dollars for me to go hang with my friends.

Sandra 19 years

20/02/2007

Today, I had a quarrel with my father; he even slapped me because I told him I wanted to be a soccer player. He wants me to be a doctor when I grow up, I hate the sick, I am scared of wounds. He told me that in our family, we all must be professionals not footballers.

Tom 16years

23/03/2005

Last week, my own father disowned me because I don’t support the same political party which he supports, he says that his father and grandfather supported the party and the legacy must continue. I now stay with my mother. He works for the government.

Salim 22years, university student

20/03/2002

I am a rapper, I want to do music and be like 50cent, I told my father that I wanted to own a big house like he does. He laughed at me and even told my teachers whom ashamed me in front of the entire assembly because they said I am dreaming.

Henry 12years old

11/11/2001

I don’t talk with my parents because I refused to continue with A ‘level. I decided to fully join the music industry. School was not working for me, I tried hard only to fail miserably, and I didn’t want to fail so I joined music where I was sure I couldn’t fail.

Gossy 19, musician

01/12/2010

I went to jail for 5 months because I didn’t want to continue with university. I was a full time actor and model since vacation, my parents said I was getting silly hence I went to jail and from there, I am now at school doing medicine, something I do for my parents. I am not happy.

Anonymous 20 years 1st year, university

30//11/1998

All these articles are appearing in a newspaper column compiled by one Mukina Joel. The literature teacher used his own money to make print outs for all his students.

That’s enough for now Mr. Tenyan stopped them

All students stopped and closed their files and looked at the teacher. Even Joyce who was reading stopped and sat down to concentrate.

What do you make of this article? he asks

Ahh…like people ah_ children are being suppressed

How Tenyan asks Ruth

Like… she gets lost

I think it’s all about parents wanting their daughters and sons do what they like without any opinion from them about what they want to do Bruno hijacks Ruth

Good trial, Joel, Tenyan asks him

Joel doesn’t hear the teacher speak. He apparently is being confused by the new hot girl in school and in the literature class whom together, they share a name, Emma.

Joel? the teacher once again asks him

Ah ah uhhhm

He wakes up from his dreams. The class laughs.

What is the question? he asks

The class even laughs the more. Tenyan shakes his head and looks at him.

Are you in class? he asks him

Vanessa looks at him and smiles; he looks back at her and as well smiles.

Esta looks at Joel looking at Vanessa and making her smiles, she gets pissed.

Arthur looks at Esta and swallows hard and keeps shut.

Tenyan looks at all the four, smiles and looks down then back at them.

Okay, listen up guys, let that be your home work, I want all of you to come with a response to this article, the next time we meet he pauses

When is our next lesson he asks

Wednesday Julie answers

Wednesday, will I be around…yeah, make sure you have a response to that, Henry, what time

10 am is the time Sheila answers back

How many minutes do I have left

10mins Henry makes sure Sheila doesn’t hijack him this time

Have a good day all of you he points at Arthur and continues outside. Arthur follows after him.

Joel follows Vanessa as soon the bell for lesson change is sounded. He catches up with her outside class; Esta as well as Arthur move out and together catch up. The four of them find their way downstairs to the next lesson. The girls continue to the restroom while the boys find their way to the history class. The two are best friends. They share almost all lessons together except for geography and art. Joel does geography while Arthur does art. They share history, economics and literature.

The two young men move to class where they position themselves in front of the class sitting by the first chairs there. In about five minutes, Vanessa walks to class, she is a beauty, dark beautiful. Her face is so smooth. She seats at the extreme end of the class so far from Joel and Arthur. Joel immediately sends her a chit. She reads it, smiles and looks back at Joel who is looking at her.

Julius, the history teacher enters class and introduces a new topic. NAPOLEON, THE FRENCH EMPEROR.

The history is most captivating of how a man from nowhere comes all the way to conquer the entire Europe. Most students take keen interest as Julius works the magic with his mouth explaining napoleon.

Arthur is not entirely attentive; he is eying his girlfriend, Esta who is so eying Joel who is eying Vanessa. Just last week, he was able to get to her be his girlfriend after the so many times he tried but in vain. She was dating Joel before the arrival of Vanessa. She is very pretty, even prettier than Vanessa. She is brown and as tall as Vanessa and has a faint resemblance to her.

After the most thrilling lesson of the term, Arthur leaves class and heads far away from the classroom blocks. He doesn’t have any lesson till after the first lesson after lunch. Esta as well is as free because they do the same subjects and so is Vanessa. Joel has a geography lesson. He passes by the canteen to buy some water before he could continue. Besides him are girls that notice him as Joel’s friend, best friend. One of them moves closer to him.

Aren’t you Joel’s friend she asks

Yeah, what’s up? he asks

Just tell him to come to our class like he always does

Okay, I will do that, but who do I say sent me?

My name is Anita and this is my best friend Sharon, from form four north

I will tell him he says

The two girls looked at him. He looks at them as well

I forgot my wallet in class, could you help me with 10k, I will give to you

How will, you don’t even know me

You are Joel’s friend and everyone knows who Joel is, I will give it to him to give it to you

He didn’t want to continue the conversation, he handed them the money and left the canteen. He walks past the staff room and continues till the most beautiful place in school. The prime gardens.

He seats himself down and puts his bag as well just besides him. He adjusts his tie and removes it. He keeps it in his bag. He picks the water, opens and takes a sip of it. He feels relaxed. He takes out Julius Ochwinyo’s fate of the banished and puts it close to his face and reads it. After a page, he gets bored, not because the book is boring but because he has too many thoughts on his mind. He puts the book down and pivots himself with the elbows on the ground. He goes back to a journey, one two years back when he was in o level, everything went his way, the ladies loved him, he had fun, he had friends, everything just went his way. He was crazy and he read books and he partied and slept, he was stubborn and he was in control. Sports, he was there, playing basketball, volleyball and even soccer at times. He as well did rugby. The housemaster trusted him with the house. There, the teachers understood what the students wanted and they definitely gave it to them and in return, they become good friends and students worked as good as possible not to disappoint the teachers. Excellence was part of the culture there.

Right now, in higher school, in form six, where he should be the king, everything is different, he is so unpopular, no one knows him. In fact the ones who know him know him as Joel’s friend. No one cares that he is called Arthur. Class is a different story; he doesn’t really excel as much. Yap, he passes his exams but he is not happy but nevertheless, he managed to cope with his new life and accepted it. He takes most of his time understanding the books he reads. Solitude is his best friend sometimes unless he is with Joel. He is the only one that understands him. He met him in his first term in form five and have been friends since then with him.

Here, everything is different; no one really gives a damn about anything. Just read, pass and get lost, no impact on anyone. Nothing really matters but just books and only books. He hates the school rules, right from since understood there are rules. Respect authority without question is a disease to him. Everything is questioned in life. The only thing that is not questioned is God because the existence of life is enough to know that there is God. Other than that, everything else is questioned, even people now question nature. He hates the rule with passion but ironically follows it clearly.

He gets tired of thinking about that, he now starts to thinking about class and what is being taught. European history, he questions why it is so important that he does it. Why he studies about a man named Prince Metternich. He wonders what that knowledge is worth. More so, the Geneva Convention, of what importance is it? Maybe napoleon could mean sense, the fact that he conquered the world because from the start, his father always knew the boy wanted to be a soldier and was trained according to his passion not the parents liking and due to this, he conquered the world for his country. Bingo, that’s a point to him. He questioned everything even school.

Of what real value is school that teaches how to get a job but not as how to create a job? Of what value is education that teaches already made invention and not innovations? Of what value is education really? His father always tells him education is life, is everything in life, but he always knew it is a lie, a big fat one but of course, you cannot challenge your father, who are you to do so?

He quits thinking, it’s not healthy, he decides

He stands up and stretches his long arms. In doing so, he sees Uwera coming towards the same direction. In no time, she joins him. She is beautiful, she is a munyarwanda.

What’s up? What are u doing? she asks

Stretching and reading and working on a poem here he says giving her a piece of paper

And what are you reading,

Napoleon

Napoleon? she sees stars, she does sciences and therefore there is no way napoleon she can know.

You don’t know him of course, you do pcb/m

Yap, I do realistic stuff not history, which is less applicable in today’s world she says

Don’t start with me

No I’m not, just being realistic

Arthur thinks for a while Uwera smiles knowing that he won’t retaliate

How applicable is rocket science in such a poor nation

Well I do not only do that

"Well, studying how to mix chemicals aren’t helping either and math aren’t no better, logarithms matrix methods, get real, how useful are these nawe?" he questions

Uwera is soon out of the picture and can say no more. She is defeated. She claims to have lessons.

Will be back, u haven’t won yet she says and walks make sure you’re ready to lose

I am always here; you know where to find me

Soon she disappears out of Arthur’s’ sight. Arthur settles down and tries to relax his mind; he remembers a film, one of his favorites. He starts to entertain himself demonstrating the action of the film on one hand the antagonist and the other hand protagonist.

Vanessa and Joel are seated just besides a tree in the compound just outside their literature class. They are embracing themselves with Shakespearean love. They are always together everywhere and it’s no secret that they are pushing out. They are always spotted together, in class, they are smiling at each other, outside class, they are moving together side by side and in the canteens, they are together. The only thing they yet have not done is kissing.

Under the tree where they are seated, normally called the lovers court because couples tend to frequent it, students start flocking the place fullening it.

We should leave this place he says

Where do we go her voice is different, smooth and nice to listen to, her accent is so thick, an English accent.

Where do you want us to go

I don’t know, I have been here like two weeks, not much to know every corner of the place.

I know just the place, c’mon he says and touches her hand.

Together, they start to move to the prime gardens. Joel hopes that at least there is no one there. They pass through the staffroom; they are talking about movies because that is what Joel is about, movies, music, actors, and artists’ soccer, that’s his life. Vanessa on the other hand can talk about movies, music, so the two are perfect for each other if ever there is perfect. Joel also loves betting.

On reaching the prime gardens most beautiful and most peaceful place in school, they are not alone; Arthur was first in the place.

Is that Arthur?

That’s my guy, he can get weird sometimes

Arthur is facing his back on the two as he is busy doing his favorite film character. To him, it is quite fun and besides, he enjoys himself, he feels he is having fun and that is what matters. For a moment, the two look at him do what he is doing. Vanessa smiling and enjoying whatever Arthur is doing indeed voices that he is crazy but in a good way that he is being himself.

Arthur turns around to play the antagonist only to see his best buddy and the cutest girl in school looking at him. Vanessa is covering her mouth with one hand trying not to laugh hard while the other is holding Joel’s hand.

Arthur gets shy and apologizes and tries and gathers his stuff. Vanessa detaches her hand off Joel’s and rushes forward to meet with Arthur.

I am sorry you had to see that, I will just…

There is no need to apologize, that’s really cool, u are being yourself, sometimes I also do stuff like that, it makes me feel good

So why did you laugh at me

I was just excited, anywhere what movie is that

Just some old movie I used to watch when I were a kid, I loved it its called winners and sinners, i don’t think you know it

Okay, so what is this here?

She says looking and the poem which Uwera had read

It’s a poem but believe me it is boring Arthur says this looking very uncomfortable and shy. She ignores his warning and goes ahead to read it.

Joel finally crosses to the gardens where the two were. He stands next to his best friend. Arthur pulls him aside as she is busy reading the poem.

"Boss kyi kyokola nawe" he asks

What? Joel responds

Bringing her here, you know I fear babe’s man, especially her

We didn’t expect you here, that’s why we came here

Thought you had geog

I chopped

Well take her out of here man

Okay bro, relax

Vanessa finishes looking at the poem and looks at Arthur.

I love your poem, it’s so cute, I also wrote one on the same topic, can I keep this one please please, I will give it back to you

Yeah you can have it

He says this only to get rid of her. Joel takes Vanessa to the other side of the place under a tree. Joel gets so bored, Vanessa wanted to discuss about Arthur, every detail of him with Joel. He has no option but to talk about his best friend to his girlfriend.

Arthur walks away out of the garden after getting all his stuff in his bag. The two finally change topic to what they talk best, movies and celebrities and soccer. It’s the only topic they agree upon and Joel’s best.

Two

His poem was wonderful and she kept it with her. Of all people it is Vanessa, the hottest girl in school loves his poem. This stuck with Arthur throughout the day. Later that evening, Arthur cannot forget the small time he had with Vanessa, she appreciates his work something no one else has ever done. He spent half of his prep thinking about it.

At around 8pm, Esta and Joel walk in class together. It’s this time that Arthur realizes he is in class and Esta has just walked in with Joel. She moves slowly till she seats next to Arthur. Joel goes to his seat. He doesn’t like the fact that she walked in with Joel who is her ex then straight to his desk. It is fishy to him. He is surprised to see Esta so moody and willing to talk to him that much. She has never been like this since they started to date about two weeks ago.

She is so talking about how she spends her holidays with her elder sisters

…we go to the beach on weekends; it is a must for my sister Winy. Sometimes on Wednesday, mum allows me and together with them, we go club

That must be fun he comments

Oh my gosh, it is so fun, they buy a lot of stuff, it’s just so fun, so how about you, what do you do like during holidays

Me_ uh_ uh…. He starts

Obviously he spends all his holidays at home where his father wants him, where else can he go if not church on Sunday, hospital incase he sick and the library where he has to read books which his future depend on according to his father.

He cannot tell her how boring his holidays are but rather create something that is very fun, hot and sexy which can be up to par with the standard just created by Esta or even create something better than Esta’s.

My holidays, I also happen but not so many times though, just like five times a week, I normally hang with my friends then I love the beach and club is ma thing only that I don’t like going there all by myself.

She looks at him surprised

You look surprised…

Ya I am mob surprised, you totally look like a very boring guy

Don’t judge a book by its cover he says

Esta quietly laughs at that

So, which is your favorite beach?

Imperial, that’s mine Arthur answers her

What! That’s so like my place, I even attended Navio’s concert there.

Last year’s concert, u mean you were there?

Navio is my guy in UG and I know him so I couldn’t miss it for anything

Indeed, Arthur is a very good liar; he doesn’t like the beach simply because everyone goes there. He is not a fan of Navio but Navio is Esta’s number one and hence he has to ride along in order to keep the conversation going and to make Esta happy. This also makes him happy. This is the first time he is having a conversation with her for more than five minutes and she is enjoying it.

They speak from one topic to another, from their lives to international artists to movie stars around Nigeria to Hollywood and Bollywood. Arthur discovers something about Esta, she doesn’t know a lot about Africa and its affairs but she knows all about the United States and its social political and economic affairs. She knows the United Kingdom like it’s her second home yet her Uganda, she has no knowledge about, not even knowing the speaker of parliament. She doesn’t even know that chameleon has three other brothers in the music industry who are doing as great. She can’t tell fourteen African countries but came name as many states in the US. This disgusts him but it’s all good, she is hot and his girlfriend for now.

After preps, he holds her by her waist as she leans her head on his shoulders as they move towards their dorms. It has always been a custom that after preps, boys who had girlfriends walk them to their dorms. Today is Arthur’s third time ever since he joined the school in form five. He had a girlfriend in his first year in school, but soon ended when she left after two weeks of joining the school and since then, he only seen Esta who in turn did not see him but his best friend Joel. Finally she is beginning to see him and it’s a good feeling to him.

After reaching the no go zone area for boys, they hug tightly and he felt his luck has finally come back to him at once. He lets go of her and steals a kiss from her, she smiles and looks at him. He too smiles

Good night she says and walks off

He waves to her and silently says his good night. For a moment, he was alone no one else existed. It was him and himself, he felt stars coming up to him. He almost felt like he was in a Hindu cinema and was about to start singing.

Finally he composes himself and turns back to leave. He almost knocks Vanessa who is on her way to dorm without Joel.

Hey take it slow and easy, King Arthur, what’s up?

He shies himself and apologizes for it.

So what’s the excitement?

Esta, she …

Love, it is normally cute until it gets sour

What?

Just don’t be sure of love, its high school and nothing is ever real

Okay… so

He says confused about what she has just said

So…about your poem, I think it’s really good and it fits with mine so I came out with an idea that we could join them and make it one, what do think

It’s cool with me

We could meet tomorrow and see it through

The matron comes out and starts calling all the girls telling them to go to their dorms and the boys as well should do the same.

Guess I should go, but we will meet tomorrow, good night

She walks off before he can say anything to her. Everybody starts to walk back, he joins a group of guys and they start to walk back together only to hear his name being called. He stands and turns around only to see Vanessa walking up to him.

We meet in the prime gardens at exactly 2:30pm,

Prime ga…

Before he could reply, she was already moving out of his sight. He just turns and walks off. He gets back to the guys and walk to their dorms. In his dorm as usual, the guys are talking and making jokes like every day.

As he enters, everyone keeps shut and look at him. He did not mind them but rather got his towel soap and sponge and went straight to the showers. He opens the showers and lets the water run down his face. He picks soap and applies it on his head and his entire body. He stops the water from pouring to him and starts to sing a song, a love song.

After the shower, he moves back to his dorm. As soon as the guys look at him, they stop talking. He gets to his case and changes to a vest and a pair of shorts.

Guys what’s up he says after the long silence

Dude, what’s gotten into you today? ken speaks quietly and keenly to him

Why, what’s up Arthur asks puzzled

Coz u are supposed to be fucking asleep Joel mentions jokingly and loudly

Man, I know what happened to our guy, spot he says and all guys turn to look at Chili

Chili is a nickname to tony because of his hard words. He shoves his arm in the air to demonstrate a plane on air and landing with sound from his mouth.

Airbag? Okello asks

"Not airbag nawe, that’s an o’le. Selena Gomez right?"

"All of you guys don’t know, temumanyi it is Esta, wama si kyecho Arthur?" Chili finishes

Arthur has no words to say. All the others are now laughing at him.

By the way bro be careful, she is a rather Seka added

You guys be happy for my brother here. He has seen light after a really long dark tunnel Joel adds and the guys even laugh the more.

Arthur gets tired of their laughing and jumps to his bed, says a prayer and off he sleeps. The others continue their noise making. Even Kevin a science student joins the noise which is so interesting. They are talking about girls. They are commenting to some ill while others praising.

"Ba guy, do u know this girl. Potato face, mbu this guy is pushing out with her, I hear she told this guy that I love you and he fainted"

Which guy is that? anxious Jared asks

"A’tee who do you think I am talking about, the musciencer Kevin"

"That’s a lie nawe, tolimbya?" Kevin defends himself

WA wa the others disagree with him in unison

The noise from these guys become too loud and too interesting that it attracted a whole crowd of guys from other cubes joining and contributing to the topic.

The noise kept growing until the headmaster house. The headmaster got out of his bed and slowly went to the boys end. He knew everyone’s voice in form six. He teaches there and has mastered the voices of each of the students there. He gets to hear all the students talking, jots down their names and slowly walks away without interrupting them.

Early morning the next day, an emergency assembly is called. All students fill the assembly ground with their seats and sit. In about 10minutes, the stuff starts to move to the assembly and seat themselves in front of the students facing them.

The teacher on duty walks to start the assembly. He calls one student and the anthems are sung and officially the assembly begins. The teacher on duty once again stands for the first communication. The headmaster is not yet there.

The meeting we have called today this morning is very sudden, our dear Mrs._

As soon as he says dear Mrs. Head master, all students burst out laughing. They loved him; they loved the fact that it is a dream to him to complete an English sentence without an error in it. A mbogo in the local dialect.

He waits for the students to calm in order to continue. In a minute, the students calm and he continues

As I was said_

Again the students laughs, that moment, the headmaster and the deputy join the assembly, some students shut while some continue to laugh but in disguise.

People, please understood me_ again the students laugh

English is a foreign language

To avoid more embarrassments, the teacher handed the microphone to the head teacher.

At once, the assembly becomes so quiet as a grave yard. The students whom were involved in last night’s noise slowly start to get worried. This small gathering is by far that and nothing else, Joel suspected as the head teacher steps on the podium to make his grievances known. The head teacher starts his speech without any formality in it.

"We have a culture growing in this school which is most viably very dangerous. At night when instead of sleeping, some students especially the senior boys become nocturnal and make noise the entire night like they are bats.

Soon as the man mentioned that, the boys knew they were in deep trouble. Hearts started to beat faster. Chili then whispers to ken who whispers to, john whispers to Joel and the cue continues with the word

TUFFUDE, literally meaning we are DEAD

Last night as I was sleeping with my wife having a good time, a couple of boys started making the loudest noise I have ever had in my life. I had to leave the comfort of my bed and my wife to go and rescue this men of god whom the devil was stealing

That made the students together with the teachers laugh.

"These very men of god to my surprise were the senior boys who should be exemplary to the young ones in the school. I have already talked too much.

He says this and looks at the crowd who silently look back at him

"If you hear your name, walk majestically up here, show us face and from here, we are going to Kampala city. We are going to clean the city for 3 good days. I have already talked to the city authority and in fact, they are very happy about the fact that our senior students are volunteering to have a clean Kampala

The idea of students volunteering got everybody laughing and clapping. He takes his time and goes through his book looking for a note where he has all the names. He gets them

Kimasi, Joel [the ring leader], Alex Masaba, Okello Ronald, Mugisha, Aziz, Onyongo, Ezra, Tumuhairwe, Cherotwo…

He reads about 47 names of the boys and calls them in front.

Before the head teacher concludes, the girls’ matron walks up to him and whispers then hands a chit as well to him.

Boys you are lucky, you even have girls to help you, the following women follow the boys in front.

He calls about 30 names and the assembly is concluded and students go back to class while the group going to work get changed and climb the school bus. They are going to ease KCCA’s work.

In the literature class, Mrs. Ayescovia had her lesson with the students and she left.

Vanessa walks and seats next to Arthur. She opens her book and looks at him

You survived, how come? she asks

I got lucky I guess

But you sleep with Emma?

Yes

So…

I slept early. And you, most of your colleges went and your still

The matron is my friend

She happens to be Esta’s

Anywhere I was asleep by the time all the talking started and besides I really don’t have jazz with characters around this place

So I guess there is no need to head to the prime garden, this place is quiet enough

The prime gardens are so consuming and so peaceful unlike this side. I like it there

I mean you’re my guy’s girl…

So…don’t be naïve Arthur, just meet me there at exactly 3pm and keep time

Okay, sure, will be there at 3

She says this and gets up to leave. On second thought, she stays.

Tell me something Arthur

What is that?

Joel, how long have you guys been friends

Since last year, form five and we are really tight

But you are not as popular as he is, in fact, you’re the most unpopular kid in the lit class

Well I don’t like being that popular

You fun only that people don’t understand you

You do?

I know you she says I think you have art, the bell has just been rang she continues and hearing the bell

Arthur gets up and picks his drawing book and moves to class.

The students who had gone to Kampala to do community service have stationed in wandegeya police station awaiting the orders. They are to work from Kawempe to Bwaise and summarize the day at old Kampala, then to school. On day two, they will go to the city markets; the KCCA is providing the truck that is to aid while collecting rubbish. One the third and final day, they will move to Nakawa markets then to Banda and finally Gaba and they are done.

In the three days, they will be responsible for turning the city into a hygienic one. The head teacher together with some other teachers and stuff will be escorting and too participating in the cleaning.

Back at school, the writers club published the list of the most famous students of the week and the most talked about topic in the school. The week’s top 20 has Joel as the most famous. He is always being the most talked about in the school due to his character and he is a sports man. Others in the list include chili, Jane, Esta, Masaba Vanessa and others.

The head teacher addresses the students just at the station.

No student reacts or replies to