THE IMPOSTER

The night was blunt and everything seems quiet the whistle of the wind blowing echo the city, a fair skin tall slim lady her black curl long

shinning hair resting on her shoulder her black sparkling eyes reflecting the rising of the moon long eyelashes, her nose complementing her

rounded lips painted in shinning black giving a pleasant alluring beauty, stands learning on the door looking out anxiously and distress.

Aren't you cold? you've been standing there for almost an hour, "she place her hand on her back", I know you are worried but everything will

be fine your father loves you, he has always been there for you.

Nanny, you know am a strong girl I can do with the cold, what I can't do with is what await me.

(a car drives into the compound)

Your father is here I will leave you to talk.

A man in his average age get down from the car his big belly is easily seen through his shirt, enters the house.(sight) your marriage is fixed

you are getting marry in two weeks .

Dad I don't want to get marry, am not ready for it am just 21years dad, I don't even know this man you want me to marry.

Ami, your mother arranged this marriage before she died and I promised her I will get you marry to the man she choose, your mother loves you she needed someone to protect you while she's gone.

I don't need a man to protect me, I have you dad, you've always been there for me ever since mum died, can't you keep doing that?

Ami ,you have to prepare your mind I can't go against the promise I made to your mum, it her dying wish.

"She run up to her room weeping".

"The next morning she woke up with a swollen face, she sit down in front of the mirror" I can't go to school looking like this, she brings out

her makeup kit put on makeup glaring at the mirror, I wish this could cover my miserable life, she pick up her bag and leave the room.

Good morning Nanny, "she hug her from behind", the aroma of the food is nice.

Nanny smile at her, handing her a plate of food, you've loved my food since you were a child.

"She takes the plate from her and place it on the cabinet", I don't want it, she turn and leave the kitchen pick up her car key, look at Austin coming from his room not uttering a word at each other and leave the house.

" She park her car at her usual spot", she check the mirror to see if the swell on her face has disappeared, startled by the knock on the window of her car.

Mr Ric average height fat dark skin old man looking dazzled in his security uniform, his brown cap bend to left side of his head always

with a bright smile on his face, you have been in the car for more than a minute, don't you intend to attend class?

Ami steps out of the car check her wrist watch "aghast" am late for class, she start running.

Mr Ric laughs, looking at her as she run.

"A faint exhausting voice", you are also late for class, Ami look at her side to see Kate a tall slim fair skin, her eyebrow perfectly shaped in black long eye lashes complementing her brown eyeball painted her lips dark brown giving her a dazzle beauty, running beside Ami fatigue and sweating profusely.

" Kate struggle to utter the word", we should hurry up before Mr Rico get to class.

Wait up, far behind them is Josephina running after them (Kate and Ami laugh).(chorus) meet us in class.

"Running down the school hall tired, students from other classrooms whispering and pointing at them", they kept running not giving a damn

about them enter the class, relive show on their face, Kate speaks happily, Mr Rico is not here yet, they hurriedly go to their desk pull out their individual chairs.

Kate raise her hand to Ami we made it, Kate look out the window to check for Josephina, she's not in sight.

A husky voice yell out at them, what are you two doing by the window?

Glaring violently, shout at them, go back to your sit.

Mr Rico a fat tall fairly skin white hair packed into a pony touching the back of his neck.

Josephina enter the classroom sweating profusely, "Mr Rico walks to her at the door barely standing on her feet", you are late again, go back outside and run 50laps, that your punishment for coming late to my class, he looks at her starting from her head down to her leg you actually need it, it more of a favor than punishment (the students laughs).

Josephina a fat endowed alluring lady her long hair packed resting on the back of her waist, her glasses perfectly fits her rounded face, look at

Kate and Ami angrily and leave the class.

At noon, students were entering the cafeteria pushing one another on the que, Kate snatch Josephina tray from her smiling, pass it to Ami as she cut in the line Ami wink at kate and smile.

Kate drag Josephina to the table as Ami struggle to carry the three plates of food by herself, "Kate and Josephina laughs, at her behavior".

will you stop mocking me and help out.

Josephina quickly take the plate from her as the food was about to spill.

Ami place her food on the table pull out a chair beside Kate," they look at each other" (chorus), we are sorry for leaving you behind.

"She smile at them", I don't blame you for leaving me behind, my biggest enemy is my myself, I envy the two of you, you are beautiful

and not overweight like me.

They stand up from their sit, sits down beside her," Kate wipe her tears" you are also beautiful like us.

Emily tall fair skin straight long brown hair wear a black jean giving out her endowed hip, her black shirt hugging her breast and her flat

stomach giving her a gracious look walks into the cafeteria with her friends, guys staring at them as they walk in, they are the beauty of the

school, walks towards Josephina.

You poor thing how can overweight lady like you be call a beauty.

Kate stands up angrily, Emily, you are not that pretty anyway so stop making her feel bad.

"Anitha protrude", how foolish of you to talk to her like that, Emily is selected over you as the class president because of her beauty, you are

nothing compare to her.

"Emily smirk" let go girls, birds of a feather flocks together,(they laugh).

Kate sit down hug Josephina, don't be bothered by what Emily and her friends said everyone in school knows they are bitch.

On their way back to the class they see Mr Rico insulting a female student because of her dress, as they approach him Josephina, whisper to Ami and Kate, all he does is harass female student.

Mr Rico points at them, hey, you come here, they move close to him, have you finish the punishment I gave you?.

Josephina respond reluctantly annoy, yes sir.

I hope it did you good to avoid tomorrow's punishment, he says and walk away from them.

He's such a pain in the ass, Kate contribute.

In the evening on their way out of the school, Josephina ask Ami, you've been quiet since morning.

Kate interrupt, exactly you've been wearing that irritating face all day, what is it?.

(sigh), am getting marry in two weeks.

Kate and Josephina exclaim, you are getting marry to who, kate yell, hurry up and tell us.

Josephina snap at kate, calm down the whole school can hear your

voice, they look around see students staring at them.

My dad arranged my marriage to this strange guy have never met,

apparently it was my mum's idea before she died.

Kate look at Josephina with confusion on their face, your mum

arranged your marriage and your dad is getting you marry to the guy

your mum wants you to marry.

Ami nod, yes.

Josephina ask curiously, you've never met this guy your mum or dad

wants you to marry?

"Ami reluctantly reply," yes.

which is in two weeks.

They get surprise by the voice they hear , "They look around to see

who it is," who said that, Josephina ask?

I did.

They look up to see James sitting on the tree above them.

How long have you been eavesdropping on us?, Kate ask staring angrily at him?.

you are the uninvited guest, I was here before you, James respond back to Kate .

Josephina place her hands on the tree shaking it.

Stop shaking the tree or I will fall.

Does it looks like am playing, of course I want you to fall down from the tree, that will be a lesson to you for been a deceiver.

He jump down from the tree angrily, who are you to call me a deceiver? he push her by her shoulder.

How dare you push me?, Josephina grab his hand flip him over landing on the floor.

You two are been melodramatic, kate says pointing to the student staring at them.

Ami took to her heel leaving them behind.

"They run after her", Josephina pull James back landing on his butt, you made her cry so stay out of it.

James exasperate, how is it my fault?.

Josephina call out to Kate, stop her from leaving.

Kate yell back, if you desperately want to stop her, follow her car, she enter her car and drive out of the school.

"Josephina glare at James furiously", this is all your fault am left behind, how will I get home?.

Ami drive into the compound go up to her room weeping.

Nanny knock on her door but there was no respond, she gently open the door sees Ami on the bed crying, she move close to her sit beside

her on the bed, she ask softly, what is the matter? Wipe her tears with a handkerchief in her hand.

Nanny I don't want to get marry not especially to a stranger.

"Nanny place her hand on her cheek," he's no more a stranger, he's

your soon to be husband, that what your parent want.

"Ami slap her hand away from her cheek," yell at her furiously, get out of my room.

"Nanny feel humiliated," stands up from the bed, your father asked you to come down, she says and leave the room.

"Ami walks into the sitting room "see Emily singing joyfully, she sit opposite her chair, dad you asked to see me.

"Emily jump from her sit hug Ami tightly", am sooo happy for you sister,

dad told me you are getting marry, I was out partying last night, I would have taken you along but don't worry I will organize a party for you,

right mum?

Yes, we need to have a party, you are getting marry in two weeks, I have to be a good mum to you before you leave the house(solitude)"I can't wait to get you freak out of this house" she look at Emily and smile.

I want you to assist your sister preparing for her marriage and mind you no party, you always come home late, you didn't even come home last night," he got up from his sit and head to his room".

Dad am sorry, I had to be at the party, it was a die for.

"Ami stands up from her sit", were are you going?, Kiana ask, we should start planning.

I don't need your help, am sure dad has got everything in order, "she looks at her and walk away.

Don't talk to my mother that way.

"Kiana smile", don't talk back to your sister am sure she doesn't mean to insult me.

"Ami enter the kitchen pick up a napkin wiping the plates," Nanny am sorry for the way I treated you earlier.

"She smile back at her", I understand how you feel, it difficult to accept what happening to you.

Emily barge into the kitchen go to the fridge take out a drink and leave.

The next morning, Nanny serve them breakfast ,she place a sandwich beside Ami, this is for you dear.

"Emily rush down pick up her car key left in a hurry" Kiana run after her as she leave the house, come back inside happy after her discussion with Emily outside.

"As Ami walk down the school hall" student whispering and pointing to her direction while some were mocking her.

Ami wondering why they are looking at her, she enter the class everyone's attention is directed to her.

Max a tall muscular guy his mustache covering his mouth, stops her from entering the class by standing in her way snatch her book drop it on the floor place his foot on it laughing.

James stands up from his sit throw a baseball landing on Max head blood dripping on his forehead down to his right eye.

Max got angry walks to him grab him by his shirt pull James to himself twist his shirt tightly around his neck, who are you to meddle?, punch

his left shoulder walks to Eve's desk snatch her orange juice from her go back to James remove the cover drop it on the floor "smirk" raise his

hand over James head pour the juice over his head dripping down to his shirt cover in orange color laughing, the other student in class laugh

along with him, their laugh echo the building students from other class stands at the door enjoying the show.

Michael slim tall his hair dyed in white shinning like a white lily blooming under the sun, his hand place in his pocket walks gently to Max, you are ban from entering the school for three weeks, you violated the rule of bullying your colleague.

"Max stood quietly looking at him" drop the bottle in his hand on the floor splashing the remaining juice on Michael and leave the class livid.

Michael brings out a handkerchief from his pocket give it to James with a smile, I restricted him from school so he can stay away from you but be careful, no one knows what he can do to you, he pat James on his shoulder and leave.

Kate and Josephina thank him for coming to James aid. "He smile and walk away".

"Student whispering and laughing" Kate shouts at them, haven't you had enough, what do you want from us?.

"Anitha protrude" everyone in school already knows about Ami's marriage, how can she act decent? when she is just a lowly slut.

"Josephina pull Kate aside" slap Anitha on the face, don't you dare call her a slut, you bitch.

Anitha hold her red cheek pain running down her spin, pull Josephina by her hair, she retaliate pulling and kicking each other.

Kate jump in their mist to separate them, ruckus and noise hovering the class.

james stands beside Ami, we have to separate them they are hurting each other, kate is suffering in their mist.

Ami respond, how do we do that?.

Mr Rico enter the classroom sees the ruckus happening, yell out loudly making Anitha and Josephina to withdraw from each other.

Kate exhale tired walks to her desk and sit down quietly breathing heavily.

Ami sit quietly at the hilltop of the school mountain resting her back on the tree staring into the sky reminiscing the good memories she had with her mother, her mother had planned a trip to celebrate her 17th birthday, Ami was happily packing her bags when the news of the death of her mother was brought to her, She died in a car accident on her way home after picking up their plan ticket for their trip.

My father locked himself in his room for days in agony and pain of losing the woman he loved. Nanny had to take care of my needs, she was the only one I could rely on, If my mom had not gone to fetch the ticket she would not

have gotten into the accident which took her life, it was my fault I should not have insisted on going on a trip with her.

A stone drop from the tree hitting her forehead she shout (ouch) pick up the stone from the ground look up to see who threw the stone at

her, stunned to see Michael sitting on the tree.

He yell at her, are you a fool? How is it your fault your mother died in the accident? Did you drove the car? He jump down from the tree landing in front of her, he smirk measure her height by placing his left hand on Ami's head.

Ami punch his hand swing up in the air making it land on the tree, she immediately take two steps back from him, he shout out in pain livid at her, you have broken my hand.

Ami exclaim how can your hand get broken just by landing on a tree?, you want me to belief such lie?.

Michael struggle to lift up his hand mumble in pain, I have an exam coming soon I will hold you responsible if I don't make it to the exam.

Ami protrude ,you came out of nowhere and insisting it my fault, am not to blame for your accident, "she took to her heel".

On their way out of the school, Kate kept complementing Michael for teaching Max a lesson.

Josephina cut in, Michael is smart hot and he has the power to control all the student.

Kate contribute, and he doesn't have a girlfriend, I wish for a guy like him to be my boyfriend.

Josephina, he's smart and nice he will like someone who is innocent, she says and fix her glasses.

James intervene, he wouldn't blink in the direction of someone like you, Emily clings to him like a bee chasing honey, everyone in school knows she has been chasing him around for 2year,you can never get a chance as long as Emily is still in the race of making him her's.

Josephina protrude angrily, he has rejected her several times but kept going back to him, she is desperate to have him.

Kate contribute, Michael is rich smart and he is the school president honor by everyone, who wouldn't desire a guy like him.

James looks at them confuse, Michael's background is a mistry, he lives alone so no one know who exactly he is.

Ami mumble to herself, he act mighty in front of people but he's a freak.

Ami enter the house, Kiana welcome her with the news given to her by Mr Rico, the school was in chaos because of your marriage news, you should have told me you want to invite your friends I would have done it in a polite manner.

I didn't break the news, she retort, someone must have done it to put me in trouble.

Emily interrupt as she walks into the sitting room, mum am sure Ami doesn't mean to cause trouble in school she just want to invite her

friends.

Austin speaks angrily, I didn't expect that from you, you had to get in trouble before your marriage, I have to apologies to mr Rico for the

trouble you caused, he stands up and leave.

Ami stand on the terrace staring at the sun shinning into her eyes tears running down her cheek.

Nanny stands in from of her blocking the sun with her back, "she wipe her tears with a handkerchief", it has become your habit of staying alone on the terrace staring into the sun ever since your mother died.

Ami hug Nanny weeping, I have to find who spread the news.

Kiana and Emily stands at a corner listing to their conversation "laughing".

"Nanny take her to sit down "I remember after your mother's death there was a day we were all looking for you in the house later found you here staring at the sun crying because you missed your mother, ever since then it has become a habit of you to come here whenever you have a problem, it feels terrible when no one belief you.

Nanny, have you experience it before?

Yes, but that a story for another day to tell.

The next morning Nanny preparing breakfast, Ami enter the kitchen, wow Nanny the aroma of the omelet can be smell all the way from my

room she takes a bite, hmm the taste is die for your cooking is the best.

Nanny smile, I love it when you are happy.

At the table, have apologized to Mr Rico for your unpleasant behavior and he assured me he will put a stop to the chaos you caused yesterday, let this be the last time you get in trouble.

Ami respond, but dad

Kiana cut in stopping her from responding to Austin, I will make sure she doesn't get in more trouble, she look at Emily and smile.

Ami disgust by Kiana's behavior, thinking ,she acts nice when dad is around.

James was telling a story when Mr Rico enter the class, they all return to their sit, he look at Josephina desk find her sitting calmly, Josephina smile at him, he look away disgusted.

He call Emily to the front of the class, he hand her a book instructs her what to do and exit.

Emily inform the class ,there's going to be a competition in 4 days, she raise the book in her hand, Mr Rico has instructed me to record each

and everyone participation in the competition, your performance will determine whether you will be at an advantage or disadvantage in the

school exam, she walks out of the class, Anitha run after her.

The student gather discussing about the competition, James climb the table speaks confidently, I will represent the class in the marathon race." they laugh at him".

Josephina walk to his desk, look around the class, who is the shortest guy?, that will be you, we did be a fool to put our trust in you.

James get annoy, look at a kettle calling pot black.

Josephina exasperate, how dare you, she raise her hand to slap him, James dodge it and run out of the class.

Josephina livid and embarrass.

Ami take her back to her sit, Kate laughing along with the other student, Ami suppress her laugh, she doesn't want to hurt her feeling more.

At noon, the students gathered in the main hall, Michael stands on the podium addressing them, there is going to be a competition in 4days

and different games for entertainment, each class president will be assign to their respective classes.

As he is speaking at the front students were mumbling, what happened to Michael's hand covered in a cast, another student speak, did he get into a fight and broke his hand?.

Anitha cut in, Michael doesn't fight like you guys so shut your mouth.

who broke Michael's hand, Kate ask?

Josephina cut in, do you think Max did it?," they look at each otherexasperate".

why will Max do that to him? he's ban from entering the school, maybe he hurt himself, Ami respond to them feeling a bit anxious.

You are right Max is not in school, even if he is in school he doesn't have a chance of over powering Michael, Kate respond calmly.

He can attack him outside the school premises, he's only ban from entering school that doesn't put a stop to his movement on the street.

Kate look at Josephina, even if he tries to attack Michael he won't overpower him.

Michael ask the class president to halt as the student go back to their classes.