Smart got confused at the sound of the bell as he sprang up from his six spring mattress.
“Hey* he trembled knowing fully well that the sound of the bell at such an odd hour means problem. He quickly tapped his watch to check what time it was.
“2:34am”
“ Why are these guys ringing the bell at such an hour?”
A sound of a voice roar from where the bell was rang followed immediately.
“SS2 downward come outside”
This must be the SS3 boys calling because they are the most senior in the school so all other authorities lyes in their hands as the school authority has given them such power they can discipline anyone who tends to violate any of the school rules.
Smart was still thinking on what to do as he did not want to attend that gathering because it might end up with disciplinary measures. Should I go into the ceiling or should I just jump out from the window and run to the bush until this is over? All this thought through his mind he was still contemplating on what to do meanwhile other junior students were making their way to place while some were jumping out of the window. It's a normal thing.
You just have to decide and then act fast on your decision as it might be late if you keep on thinking on what to do.
When he finally made up his mind he went in the direction of the window but a light flashed him from behind “Hey, come back here he turned to look but the reflection of the light almost blinded his eye Smart knew it was one of the SS3 boys so he quietly walked back and the light pointed to the spot where he should go and meet other student with a heavy knock on his head.
He ran to the meeting point. They stayed for a while and the SS3 boues made sure that they gathered a quiet number of the junior students which is about 98.9% of the junior students.
It was the labor prefect that summoned that meeting.
“Boys” he screamed at the top of his voice.
“Sir” the junior student answered.
“Lie down” he gave an order
The whole junior student went down flat on the ground, as usual smart was expecting some strokes at that night maybe for someone's sin. But it did not happen as expected. He then asked them to hold their ears while lying down so that the information would penetrate very well.
He continued, “I am on duty this morning, the reason why I gathered you this late hour is just to tell you guys that I will not condone any act of lateness as I will want everyone of you to be out before 7:30am, do you understand” he shouted.
“Yes sir” the junior student responded.
Everybody go back to your room. The sound of that put a smile on virtually everybody's face as no one expected such a peaceful announcement. But of course that doesn't mean that one should still be in the hostel at 7:30am except if you want to see the other part of the announcement you did not see at night.
And while they were walking back to their various rooms, Smart saw some other junior students being led to the place where the meeting had just ended. He could recognise some of his room mates who ran out of the window.
“Thank God” he said within him as he walked back.
Those caught outside already know their fate. The night will be one terrible night in the school.
So, just learn to keep to rules and you will be at peace with your superior. He meditated on his bed as everyone could hear the voice of those boys screaming from outside.
The reader is able to experience the idiosyncratic customs, practices and implicit conventions of a boarding school through the eyes of Smart who is an adolescent. His internal debate over defying or complying builds suspense, resolved by a surprising non-punitive announcement, yet underscored by threats to rule-breakers. An immersive vignette into the school's insular culture.
You have a very strong arc in this story, @iyimoga, and excellent character insight. Your first line, your 'hook', is also very good. As Smart leaps from his mattress we are thrown into the story.
Bullying seems to be a tradition in many boarding schools, and you depict well here the effect the bullying has on the victims. The end of your story,
is as strong as the beginning. It is actually startling.
Since this is a story about bullying, and violence, you might have described graphically the violence, but you did not. Bravo! Without using graphic details you managed to convey the brutality of the scene.
Thank you for sharing this story with us, @iyimoga.
This reminds me of our boarding school days. There was no such meeting as casual, it always ends with a beating and we were prepared for it. It's a good thing Smart didn't escape, it would have been terrible for him
The life of a boarder.
You know exactly what it is.