Chapter 2: Day Student Pass and School Wahala

She be day student. That time, day students get one special pass—'day student pass'—even the stubborn security men go open gate for you with respect. The pass dey shine yellow for her neck, sometimes sweat don soak the lanyard.

Security men fit dey act tough for other students, but when they see her, na "Welcome, madam!" dem go hail am. The plastic pass dey hang for her neck, sometimes with key holder wey get cartoon character. Na only her dey waka comot without any wahala.

One side of the gate na our wahala youth; the other side na breeze and freedom.

That gate na barrier for most of us, but for her, na just small step. As she pass, you fit smell suya and fresh breeze from outside, the scent of pepper from mama put joint. Sometimes, she go wave us bye, her smile dey free like person wey nothing dey worry.

As people begin know say she be day student, more classmates begin send her WhatsApp message to help them buy things from outside. Sometimes na chilled Fanta, sometimes fried yam from mama put. At first, she fit carry all with one hand, but as people dey add more wahala, she need extra bag join.

Some dey send voice note: "Abeg help me buy gala, na beg I dey beg!" Others dey drop message: "Abeg, bring two gala, one Fanta—God bless you." She go use big nylon bag, her fingers dey red from carrying heavy things. By time she come back, sweat dey her forehead, but she no dey complain. Sometimes, she go forget her own change, just to make sure everybody dey happy. Her gentle nature na her wahala.

Problem be say, many people no dey pay her back. Some go forget, some no just send. Na so boys for secondary school dey behave that time.

You go hear, "Bros, I go pay you next week." Week go pass, nothing. Some go hide when dem see her, dey dodge corner. Even me sef dey vex on her behalf, but she go just laugh am off. Sometimes, I go advise her, "No gree for anybody o!" She go wave hand, "No wahala, God dey."

She too gentle to tell anybody no, but I dey see am say e dey pain her.

For her face, e dey show—small frown, lips pressed tight. She go count her change, purse lip, but still dey smile for them. When I ask, she go say, "No be anything." But I sabi my person. If I buy her puff-puff after, her smile go return, but the pain still dey hide for back of her eye. That her soft heart dey make me fear for her sometimes.