THE LEOPARD'S MIRROR (Part I)

rincipal say make

ing from the pit of his stomach, pushed up and out like steam from a boiling kettle. He didn't know which part of his body released

e Principal's military-stiff messenger. A World War II veteran, Josiah wore his khaki shorts like medals and marched as if he was st

Master famously called Computer, didn't even blink. He continued scribbling diagrams

s. None looked back. Everyone fixed their gaze on Computer. Only Emeka's eyes fl

me?" Ugo asked nervously as t

siah replied, not unkindly, b

it for approval. He dashed toward the toilet b

the norm. But here, everything gleamed. Clean water rushed obediently with each flush, and Ugo had once lingered long in a cubi

y he'd bee

ut the orc

fore his eyes like a cautionary tale. He cursed his own fo

t boys laughed off the warnings. After all, didn't the Principal boast during Monday assemblies about his exploits at Eton? Didn't

a's father could fly him back to America the next day, but what would

had started

e school into silent darkness. Emeka whispered, "Let's go," and Ugo followed. They slipp

andoned due to budget cuts. Beyond it, the orchard wall stood like the gate to paradise, its top li

, showing Ugo a clean gap in the line o

. Just as Emeka stepped forward, something

cried out a

problem?" E

t afraid o

with snakes back in Pa

d fallen on him in the Health Science lab-slithering from the ceiling onto his bac

there," Ugo decl

se the main gate. But that mea

noring held nightly patrol. As they crept closer, they heard the rhythmic d

ges hung low, practically begging to be plucked. They

bananas. The

om green. Emeka waved a hand. "Let'

t a tall bunch. One swift slash. The heavy fruit

cut through

here?!" a v

y f

ike a lighthouse.

hispered. In seconds,

d after him. He landed awkward

e tore through the night. Another whistle joined

hroat. They were going to be cau

Behind them, the lights returned, but no fo

oke as soon as Josiah's voice

ou dey born p

ju

en relieved

at-soaked vest. Josiah grabbed him by the arm and marched him

n-like the broken shards on top o