Beneath the Baobab Tree

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admistress, Madam Iyabo, could not ignore. By 6:30 a.m., the school bell rang, not by routine, but out of restlessness. Whispers

n front of her, eyes trained on the chalkboard. But her ears bet

know why

aybe...

riod, the new t

bright they looked borrowed. The insignia on his green cap glinted faintly. His eyes scanned the room, behind thin-rimmed

ng, student

oom - mostly from the girls in the fron

you English Language and Literatur

n he did, it was slow and ful

d, she focused on his hands as he scribbled his name

ps members who had come and gone, not arrogant either. Just calm. Like so

staffroom buzzed

sh from u

he wristwatch

s uncle is

ry one of our vi

ces like theirs, the arrival of someone new was like fresh rain on dry g

the mango tree, the gir

?" Adunni teased. "Are you

Kemi murmured,

id Bisi with a loud laugh,

nd walked away, head down, toward her usual place - the back

nde saw h

ideas for the literature club he hoped to start. When he turned the c

dy folded inward, as if trying to make itself small. Bu

JSS3?" he

no

s your

aid, just abo

like

n, a

ur help. I want to start a clu

e whether to answe

dwritten, with the words Literary Circle - Th

ave you

e walk

read the card twice, then a third time, b

st - not from fear or sadness, but from somethi

nd smoke curled upward from cooking fires, the

am. Boys mimicked his accent. E

r a place like th

the year," an

he hearth, peeling yam with her mother. The

acher come toda

nod

alking," her mother a

s remained focused on the yam, but there was something

ed out the card again. She held it in her hand

she whispered

let him be lik

branches above her, as if