She heaved a sigh of relief at the sound of the siren proclaiming ‘closing time’, walked toward the locker, picked up her bag ready to go home……………….
“Look Vera! Your skirt is stained with red ink!!” It was the voice of Ada, the youngest girl in the class. Vera quickly turned to see for herself. Lo and behold, it is not red ink; it is blood……blood stain on her skirt.
Her heart skipped, what happened? did she sit on a stained seat at the cafeteria during the break period, or someone mischievous poured blood on her seat………. . Oh! Maybe she has suddenly “become a woman’. Her heart skipped again at this thought. Luckily for her only Ada saw the stain as her other classmates were busy trying to get their bags and head home. She thanked Ada, and assured her she will clean it up.
She slowly went back to her seat walking with her backside to the wall; thankfully her seat is by the wall. She felt grateful that none of the boys had seen the stain. She sat down and the next line of action flooded her mind. How do I walk home without people noticing? If truly I have become a woman what will I do now? Should she ask someone to call Miss Zubair, her health education teacher, what if she had gone home?
Truly Vera’s mum had engaged her in the "menarche" talk long before now, Mrs. Zubair had lectured the whole class on it before too, but she did not expect it this soon, or maybe not in the school, she thought it will happen at home……………….
“Vera……. Why are you still sitting? Aren’t you going home?’ Damifoluwa, her best friend in the class called out walking towards her.
Before she could reply her friend, Mr. Iware, the Basic Science teacher walked in…..
“Vera, the principal wants you now……..”
It seems the ground should give way……..but then she heard her mum’s voice
“Vera, wake up aren’t you going to school today?”
She jumped out of bed with sweat all over her body…….Phew! It is only a dream!
“Good morning mummy”
