C1 Chapter 1

I had finished my last back-to-school shopping and was about to head home when I spotted my best friend Jessica Ebela across the main road from the market I was in.

I left my aunt who was discussing the price of a notebook she wanted to buy to write down her own things and I crossed the road to see her.

- Hey Jessy, what does it say? What are you doing here? (Smiling).

- JESSICA: Oh, I was just visiting my big sister to get my hair braided, since tomorrow is the first day of school!

- Well, she's not home anymore?

- JESSICA: Yes, she is, she just went to her guy's house for a few days!

- Ahn right! Um, I see how your hair shines from A to Z.

- JESSICA: Ah, the first few days we "new =sape" the hair to make a good impression, right?

I burst out laughing because she was right and because I recognized myself there. Indeed, I still had the rasta that I had done two weeks before on my head. I didn't want to do braids to go to school but rather a different hairstyle to make the difference with the other girls.

- Oh yeah, and you went with pompom braids, that's right!

- JESSICA: And you left your rasta! No, but you are very brave! Are you sure your college officials are going to let you keep it up?

- Ah, I'm going to tell them I didn't know rasta wasn't allowed and I'm going to beg them to let me spend one more week with it before I undo it. I've only had this for two weeks now, so...

- JESSICA: Anyway... I'm a little sad to know that everyone will be in a different college from now on huh damn!

In fact, we did the sixth grade together at the Île Éducative school, but she was in "A" and I was in "B", then we did the fifth grade together.

In fourth grade, I wanted to try the high school and I went there but I couldn't stand all the chaos there and the fact that there were more than 170 students per classroom so, after spending 5 months there, I decided to go back to Educational Island.

- It's true that it's sad but don't forget that our colleges are close and that we can even see each other at the exit to go back together...

- JESSICA: If we have the same release times to begin with!

- That's right! I'm proud of the fact that we left Île Educuve, it's good to have a change of scenery and environment!

- JESSICA: You're right! Especially since I did all my primary education there!

- And so did you! I don't understand people who put a lot of time in the same school, but well, everyone does what they want! I'm glad to see you again, it's been a long time!

We haven't seen each other for a week or two. It's true that at the time, we lived in the same neighborhood but we didn't see each other much. We were young and we were a bit too controlled, so we couldn't go out anyhow.

We just stood there talking about everything until I heard my aunt yell, "Brenda, let's go home.

I grabbed Jessica's hand and we walked across the road together.

- Maa, this is Jessica, my best friend! - AUNT: My daughter, how are you? But you've been home before, right?

- JESSICA: Hi Maa, I'm fine, thanks. Yes, I've been here twice before!

- AUNT: Ahn, now I understand why your face looks so familiar! And Brenda also introduces you as if I don't know you!

I burst out laughing.

- AUNT: You're laughing, I hope you don't laugh this year, because it's graduation year!

The school year hadn't even started yet and she was already talking about it! African parents are a case! I knew I was going to be harassed with it.

- But you know I'm smart and I'll get my high school diploma with no problem.

- JESSICA: I am confident!

My aunt asked her if she was going to the same class as me, which is third grade, and she said yes.

- AUNT: Oh, so I got two GEDs this year then!

We said yes and we walked in. At some point we split up with Jessica so she could go her way and we could go ours. We arrived at around 5pm if I remember correctly. I went to put my last supplies on a small table in my room and then I took my bag and I put in it what I needed for the next day: a notebook to write down the schedule, some pens and pencils to write or to draw etc.

I then went to see my cousin Wilfried in his room to pass the time. Wilfried was a tall guy and a little light!

There was no such thing as a shyer guy. He had a passion: drawing cartoons.

I can assure you that I had looked for someone with the same level as him in all Yaoundé in vain.

Well, my older brother Noé could draw, but he only drew humans, and as far as cartoons were concerned, he was fine.

Basically, Wilfried was better at drawing cartoons than Noah, while Noah was better at drawing humans than Wilfried.

Each had his own talent.

I arrived in his room and found him drawing as usual. I took a seat next to him so we could talk.

- Wil, why is your face so pale? Aren't you happy about tomorrow?

- WILFRIED: Well, if only we could make the vacations even longer...

- Haha you don't like school, only drawing is your passion! Would you like to make it a vocation?

- WILFRIED: Why not? Someone can use their talent to make a living. You don't have to go to school, you know?

- I think you still have to go to school to learn how to read and write and to know the outside world, you know?

- WILFRIED: Yes, yes, but by the fourth grade you've already learned the basics, so you can stop there!

- And why are you continuing then? You're leaving in second grade!

- WILFRIED: Oh, it's because of my parents and also because I want to have other diplomas than the BEPC and the CEP that I have because you never know! If I stop and later on the drawing doesn't work out, what do I do?

- It's true that those who leave school to concentrate on their talent alone take a big risk! Anyway, I'll let you draw then! I'm off to iron my outfit.

- WILFRIED: Finish and give me the iron please!

- Okay, it works!

I finished ironing my beautiful outfit. No, but I was lucky because the day I went to buy it, I saw people coming out of the store with their faces crumpled because the outfit was either too large or too small. Mine was just perfect. It was a beautiful dress that came to my knees and fit snugly around my waist. I had tried it on several times, I liked it so much. It showed my big buttocks that were like those of a 25 year old woman and my breasts that were like those of a 20 year old woman when I was only 14. After I finished ironing it, I went to eat and then showered before going to sleep. It must have been 9pm.

To be continued...