C2

Gwendolyn and Jocelyn first day at Sebastian Aiden Memorial Schools(SAMS).Anthony Grayson walked them down to the Principal's office to get the registration done and to sort them into class of choice. The Principal is a middle aged woman probably in her early fifties. She brightens up when the family walked in.

"You can have your seat Mr Anthony Grayson?"

She offered smiling broadly.

"Yes of course. Thanks." Anthony said sitting while Gwendolyn and Jocelyn stand beside him.

"We're glad you made it."

"It's my pleasure Ma'am."

"We really know the value of getting children educated and how much stress you've gone through to get them in. We value your obsession for education. It's quite understandable. So,we decided to look into it."

"Thank you very much Ma'am. My kids and I really appreciate."

"So, as stated in the letter, we will choose the class for them now. If they can cope with the children there without scaring them off then we will know what to do. Whether to promote them or make them stay."

"And you think we will accept that Mrs......?" Jocelyn queried trying to read the name on the plate on her table.

"Mrs Joyce Weston." Gwendolyn puts in.

"And why wouldn't you?"Joyce Weston asked.

"Because we actually want to be tested to check our level of intelligence." Gwendolyn puts in.

Joyce Weston look from Anthony down to his two children.

"Ladies, you dont know that the fact that we accepted you into this school is a privilege.

"We wouldn't want to be tagged as that Mrs Weston. We don't want to look like those helpless kids seeking shelter under privilege. We wanted to stand heads up like every other students. Not some under privilege urchins of some sort."Gwendolyn said rather persuading.

"So, what do you get?" Joyce Weston asked.

"Well, a little story. Sebastian Aiden was once a military man sincerely serving his country when he became KIA in 1989. This school was built in his memory in early nineties to remember his brave support to his country." Jocelyn explained.

"And to add to that Jocelyn, the school admits three hundred students minimum every year. Also,the school had recorded the number of their passed out right from 1992 up till date as one million, six hundred and sixty seven. Actually, it ought to be two million six hundred and seventy two,but some issues that ensued back then with some students made some dropped out. And also.........." Gwendolyn didn't finish her explanation before Joyce Weston cuts in.

"You should stop by now." She said.

"Okay." Both chorused as Anthony almost left his mouth agape. He had never heard them talked about it before.

"Knowing the history of the school doesn't make you a champion." Joyce bellowed.

"Of course. We also know you're born on the 14th of September 1962 during the time when the first asteroid knocked the earth. Your mother, Evelyn Weston gave birth to you prematurely due to the panick and chaos the asteroid caused." Gwendolyn highlighted.

"And she died afterwards. Your father,Joshua Weston took it upon himself to raise you up until he died when you're almost out of the college at age twenty three...........should we continue?" Jocelyn asked.

"This is so annoying!" Joyce Weston said angrily.

"Do you have any problem with us? Jocelyn asked .

Joyce Weston angrily tap on her desk phone and call upon Mrs Tristan. Some seconds later, Mrs Tristan entered the office.

"Ma?" She asked as she stepped in.

"They are yours." She said.

Mrs Tristan face the Grayson's and almost laughed.

"Are they really for this school?" She asked mockingly.

"Don't play with their intelligence Mrs Tristan. " Mrs Joyce Weston warned.

"Well, that sounds like a warning. Follow me." She beckoned to them.

Anthony Grayson shook his hands with the Principal and followed them outside the office.

"Joce? Gwen? Did you take the memory con?" He whispered immediately they were out of the office as Mrs Tristan took the lead.

"You can't rip us off our memory forever Leo." Jocelyn whispered back.

Anthony Grayson had removed the memory con of his children when they were ten. The memory con allows them to access the data of anyone they look at. The memory con is like a scan in the eyes and that was what they used for Mrs Joyce Weston. And what Anthony Grayson is avoiding is about to hit him in the face. He didn't want the children to be recognised for anything. He only wants them to get educated,feel among humans and never for once think of going back to the sea.

"You promised your mother Jocelyn. " He whispered behind her.

"I didn't break the promise Leo. We didn't get into trouble. Or did we Gwen?"

"Not a slightest one." Gwendolyn answered winkling at Anthony who exhaled tiredly.

Mrs Tristan stopped in front of a class and face Anthony Grayson.

"You have to path with the girls here Mr Grayson." She said.

"Of course Mrs Tristan."

Anthony Grayson bent down and stared straight into their eyes.

"Gwen, Joce, you remember your names right?"

"Of course why not?" Both chorused.

"Please, we can't afford to get people's focus on ourselves. What you just did back then at the Principal's office, don't you ever repeat it." He said strictly.

"You're sounding serious Leo." Joce interrupted.

"That's because I am. Gwen, please look after Joce."

"Now, that hurts." Joce retorted.

"We promised Dad. That will never happen again."

"You go ahead promising Gwen, but I don't." Joce said.

"But remember you promised your Mother.."

"I will Leo. Thanks. Now, can we go?"

Jocelyn demanded not waiting for an answer as she headed towards the classroom door where Mrs Tristan was waiting .

"Gwen,you didn't portray a good sign back in there and I must say that I'm very disappointed. That's not who you are."

"Pardon me father. "

"Ok. That's fine. Deal?" He asked staring into her eyes and raising a finger high up.

"Deal. Be of good behaviour." Gwendolyn said holding her father's raised finger.

Anthony Grayson kissed Gwendolyn's forehead. He walked up to the entrance and kissed Joce forehead too.

"Bye ladies."

"Bye Dad." Gwendolyn said.

"See you in the afternoon Leo. Cook my favourite. " Jocelyn said.

"Alŕight Princess."

Anthony Grayson waited and watched as they walked into the classroom then left.

Mrs Tristan made them stand in front of the class for proper introduction.

"Hello everyone. We have new intakes admist us today." She said and all the students stared at them. Some were pointing to their eyes. They've coiled their hair up and Jocelyn out on her hat.

"Hi, I'm Gwendolyn Grayson."

"Jocelyn Grayson."

"Oh my God! Look at the iris, purple." One boy pointed out.

"You look the same age are you twin?" Another girl asked.

"Yes we are." Jocelyn answered.

"Whao! Look at that black coiled hair. That's much of a hair you've got there twinny."

"That's enough class. Please can you provide space for them to sit?"

"Of course. Come over here Jocelyn. I'm Olivia." She called out. Jocelyn walked down to occupy the desk beside Olivia.

"You can come and pair here Miss Grayson Gwendolyn. I am Layla."

"Hi Layla!" Gwendolyn greeted as she sits besides Layla.

"That's very cool of you, Layla and Olivia. " Mrs Tristan acknowledged.

"So,as you all know the school club registration is starting tomorrow,you have to register your name so the game could begin. Now let's get down to work." She said as she took the marker and face the board.

"Will you like to participate in the game?" Olivia asked.

"Why dont you just concentrate on the board?" Jocelyn snobbed.

"That hurts." Olivia said as she tried to concentrate as told.

"Hi Layla!" Gwendolyn greeted again.

"Yeah. I really don't like appreciation. If you wanted to appreciate me for giving you space, you better think otherwise. "Layla highlighted.

"Not really. I wanted to ask about the game."

"I am not interested in the game Miss Grayson. I hope you didn't mind?"

"Of course not." She answered smiling disappointedly.

According to Gwendolyn's memory con, Layla is the only child of Inspector Noah William. Not more than two months ago, Noah William was accused of killing a fellow cop and was sentenced to twenty five years imprisonment. Eversince then, Layla has been living with her grandmother after so many attempts she made as a child to prove her father's innocence.

"Sorry about your father Layla. "

"You don't need to be sorry. Everybody knows about him. All the kids in the school knows about him."

"I know he is innocent. He isn't a bent." Gwen said.

"Well, that's too late now. He will probably die in the prison before his sentence ends. His life is ruined already. No need crying over spilt milk."

Gwendolyn can sense the sadness beneath her words and she wished instantly she can help. But, she can not break her promise to her father.

".........yes Mitchell?"

Gwendolyn looked up to stare at the so called Mitchell. She marveled. How handsome!

"Who is he?" Jocelyn asked Olivia.

"You actually asked me to face the board remember?"

"I took that back."

Olivia looked at Jocelyn's serious face and almost laughed.

"It's not funny Olivia. "

"Of course. His name is Marcellus. "

"Marcellus?"

"Mitchell is his father's name. Arrogant bitch!" Olivia retorted.

"Arrogant?"

" Yeah. He thinks he owns the world. He and his father."

"Awnnnn! That's bad. He is a bad guy."

"More than bad. Almost everybody wants to lure him to bed. Even some stupid brainless teachers."

"That's bullshit. He is just a boy."

"He is twenty. Too old for the class. He never answers a question correctly."

"I hate his guts." Jocelyn spits.

"Good for you."

"But........he is a very handsome dude. I will like his guts for that."

"Like him?"

"Of course. I'm here to hunt the handsome." Jocelyn said and Olivia looked at her stylishly.

"I really don't know the axis Mrs Tristan. I just want to go out and inhale the breeze." Marcellus said.

"Of course Mitchell."

To Gwendolyn's surprise, Marcellus walked out of the classroom.

"What's that?" Gwendolyn asked bewildered.

"I don't want to talk about it Gwen. Forgive my manners." Layla apologised.

"Yeah of course. That's fine by me."

To Gwendolyn and Jocelyn, their first day in school was just perfect. But for their father, everyday they step out of the house will always be a day of panicking and acrimony for him.

"So, you actually made some friends today?" Anthony Grayson asked as he opened the toast bread to extract the bread and the daughters settling down besides him.

"Yeah. Olivia. She is a cool girl. Good for my taste of a girlfriend. " Jocelyn said.

"Garrulous is what she is." Gwendolyn spits.

"Anyhow. She is just a friend."

"And you Gwendolyn?"

"Well Dad, Layla William. She is the child of an Inspector."

"An Inspector who killed a fellow cop."

"An Inspector who killed a fellow cop?" Anthony asked surprisingly.

"You read her Joce. He didn't kill anyone." Gwendolyn explained.

"You can't be so sure Gwen." Jocelyn puts in.

"Enough ladies.That is enough.Time for lunch. " He said dishing out the food.

"And about the memory con, I think you both have to return it." Anthony Grayson said.

"Well Leo, Gwen can actually return it but as for me, not a chance. " Jocelyn said.

"Talk to your sister Gwendolyn. "

"She can't talk any shit to me. Can you Gwen? " Jocelyn asked shuffling the toast bread in her mouth.

"Of course I can." Gwendolyn said irritably.

For some minutes, none of them speaks. They eat in silence until Gwendolyn broke the silence.

"You can't take the memory con from us father."

"And why do you think I can't?"

"Because I know you will not." Gwendolyn said dropping the spoon on the table to leave the dining. She clean her hands with a napkin and headed down to her room with Anthony and Jocelyn staring at her back.

"Did anything happen in school today?"

"I don't think so. We just made friends. That's all. Perhaps she didn't like her new friend. The girl is a taciturn."

"You quite had the synonym of what you are."

"Mind your words Leo. I don't talk as much as Olivia."

"We both know Gwen is the silent one."

"It works for her."

"Can you go and check on her for me?"

"Are you trying to entrust her into my care now?"

"Of course not. I am not entrusting anybody to another person. It's just for your safety."

Jocelyn dropped the napkin and headed to Gwendolyn's room. She found her sitting in front of one their laptops with some crumbled newspapers besides her.

"What are you doing Gwendolyn?" She asked moving close to her .

"Finding some hidden secrets."

"Hidden secrets of who?"

"Noah William."

"You've got to be kidding me. You promised Leo. I watched you took his hands."

"We can do this together Jocelyn. Don't you think it's weird? How can an Inspector killed a cop and be charged to twenty three years imprisonment? There is something fishy going on. Join me Joce. We can do this."

"No Gwen. I promised Mother."

"You can't help?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Okay. But you won't tell father?"

"Of course."

"Now sit. I found something very interesting."

"Interesting in what sense?"

"Noah William. He isn't Layla's father. She was adopted. It's a top secret nobody knows about."

"I think you should stop this right now."

"Why? I have to help Layla. I want a friend like Olivia and I can make Layla one."

"Just find another friend Gwendolyn. What if this leads to other thing?"

"It can't Joce. I have strong believe in that."

"I have bad feelings for this. This is what Leo is fighting against. We both know it." Joce warned.

"I'm going to make it a secret. Nobody will ever know. We will not do another after this."

"What are you saying? We?"

"Okay. I. Is that fine?"

"Cool."

Gwendolyn started the end of their term on earth with just that one step into Noah and Layla William true identity and the latter connection in the murder that happened some months back.