We walked along the corridor of the one-storey building towards the staircase and down to the ground. We the seniors received lessons on the first floor while the junior secondary students were on the ground floor. It was a bright and sunny Monday morning , the second week of resumption at Betterways Comprehensive School and it was already overflowing with students.

Almost everybody had resumed and the new comers were very conspicuous as they haven't yet gotten the school uniform of white shirts and navy blue trousers for boys and pleated skirts for girls.

The staff office and administrative block was opposite our building while the primary section stood on the other side behind the administrative block. The administrative block was in between. The canteen was just around the corner close to the school gate.

      The heat of the September sun was at its peak and it was already burning through my skin. I could see some students playing football on the school field. I wonder how they could stand the heat of the sun like it never existed at all. I remembered how much I sweated last week when we were made to cut down the grasses that had grown around the school compound and on the field during the holidays. Actually, I liked the exercise because I never get to do that at home. There's always some labourer to do it with some lawn mower. Well, for me I suck at football too.

Sometimes I wonder what I didn't suck at. The teachers were always complaining about me and my poor grades. My last term result, which was the third term of senior secondary school two (SSS2) seemed to be the worst of all. Now it's a new session and soon we'll be talking about our West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE). I wonder how I was going to scale through.

     "Hope you got enough cash in those deep pocket of yours because my stomach is telling me things already," Michael broke into my thoughts just as we got to the door of the canteen.

     "Don't worry, Mikey," I replied as we stepped into the canteen. "You know I'm always load..."

     I stopped. At that moment the earth stopped spinning. Right before us, talking with the seller, was the new girl in class! She stood with her back to us. She wasn't on our school uniform yet as it was her first day in the school. She was on a bright blue top and a short black skirt that got just above her knee level. She was light skinned, just a bit toned. She had her hair woven back. She wasn't too tall, just petite and dinky, the type I like. No, I'm not sure I've seen her type before. She was a charm.

     "Maybe you should buy chips, they are cheaper," Madam C.K, the food seller was telling her. I had always known that to be her appellation but never bothered to ask what the initials stood for. "Or maybe you shouldn't buy the nutrimilk at all and just buy sachet water since your money isn't enough. You know things are costly these days."

     "Yes I know but I just thought the money I have with me would be enough and I'm already starving 'cause I didn't eat to school this morning," said the new girl.

     "Well..." the seller began.

     "Madam C.K, don't worry, please give her what she asked for," I quickly interrupted. "I'll pay."

     The new girl looked back to face me, surprise written all over her. She looked at me with stunning bright eyes that seemed to permeate deep into my soul. Slightly pointed nose like that of an Indian princess and with her cute little mouth slightly agape. Oh my God she was a beauty icon, a goddess.

     "No, you don't have to do that," she said with a something of a shy smile after an uncomfortable silence. "I can manage with what I have. And thanks by the way."

     "I insist. Besides you just mentioned you didn't eat to school so I insist you take something good and not just water." I could feel Michael giving me a discreet nudge by the arm and I noticed him giving me a wink which could have equally spoke the words 'hmm Ray you really know how to play the game.'

     "Madam C.K, just go on and give to her what she demanded for at first," I said, turning to the seller.

     The woman then took a sachet of beef roll and a bottle of nutrimilk and gave to the young damsel. Her nine month old baby was squatting carefree by the corner playing with a doll.

     "You really shouldn't have bothered," the girl said with a shy smile, a deep beautiful dimple forming in her cheeks. "But all the same, thank you very much. I really appreciate the kind gesture. God bless."

     I couldn't even reply and I just stood there as I watched her exit the canteen and walked briskly towards the classrooms without looking back. She was already out of ear shot before I remembered I didn't even ask for her name. Stupid me.

     "Please my money," the voice of the food seller brought me back. I've been staring again, just like in class earlier.

     At that moment, Michael burst into a fit of laughter. He must think I'm a fool, I thought as I dipped my right hand into my right pocket and brought out a five hundred Naira note.

     "What about us, are we not buying anything anymore?" Mike asked, still laughing.

     "Sure. Come and pick what you want."

We were turning to leave the canteen when something white on the floor caught my eye. It was a handkerchief. I stooped to pick it up. 'Happy Birthday Lizzy' was knitted on it with red coloured thread.

     "Was this not in that girl's hand this morning when she walked into the classroom?" I remarked.

     "I can't exactly say that I noticed it," Mike answered.

     "Yes," Madam C.K interjected, now holding her little baby which had begun to cry. She came into the canteen with it but must have dropped it unconsciously."

     "I have to give it to her," I said.

     "Yeah, you sure do," said Mike as we began to walk out of the canteen.

     The sun felt even hotter now on my light brown skin. We had barely walked a few steps before we heard the ringing of the school bell. Break had ended and we had to get back in class.

All the students began filing into their classes and alot of the younger ones had gotten themselves all soiled after playing in the school playground. Those playing football on the pitch had to stop also as they began putting on their shoes to leave the pitch, all of them all sweaty and looking tired.

When we got to class, we couldn't find Lizzy but a few of our classmates where already inside. We got to our seat and sat down and began chatting random. The handkerchief was in my pocket. A couple of minutes later, Lizzy walked in--the damsel.

     "Hey Lizzy," I called as I walked over to where she was.

     "Hi," she replied. "Thanks once again for earlier but come to think of it, how did you get to know my name?"

     I smiled and dipped a hand inside my pocket to produce the handkerchief. "This belongs to you, I presume."

     "Oh my God wherever did you find it?" she said surprised, as she took it from my hand. "I didn't even realize it was gone until now."

     "You dropped it in the canteen. I saw it as I was leaving."

     "Oh! But how were you so sure it was mine?"

     "I noticed it was in your hands this morning when you walked into the class."

     "Really?" she stared into my eyes now in a sort of questioning gaze like she was searching for something.

     "Yeah."

     "Well, I can't even thank you enough." She was now looking down and twisting the handkerchief between her hands. "My Mum gave it to me on my birthday last week. She knitted the words herself and that's why I treasure it so dearly."

     "Happy belated birthday then."

     I turned to walk back to my seat when she stopped me.

     "You know my name now I guess it's only fair I know yours too."

     "Oh, my name's Raymond but you can call me Ray."

     "Okay."