OUR MOON HAS STRINGS

Back...H

ell-rounded and small, her thick black hair made it look twice its size. She had small eyes and a cute nose that complimented her

d chicken and potato salad. With much delight, she dug in, but a

h other everything, Valery knew not to mention where she was. Margret loved being a matchmaker and had

with her tray and

the library. Did S

: "Yes,

quickly dashed for Margret's juice box with

ought you'd be brave enough to face the consequences, but he

in her throat. "Marge, you nearly killed me...

oticed your absence if it came off today. You're the ge

fell below the pass mark had to spend another hour after school to redeem them

et's outburst drew attention. "Shush

fear math; I hate Social Studies. They always talk about dead people. Isn't it sad enough that I h

ge problem, but I coul

e should let the

teful citizen! Hahaha. Do you wa

triotism out of them. Okay, I won't joke anymore. I

*

she faced Baptism sometimes but kept trying harder to improve her scores. At times Margret helped her

s invincible but took short glances behind the scenes. This, of course, did

r, there was a special occasion that required her presence at home. She tried explaining the si

her an idea. "Write a letter. That

e waited thirty minutes for Mr York, but he was caught in a staff meeti

ng assembly in a Ghanaian setting was only fun for the younger ones in nursery and pr

about fees, incoming projects and programs, counselling s

ht day. Her punishment was doubled for not redeeming herself after class. V

y student. If l go easy on you because you're a girl, it will not change. No matter what the issue is, try and complete your

one thing students knew about teachers in this school, they hated excuses, no matter

or the inevitable. As she turned to leave, she instantly crashed in

her head. Valery gently pulled her hands from Derrick's gr

in public. He could feel her vulnerability. She seemed delicate-unlike the girl wh

e daunting was that the Punished was to refrain from using the taps in the restroom. This meant carrying buckets of water up on their own. The school was a

urn to class. Her friend was able to help because the English teacher was n

nd slips at the edge of the stairs. The bucket of water poured o

. Ahh!" She got furious, not even reali

bent her left foot was and the uneven scrapes on her knee and below. A fresh burn made her jerk forward

cond time on the wet floor. After some effort, she paused. The ache climbed up her waist as s

e it to his naughty list. But after finding Valery in an awful state, all that anger vanished. Her innocent face was soaked with tears, her

en?" He asked, but only Va

"Why?" Now was a lousy time to be complicated. Valery glanced at her injured foot

des. Valery nods. "I'll take

s down her tongue as her legs go up. Her left foot had shifted far to the right, hanging

Put me down...and go

to the infirmary," Derrick caut

of Leo carrying another student, and that raised the alarm.

e as Valery was carried through the compound. They could not see her face, but sh

e classes above came out

carrying?" Students conve

led, she runs down. With her rushing towards the two, most students guessed

we'll be t

at me. They'll lau

like this, and they

gret crowed. "Valer

cover," said Derrick. That stat

o, tried to get involved, but Derrick insisted he could not let her

ck bay. Derrick offered to help the nurse, but

ck. "It's dislocated," the middle-aged woman commented as she took a

side," sai

im her

his on my way up the stairs. She had a bucket in her hand. I

and out of her hands. She called the nearest hospital and

had a friend with her. The teacher handling my class will not be comi

he other end, Margret gaped at him, astonished. Since when did Valery have

She thought to herself. All

blems, and that spoke highly of the adminis

t remained in the back with Valery. Margret stared at Derrick, who, in turn, was fixated o

thout hesitation. Derrick seemed to be

se," Valery said thr

rry if I'm not the type to hold my thoughts in, but you're m

nd replied harshly. "Wil

ck held onto the injured, supporting Valery's back in the sudden jolt. He sighed si

face would have turned red if she had a very fair complexion. Look at them; they can't even look

*

ined a moderate tear in her ligament, but luckily, it did not requ

ernal injury. Then came the tricky part: letting her parents know

left to get some juice at the cafeteria. Pumped with painkillers, Valery's mind was less disturbe

alery mustered the courag

rick answe

ould have just called for help and not carried me d

. "Am I being sc

. I'm sorry, thank you,"

d to. You did give me quite a fright." He

r... ignore her; she's a hopeless romantic." To be frank, Margret's theory di

ve with the guy because he saved her life or protected her." Derrick spoke her language. Va

return to the h

, confused. "Was I no

hocolate bar?" In a way, Derrick ha

or unlocked the days after. Hoping that a certain someone would

o." Valery did not appreci

You can come to my hideout anytime you feel like it. I don't mind h

blush, and she did not want to expose herself.

get punished for something as si

e you up to?"

ing, don't overthink about it. I will be distraught if you ever

d friend, even if he was a wolf that did not hide in sheepskin. There

bout this conversation. 'She does not need to know.' Her hea