Do you remember what your first crush was like? Your very first meaningful crush? (I’m not talking about that crush you had on your class one teacher because at that age – that is, 6 – he seemed so tall and mighty and invincible you couldn’t help your little heart admiring him a little more than it made sense for a 6 year old to). I’m talking about that crush you had when you were finally considered an adolescent (or at least pre-pubescent) and it hurt when someone bumped your chest because finally, your boobs were growing! Ok, I digress. Back to the main point; the first crush. So here I’m going to write a little something based on what MY first crush was like *wink, wink*. Enjoy!
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The period had just started for Integrated Science and Mr Appiah was asking questions about the topic he had taught during the previous week’s class. As usual, he was ignoring those know-it-alls who had raised their hands to answer the question, elongating their arms by stretching higher as though that would be more successful at grabbing the teacher’s attention. Mr Appiah was choosing to prey on those unsuspecting students who seemed to be pre-occupied with other more interesting things.
Mr Appiah peered over his spectacles, looking round the class carefully and seemed to become excited when he managed to nab another unsuspecting victim. He called out her name, “Akua Mansa, what is the answer to my question?!”
Akua started at the sound of her name and realized to her horror that all 31 pairs of eyes in the room were looking at her. Unfortunately for her, today was the one day when she had not being paying attention at all to what was going on in the class. She swallowed nervously as she tried to shove the notebook she’d been doodling in under her desk and get up at the same time.
“Umm….sir, could you please repeat the question?” she asked timidly, feeling extremely self-conscious.
“Aha!” Mr Appiah yelled out in triumph. “You were not paying attention” he said, stating the obvious. He began walking towards where Akua was standing and the other students in the class swiveled around in their seats, the better to see the drama which was quickly unfolding before them.
Oh God, please don’t let him come close, please, please, please, Akua prayed silently, hoping against hope that by some miracle the teacher would turn round and go back to the front of the class. It soon became evident to her and to the rest of the class that Mr Appiah was on a mission and would not rest until he had completed it.
Mr Appiah came to a stop by her desk and peered over his glasses at her, “Miss Mensah, what were you doing that was so important that you couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to what I’m teaching?”
Akua’s power of speech seemed to have deserted her momentarily and she struggled to respond, finally coming out with a very weak, “Nothing”.
“Nothing, eh?,” Mr Appiah repeated, looking at her contemplatively. His gaze turned to her desk. “What do you have under your desk?”
She couldn’t stop the panic-stricken expression that spread across her face and the teacher noticed. He reached under her desk and pulled out her notebook as she looked on helplessly.
“So what do we have here, Miss Mensah?” Mr Appiah said as he turned the book over in his hands with an amused look on his face.
Akua’s face fell as she began dreading what would happen next. She tried to look calm even as her heart began to beat erratically, threatening to pop right out of her chest.
Mr Appiah had opened her notebook to where she had left her pen holding the page in place (Akua kicked herself mentally for leaving the pen there). He was visibly amused and after reading some of what she had written in the book to himself, he walked back to the front of the class with the book still in his hand. Akua slid into her seat wishing she could melt into the floor.
“Class, it seems while we were all engaging in serious discussions, Miss Mensah had found other ways of amusing herself and passing the time,” he announced. He opened Akua’s notebook and proceeded to read it out. “Akua and Nana Yaw forever, Mrs Akua Johnson, Mr and Mrs Johnson, Mrs Nana Yaw Johnson. And under that, she has drawn a picture of herself with said gentleman, I presume, and has drawn hearts around them” at that point he paused and looked up at the class. “I’m quite sure if Akua Mansa and the rest of you paid as much attention to detail in your diagrams for this class as she has given to her drawing, you would all be making As”
The whole class erupted in laughter to the further embarrassment of Akua.
“Mr Johnson! Nana Yaw Johnson,” Mr Appiah called out, looking round the class for his new target. He finally located him seated at the back of the class. “Please stand up, Mr Johnson”
The class turned in unison, as though by remote control to look at Nana Yaw as he stood up from his seat.
Akua could feel the sweat trickling down her back. Oh no, what would this man do next to humiliate her further? She wondered with trepidation.
“Nana Yaw, it seems to me, you have a very committed secret admirer here” he said in amusement, turning to look at Akua who was trying her best to blend in with the furniture without success. “Nana Yaw, you may sit down. Akua Mansa, next time pay more attention in class, ok?” Mr Appiah peered at her sternly waiting for her response. The whole class was laughing uncontrollably now and it didn’t look like they would be stopping anytime soon.
Akua nodded meekly, “Yes, sir”.
Satisfied, the Integrated Science teacher turned his attention back to the class. “That’s enough excitement for today, class. Now, who can answer my question? What are the necessary conditions for photosynthesis to take place in a plant?”
Some students raised their hands even as others continued to giggle and steal glances at Akua.
Akua had never felt so humiliated in her life. For the rest of the Science class, she sat up and managed to keep a straight face though deep inside all she wanted to do was to cry.
*
Finally, the class had come to an end and it was time for lunch break. Akua continued to sit at her desk while the other students left the classroom for the break.
Mr Appiah, who was still gathering his notes, noticed her still seated at her desk and called her forward. Akua got up slowly and went to him.
He handed her notebook back to her but continued holding on to it as she took it. She looked up at his face. “As your punishment, I want you to write ‘I will pay more attention in class and less to my love life when I am in school’ 500 times. I want it on my desk by close of day tomorrow. Is that clear?” he instructed sternly.
“Yes, sir” she responded tiredly.
“Ok, you have a good day,” he said somewhat ironically and strode out of the class, his notes under his arm.
Akua sighed and stood where she was, wondering what to do with herself.
“Akua?” a voice from behind her called softly.
She turned only to find Nana Yaw staring worriedly at her. Can this day get any worse? She groaned inwardly. “Umm, I’m really sorry about…” she began to apologise awkwardly.
He waved her attempt away, cutting her short. “I was actually quite flattered” he grinned endearingly at her.
Akua felt her jaw drop. Huh? Was she hearing right? “You know, if you’re trying to make fun of me I understand but it really isn’t funny,” she managed to say, looking at him warily.
“Oh, I’m serious o,” his grin faded and was replaced with a grave look. His face lit up suddenly. “You know what? Let’s go for break together and we’ll talk…ok?” he suggested.
Before she could compose an intelligible response, he had grabbed her hand and was pulling her out the door. All thought flew out of her head except for one glaring realization; he’s holding my hand!
Maybe ,just maybe, there was going to be a silver lining in this cloud of a day, she mused dreamily, strongly aware of the fact that the boy she had a crush on was holding her hand.
THE END.
©2011 Abena K. Karikari.
