Blue crane’s eye – CHAP 17
It’s another Saturday. The game has been canceled twice. This past Friday afternoon, sister Wanda asked the students to gather in the assembly room for their update. That afternoon, she held her cane with force, you could see her hand muscle busting through. The second she stepped on the podium, she announced that the room is under construction and that from Mid-October to Mid-November, the game will be held at HighGrand school on Sundays. The girls didn’t like to have any activity on Sundays because it had to start early and finish early. Which was something most were not fun of, especially when it came to spending time with the hosts from HighGrand School. Hosts, also known as boys who came from good families who wanted their sons to attend the most prestigious school in Capewood. It had no similarity with its neighbor school. This one only gave outstanding education in certain areas to impoverished girls. In order words, girls from middle and lower-class families. “We are sorry for the inconvenience” Sister Wanda apologized for suspending the game. She knew some of those girls were here to learn, marry after and have children. She was opened to the fact that no everybody here was meant to be a nun. That afternoon the students were still angry for last night. Even Adeline was angry. She didn’t want to speak to anybody. Li and Iv wondered if she had a crush, a boyfriend or somebody she was seeing, but no one knew. She spoke when necessary.
Although they held anger for Friday afternoon, their faces lightened up again when their lunch was over. When everybody remembered that in a couple of hours, they would have visitors. Something that happened every third Saturday of the month. Family members who wanted to see their daughters were allowed to see them on this day. During visit hours, the guests and the hosts were allowed to walk around the school, seat or stand anywhere for two hours they’re given.
As bittersweet as it sounds, most girls were so excited and eager to see their families again even if the game was cancelled. Li was waiting for her dad to arrive as she sat under the three in the courtyard. She had brought another chair from the hallway for her dad so he can seat next to her. The visits started from 1pm to 3pm and based on the time she has been waiting, she knew he was late when she laid eyes on him at the gate. Tears floated under her eyes, and her cheeks became full of smiles as he approached. Without wasting any more time, she ran to him, and he opened his big arms lifting her up. Back down to the ground, he held her face into his palms and stared at her dark brown shimmering eyes. “Ah, wayekhulele!” with a strong African accent. In other words, he meant “you’ve grown up”. Li smiled “it’s been a couple of months Papa” “Ei, those cheeks were not there before. Your mother would be proud. I am proud”. He had a shirt printed with leather stripes at the front and on his neckline. His head was covered in a small fur hat with a feather poking at the front. He looked around “Where are your friends?” He asked. Li turned to her right side and saw a woman seating with Park and Iv “There are there”. Her father nodded and ask the most important question for his visit “How’s school?” “School is good. I unrolled in a class about stones. It’s a fascinating one”. “You have to get the highest GPA in order to have Mr Patrick scholarships” “But, I don’t want to be a…” Her dad interrupted her “Ao, what matters is your good education” He paused “I don’t know how long I will be in my job. They are removing people from Capewood. Someone said we have a bad reputation”. He sighed. “I’ve heard rumors that the Chief has given powers to three girls from Capewood. And a man no one knows is hunting those girls down. Cheiii, I thank God you’re not one of them.” He smiled, but Li saw his cheeks quivering with worry and decided to not say anything.
On the other side, Park and Iv were chatting with their mother. She came a few minutes after Li’s dad got there. She sat with them for a couple of minutes and had to go shortly after. “I have to go to work” she kissed them and left a bag of fruits to them. Li’s dad has left her with powdered milk and five cans of sardines. Food from outside were not allowed, but they took it anyway and hid it in their bedrooms.
Speaking of the bedrooms, the school had a history of having bugs because students smuggled and ate their treats in their bedrooms. Even though synthetic insecticides were used countless times before the school starts, bugs were still there. At the end of visits, most girls had bags packed with dry food and fruits. Once Park and Iv’s mother left, Park and Iv walked back to the dormitory house and saw Adeline by herself in the corner of a building. They walked to her and before saying anything, they looked at each other wondering if they should or not. “Did your parent leave already?” Iv started. Adeline stayed quiet. She had her head buried between her thighs. “Has anybody visited you this afternoon?” Park asked her and she shook her head. Li reached them once her father was gone and waved her hand asking what’s going on. Park made a face and waved her off. “The next visit is next month, don’t worry someone will come for you”. Iv didn’t know if she had any family members. So, to be safe, she used the word ‘someone’. Li got the memo. “No, they won’t” Adeline said. she lifted her head “Can you leave me alone please?” She demanded. Parker and Ivy stood up and left with Li. “Poor Adeline, no one came for her” Iv commented. “Why wouldn’t any parent want to see their child at least once a month?” Li asked “Some are steel made. Their only job they know how to do is reproduce” Park responded. “Let’s not jump into any conclusion here. There must be a real reason they couldn’t make it. Let’s hope next month someone shows up for her”. Iv responded. “Something is not right. I can feel it”. Li stopped and held her head between her arms. Park swiped her up and brought her inside the building. “You are not supposed to be mind-reading people in public like this. She already saw Iv; we have to be careful now” She paused. Iv had to run to them. “What was that?” she asked. “I mean they can take her, fine. She didn’t cover your feet in the forest, now we must protect ourselves and those stones” Park continued “Nobody knows about us two. We must be discreet with every move we make. Ivy can be gone any moment now” “You seem to be happy about it” Ivy snapped “Not really. Well yes, you are annoying, but I will miss you after a couple of days” Park faked a smile at her. “Look..” Li pointed at where Adeline was cramped. Sister Colette just sat next to her. And for a while, the three saw Adeline smiling and giggling with sister Colette. Their eyes looked more intrigued when sister Colette left Adeline something in a plastic bag. Something they couldn’t see from where they were standing. “Time for laundry” Parker said and the rest nodded.
There was not much to do on a Saturday afternoon, apart from reading and doing chores around. It’s the day most girls bring their clothes in the shower so they can wash them. At Cyprians, laundry required a bucket, soap and clothes pin. Park brought the bucket in Iv’s room and the latter dumped her clothes in. The two had one bucket which is all their mother could afford. The three walked in the bathroom and were glad it wasn’t packed like the other Saturdays since most girls were still out chatting with their family members. Some of girls got the whole family including cousins from both mom and dad’s side to see them. It was like a feast outside. Others got none like Adeline. Speaking of Adeline, her room was just in front of Park’s. The latter crossed eyes with her roommate, a big girl who ate like there was no tomorrow. A girl who also happened to be her cousin from what Adeline told Park. “She looks strong, but she is not” Adeline once said to Park when she opened their door after hearing screams across the corridor. That day, Park found Adeline on top of her, twisting her big arm backwards. The big girl was yelling, calling for help. When Park came to her rescue, she lifted Adeline off of her and the big girl got out running. “She ate my fruits” That was Adeline’s reason for twisting her arm.
On her way to doing her laundry, Li wanted to sneak in Adeline’s room and see if she can find something about her. But she was afraid to be caught by the supervisor. Someone nobody messed around with. She was not a nun. That means she didn’t swear to anybody to be nice or to surrender all her anger or frustration to God or to use kindness while serving. She was a person you wouldn’t want to meet when you were in trouble. She controlled all the actions happening inside the dormitory house. Students usually got a glimpse of her when they were late to the refectory. With a whistle, she’d pass in every room checking if there was anyone left behind. Out of bad luck, a student caught would get detention of washing all the dishes that morning. She was the one that monitored if the beds were made when the girls were out of their bedrooms. Her name was Hanna. Park suddenly saw Li staring in Adeline’s room and hurried to her. After one glimpse in the bedroom, she shook her head. “Whatever you are thinking. Don’t do it. It’s stupid.” “What are you talking about?” “All the stupid faces are all alike. My sister has one like yours. Wrinkled eyebrows, ears up perked a rat and head looking in all direction like a thief. Don’t do it”. She left Li standing, still contemplating the idea of sneaking in. It was until the big girl opened the door that her senses came back to her. “Sorry” she said and ran to the bathroom where Iv and Park were. They did their laundry in silence, hung their clothes and each returned to their bed with unanswered questions about Adeline. Questions each knew they needed to find an answer to.
