THE BLACK BOOK

The teacher collected their question paper and answer sheet and told them to wait for him outside. They stood up and did as the teacher had told them, everyone knew they were in a deep mess.

When the exams were finally over, the teacher took the boys away and everyone wondered what their fate would be.

Shelly, Rita, and John, we're talking. "Those boys had the mind to cheat, they are not afraid. After they got suspended for fighting they didn't care and now they cheated" Rita said.

"Sometimes I wonder if those two are mentally okay," Shelly said. "How can you say such a thing," John said. "No, really looking at it, they would be friends, and the next minute they are enemies," Shelly said.

"I would advise they take them to the psychiatric hospital," Rita said. "How can you two be so negative" John questioned. "It's the truth, something should better be done before it gets out of hand," Rita said.

"They would face severe punishment, only God knows, their names might enter the black book," Shelly said. "What's the black book," Rita asked. "Tell me you are joking, you don't know about the black book?" Shelly asked.

"I'm not a genius, was I supposed to know everything" Rita responded. "The black book is a book that students names who flout the rules and do something bad will be written" Shelly explained. "What! what! I'm hearing it for the first time" Rita shouted.

"Where did you come from," John asked. "Don't let me face you" she answered. "Listen, back to where I was interrupted. Those boys who cheated just now, their names might be written there. And maybe later in the future, if they come for anything they would check if your name is in the black book" Shelly explained further.

"And then what?" Rita asked. "They'll decide whether to help you or not" Shelly replied. "Does all the school have the black book and why is it even called a black book?" Rita asked. "I can answer this one" John cut in sharply. "Go ahead," Shelly said.

"All the schools have the black book and the reason why it is called the black book is that it is not a good book, it is filled with names of students who did bad" John said.

"That means they have the white book," Rita said and John and Shelly laughed out loudly. "Why are you laughing, since they have black books there should also be white books," she said.

"Me I don't know anything about the white book, I've never heard of it before," Shelly said. "Why must it be black don't they see other colors like blue, green, grey, purple, or even pink," Rita said. "Well everyone takes black color to represent something bad and evil," John said.

"Which is wrong, all colors are colors, black is a color as green, purple, yellow, etc," Rita said. "This talk about the black book is enough, take it like that. There is only a good book" Shelly said and they knew she was tired of hearing the black book while she was the one that brought it up.

That same day everyone was coming from the notice board and they would leave laughing. "Shelly what's wrong, why is everyone returning from the notice board laughing," Rita asked. "How am I supposed to know, let me look for who I will ask, I can't walk there," Shelly said standing at the entrance of the door.

"Hay, Lizzy please come" she shouted and Lizzy came. "What is so funny about the notice board that everyone keeps laughing when returning," Shelly asked.

She told her that they posted two boys' names on the notice board saying they did malpractice and that any further offense their names would be included or written in the black book.

"I see, so whose names are there," she asked pretending not to know. "It's one Michel and David" she answered. "Thanks for your time, you can go," Shelly said and he left.

"Well they pardoned them, they should thank their stars that their names were not written in the black book," Shelly said turning to Rita. "But it would remain on their records forever," Rita said and Shelly nodded in agreement.

They were through with exams that day and everyone went home. Shelly got home and after doing everything, she realized that it was already late in the evening.

She called Joan and told her everything that was happening and all that was still happening. They talked for some minutes before she ended the call and hit the bed to sleep.

"John thinks he's smart, I'll teach him a lesson, I don't know how but I'll find a way. I want to make him have that feeling that I care about him and when he's convinced I'll strike. I just have to keep pretending until I find a way to hurt him badly, I will make him suffer.

Shelly Bill comforting John Williams, in his wildest dream. When I told him I hate him but do not like seeing him hurting, that was just rubbish. I need to change his reasoning towards me and then I'll come back in ten folds" she thought within herself before she finally slept off.

The exams continue and Shelly continued to be nice to John because she had another agenda but did not know when she will strike, she knew a day would come for her to punish him.

After their last exams on Thursday as usual everyone was happy and Rita was talking with Shelly and John. "Thank God exams are over," Rita said. "You don't need to spell it out" Shelly added.

"I like the ending part of this term," John said. "Why won't you, when Shelly has been nice to you, you think I didn't notice it," Rita said. "You might be right" John answered.

Shelly looked at both of them and nodded her head in disagreement. "Shelly why are you shaking your head, haven't you been nice to him," Rita said. "I didn't say I haven't, let's just forget about it," Shelly said.

"Now that the holiday just started, what do you plan on doing," John asked. "I might visit my parent again," Rita said. "Why?" Shelly said looking sad. "Don't be sad girl, I'll come back. It is because it is an Easter holiday and all my family is going to the village" Rita said.

"What about you," John said turning to Shelly. "I don't have any plans on where I'll be going," Shelly said. "Can I come over to your house later so we can talk?" he said. "Yeah, I guess" she answered. "I want to be present there," Rita said. "You can come if you like" she answered. "I'll be there," Rita said and they continue to discuss before they all parted ways.

Shelly got home and prepared her room for Rita and John that was coming over. Soon they arrived and Shelly took them to her room and they talked for some time but Rita left earlier because she had something to do and she left John there.

As they were there, John asked Shelly a question. "Why the sudden change". " What sudden change," she asked. "Why are you been nice to me," he asked. "I've looked back at the past and feel sorry for what I did to you," she said. "It's not your fault" John answered. They talked for a while and planned for the Easter holiday.

They were called back to school and they were given their results and the holiday began. Rita went to the village immediately but John and Shelly had plans together for the holiday but John did not know Shelly had a secret agenda.