{"id":1219,"date":"2017-02-16T16:53:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T16:53:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theskrypt.co.ke\/?post_type=jetpack-portfolio&p=1219"},"modified":"2017-02-16T16:53:20","modified_gmt":"2017-02-16T16:53:20","slug":"the-apartment-13","status":"publish","type":"jetpack-portfolio","link":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/portfolio\/the-apartment-13\/","title":{"rendered":"The Apartment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 13: The Confrontation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Esther Paced the length of her Cubicle giddy with relief but also agitated from Mary\u2019s reaction. Just then, the curtain flew open and Mary stormed in, huffing and puffing. Her face was as red as a tomato. Her fists were clenched.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to quit!\u201d Said Mary through gritted teeth, jutting her chin in Esther\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Esther\u2019s eyes widened. She stepped backwards and raised her hands to stop Mary from following. They were shaking. Keeping her gaze at Mary\u2019s feet, she shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean No!\u201d demanded Mary grabbing Esther by her hands and shaking them roughly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch!\u201d Cried Esther as pain shot through her elbow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t even know anything about JV until I told you. And now you want to destroy my drea\u2026\u201d Mary\u2019s voice broke. She slackened her grip, then Let go. An uncomfortable silence ensued. Esther froze, her heart pounding.<\/p>\n

Please dear lord, let it be over! <\/em>She prayed.<\/p>\n

SNIFF! SNIFF.<\/em><\/p>\n

Esther looked up suprised. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Was Mary crying?<\/em><\/p>\n

Their eyes met and Mary\u2019s moist red eyes turned hard and anger flashed across her face. Then, without warning, Mary Lunged!<\/p>\n

\u201cAarrgh\u201d She screamed shoving Esther hard against the shelves.<\/p>\n

CRASH!!! <\/em><\/p>\n

The sound was thunderous as Esther and half of their utensils fell to the floor. The racket drew in other girls including the House Prefect.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is going on here?\u201d Demanded the prefect.<\/p>\n

Esther groaned. Mary turned heel and stormed off.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe attacked Esther!\u201d someone said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that true Esther, can you explain what happened?\u201d asked the prefect. She reached out her hand.<\/p>\n

Esther took it and pulled herself up, shocked at the turn of events. She looked up to find a sea of girls staring at her expectantly. Some of them in the back snickered. Fresh fodder for the gossip grapevine.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

Esther, lay on her bed. Everyone was gone and it was a few minutes to dinner.<\/p>\n

She had bumped her elbow so badly earlier, she had to go see the school nurse. It was still throbbing deeply. The pain killer she was given had not kicked in yet.<\/p>\n

Mary is so selfish. She has everything! Money, nice clothes, weekly visits and goodies from her family. What does it matter if she doesn\u2019t get into one lousy club? Her father\u2019s allowance is probably higher than what the club pays. She is just a spoiled Brat!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

After dinner, the girls walked back to their rooms.<\/p>\n

\u201dI didn\u2019t see Mary at\u00a0 the Mess. Did you?\u201d Ana asked.<\/p>\n

Esther shrugged. \u00a0Probably off sulking somewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n

In her room, she changed into warmer clothes for the preps class which ran for two hours every evening. Then went to the bathroom. As she washed her hands, a sound in the corner startled her. she could barely make it out \u2026<\/p>\n

Maybe a cat?<\/em><\/p>\n

She crept closer, a little scared.<\/p>\n

What if it is something else?<\/em> Or someone?<\/em><\/p>\n

Her heart skipped a beat.<\/p>\n

SNIFF! SNIFF!<\/p>\n

She stopped.<\/p>\n

Was someone in there? <\/em><\/p>\n

I should leave them alone. <\/em><\/p>\n

The sniffling and sobbing continued as she washed her hands.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Maybe I Should check? \u00a0<\/em>She debated, decided against it and walked out to the corridor.<\/p>\n

The Matron was going through each cubicle to ensure no one was there before she locked the dormitory doors.\u00a0 Keys jingled on her side.<\/p>\n

\u201cHurry up!\u201d she told Esther then walked to the bathroom<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung Lady, what are you doing in there?\u201d the Matron\u2019s loud voice asked a moment later.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u201d said a shaky sobbing voice.<\/p>\n

Esther stopped. Curious, she busied herself in front of the mirror halfway along the corridor and waited.<\/p>\n

Sounds familiar.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is your name young Lady? Are you sick?\u201d demanded the Matron sounding alarmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am fine\u2026\u201d said the voice stubbornly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen go to class\u201d said the matron sighing.<\/p>\n

Mary walked out of the bathroom and walked past her without a sideways glance. A guilt crept in Esther\u2019s heart<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

The next day…<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to withdraw my membership\u201d said Esther to the Patron.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u201d asked the Patron<\/p>\n

\u201cMary\u2026My friend wanted it more.\u201d She answered. \u201cI would like her to take my slot\u201d<\/p>\n

The patron shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dear, that is not how it works. What makes you think that Mary would get in even if you quit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the chairlady announced the winner\u2026. she said\u2026\u201d Esther tried to explain, her eyes wide with surprise<\/p>\n

\u201cPassion versus talent\u2026.\u201d Finished the Patron. \u201cThe chair lady uses that speech every year.\u201d The patron smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease\u2026\u201d begged Esther, \u201cMary is distraught about this and living with her is becoming unbearable\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is your roommate?\u201d asked the patron<\/p>\n

Esther nodded, then tried again. \u201cif you could just consider\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The patron raised her hand and shook her head again.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembership is based strictly on merit not sympathy. You can quit if you want, but it will not help you friend. And you still have you fees to pay. We have already spoken to accounts about the credit arrangement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Esther was awash with relief.<\/p>\n

I will not be sent home<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Her mind then flew back to Mary and tempered her joy.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you still want to withdraw from the club\u201d asked the Patron with a creased brow.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t help Mary and I still have my fees to think about.<\/em><\/p>\n

She shook her head then excused herself and left the office.<\/p>\n

I must resolve this. I will \u00a0explain things to Mary. I am sure she will appreciate that I tried to quit and everything will be okay. I really miss our friendship.<\/em><\/p>\n

She went to class. The first club Meeting was that afternoon, after classes.<\/p>\n

The moment the bell rang, everyone dashed out. The meeting was in the ART room, Snacks and drinks was set out on the table.<\/p>\n

Cluster of girls stood all around the room whispering in low tones.<\/p>\n

A little nervous, she hugged the wall and looked around for a friendly bunch and spotted Becky who stood at the far end with her back to her. She was talking to another girl. Esther made her way to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo no no\u2026\u201d the other girl was saying, \u201cThe one in your team who was all emotional!\u201d she gesticulated wildly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean Mary?\u201d responded Becky leaning towards the girl.<\/p>\n

The girl nodded and lowered her voice. \u201cThat one. She went and appealed to the patron agains the decision and I hear she insisted that they remove that other girl\u2026with the elbow\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean Esther\u201d Becky added, just as Esther raised her voice and said, \u201cHi\u201d<\/p>\n

They both turned to look at Esther then jumped. Becky looked apologetic at having been caught. The other girl, giggled guiltily and skulked away.<\/p>\n

Esther was shocked.<\/p>\n

To think I wanted to reconcile with that back-stabbing bitch! <\/em>She gritted her teeth<\/p>\n

\u201cGather around ladies\u2026\u201d someone announced<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026..<\/em><\/p>\n

By the weekend, Esther could bear it no longer.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t go on like this. <\/em><\/p>\n

She went to the Matron\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like a change of roommates\u201d Said Esther.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d asked the Matron.<\/p>\n

She should already know. After the number of times she has mediated between me and Mary!!!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t stay with Mary anymore. We are both unhappy and fight over everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The matron nodded and shuffled about. \u201cI can\u2019t promise anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few days later, the matron sent for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found a room for you. A girl just transferred out of Sifa High school. You can move into her room next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, some peace and quiet. <\/em>Thought Esther, Elated<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 13: The Confrontation Esther Paced the length of her Cubicle giddy with relief but also agitated from Mary\u2019s reaction. Just then, the curtain flew open and Mary stormed in, huffing and puffing. Her face was as red as a tomato. Her fists were clenched.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"jetpack-portfolio-type":[],"jetpack-portfolio-tag":[],"class_list":["post-1219","jetpack-portfolio","type-jetpack-portfolio","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio\/1219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/jetpack-portfolio"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio\/1219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"jetpack-portfolio-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio-type?post=1219"},{"taxonomy":"jetpack-portfolio-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio-tag?post=1219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}