Palm Sunday
“
Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in high-igh-eeeeeeeest!“
The praises session in the Aggrey chapel that day was craaaaazy.
It was Palm Sunday, the day Jesus sat on a donkey to enter Jerusalem so that He could die for all of us.
I didn’t care.
That was not the reason for my excitement. Oh Lord, I’m sorry.
t was the last Sunday of the term! I could smell the freedom of vacation drawing near.
There were palm branches tied to the pillars of the chapel—probably put there to remind people like me of the importance of what we were commemorating.
Some of the girls actually found the time to weave palm fronds into elaborate patterns like we used to when we were kids.
Truth be told, the way my mind was hot for exams, I’d forgotten all about Palm Sunday till I got to the chapel and saw the branches tied to the pillars.
But what was so special about that day? I mean, besides Jesus’ triumphant entry. Two words: Core Mathematics.
Hol’ up. Easy with the nerd jokes.
You remember how I said I scored straight A’s the term before? (Not helping my nerd case much, am I?)
Well, do you also remember how I messed up when Akua told me her friend, Ama, had dropped Atico?
You’ve put two and two together, haven’t you?
Yes, I was going to be teaching Akua—and Ama—Core Maths that morning at prep. Akua had been trying to help Ama, but after two very arduous monthly tests she had to call backup: me. 
It was an opportunity to redeem myself. If she passed, I would be a hero. If she didn’t, well, I would have tried.
My real problem, however, was that they had waited so long to ask for help. The Core Math paper was slated for Wednesday; the last but one paper for the term before the Easter break. Since they were on the West and I was on the East, Sunday prep was really the only time we could study together.
Just two hours out of the whole week! We would need a miracle.
Prep Time
As soon as the closing prayer was over I rushed from the Aggrey Chapel to Science 4. No way I was going to blow this date.
Wait, did I say ‘date’? 
Lesson… I meant lesson.
I was the first person in the classroom.
I took my humongous Aki-Ola Core Mathematics textbook out of my bag and waited.
The classroom began to fill up. Two minutes, no Akua. Five minutes, no Akua. Ei.
Ten minutes later I had almost lost hope.
Maybe they changed their minds… wait… was that…? Yes! A familiar face poked itself through the door of Science 4 and looked around.
She was like a ray of Heaven’s light piercing through dark clouds. I could hear R. Kelly’s “Storm is Over” playing in my mind, chale. I waved enthusiastically at Akua. She saw me and smiled. Then she beckoned to Ama who was standing behind her, held her by the shoulders and gave her a quick inaudible fifteen-second pep talk. Then she waved at me again, showing of those dimples 
… and walked off. 
Ah! What? Why? When did the plan change? What was going on?
Ama entered the class and made a beeline for my desk. My quizzical look met her indifferent look, and the awkwardness began.
“Hi”, she said, extending a folded piece of paper to me. “‘Bitha said to give you this.”
“Oh, okay”, I responded, still confused as I took the note and she planted herself behind the desk next to me.
I unfolded the note, desperately looking for answers to why my quality time with Akua was taking this turn. The note read:
Hey Kodzo,
I noe I was supposed 2 join u guys 2 study, but as it stands now Ama z de 1 hu rly needs de help. I think I’ll be fyn, and i didn’t wanna b a distrxn. I’m sure u understand.
I’ve asked her to be nice. I owe you one.
Tnx again,
Akua
As usual, ignore the unnecessary shorthand.
I wasn’t sure how to react. This was not what I signed up for.
Could I ditch Ama? Only if I never wanted Akua to look in my direction again.
I didn’t know whether to feel played or important. On the one hand, my date, sorry, lesson plans had been altered. On the other hand, Akua had entrusted me with one of her best friends.
Every sensible guy knows that a girl’s closest friends are “members of the board”. If they don’t like you, you may win a few battles but you’ll lose the war. I was going to have to score math points with Ama.
I folded up the note and tucked it into the breast pocket of my jumper.
“So, where and where do you need help?”
“The Whole Show”
Herh!!!! Like Heeerrrrhhh!!!! You don’t know how annoying this answer is until you’re trying to teach someone and they say this. Herh!!!
I wanted to drop-kick the girl, lah. What do you mean ‘the whole show’?
“What do you mean ‘the whole show’?” my mouth echoed my thoughts.
“I mean, I just don’t get…” her words trailed off and she began to cry. Like… ah!
Great. Just great. Now I had a crying child on my hands.
I did not plan for this. I was not trained for this.
I hate to see a lady cry. It’s heart-wrenching. “Please stop crying”, I begged her.
It was only a matter of time before my classmates would notice things getting weird.
“Pleeeeeease”, I begged her.
She sniffled and wiped her face. Man was hot.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make a scene. You don’t have to help if you don’t want to”, she said, “a lot of people have tried. I didn’t mean to weird you out.” Her eyes were still red from the brief waterworks.
I was in a tight corner. Things weren’t supposed to get emotional.
“I think I have an idea…”
Easter Break (3 Days Later)
The last paper was over. Science 4 was emptying out, and I was packing my stuff, getting ready to head to the chapel for the term’s closing assembly. The last paper had been Social Studies. I was still trying to comprehend how the paper had rocked me.
I mean… how? Social Studies; a simple home sense course like that.
Did I study? No… it was Social Studies; it was supposed to be easy. Why did it rock me? Wh-
“So, how did you do it?”
The question broke my train of thought.
“Huh?” I looked up.
I was surprised to see one of Akua’s friends. They called her Emefa. Typical cute Ewe girl. Made-in-Ghana Ayigbe toffee, with body too for good measure.
Such a dangerous combination.
“Do what?” I asked.
“Ama, she’s… ermm… she’s glowing”, she answered with a chuckle, “can’t seem to stop smiling since the Core Math paper”.
“Ooooh, Ama”, I responded. I’d forgotten about her. The paper rocked me that bad. “I don’t think I did much oo. We just solved the monthly test questions again and identified her weak spots. Then she spent an hour or so a day working on those topics before-“
“Kodzooooo!” Another interruption.
This wasn’t Akua’s voice. It was Ama. I hadn’t seen her enter the class.
She rushed at me and wrapped me in a bear hug. Okay, she wasn’t really big, so more like a teddy bear hug, or maybe a koala bear hug ‘cos she didn’t want to let go
… I don’t know, I’m still thinking this through.
“The paper was jeeeerh!” she half shouted. (Oh, SHS lingo
)
“Take it easy”, I laughed. She didn’t take it easy. She went on and on and on, especially about how one question wanted to trick her, but she saw the trick and “tricked the trick”.
Obviously she hadn’t had a problem with Social Studies like me. It wasn’t her fault; Arts 4 did History, Government and Economics, so Social Studies was their bread and butter.
Come and see me. I had to swallow my Social Studies pain and celebrate with them.
As Ama continued to ramble on, all while still holding on to me (see? Koala bear), I saw Akua enter science 4.
I flashed her a look that said: “Save me”.
“Alright, alright, ladies, let the young man breathe”, she laughed, as she helped Emefa rescue me from Ama’s grip. The satisfied look on their faces showed that I had scored major points with the members of the board. I already had Nhyie in my corner from Val’s Day.
Social Studies aside, it was a good day.
As we walked to the Aggrey Chapel, already late, myself and three Baeta girls, we drew stares from those who were already seated.
As we scampered on my eyes happened to lock with Gbewee, my school father. He had a look of pleasant surprise on his face as he mouthed the words, “my boy”.
In the Aggrey Chapel, students sit in classes. My three seconds of pride from strolling with these fine girls evaporated as the chaplain bellowed into the microphone, “Will those latecomers hurry up and sit down?!”
Oh we flew to our seats.
In case I never told you, we had four chaplains in Motown. This was the head chaplain, Rev B. She was not the kind of person you wanted to annoy. “Bow down your heads in shame and ask for forgiveness!” she commanded everyone.
And that’s how we ended the term before the Easter break; repenting under the leadership of Rev B.
Of course, some saw it as an opportunity to sleep. Not Obodai.
He scooted over and whispered, “Bro, Emefa, wossop? My eye dey inside.”
I had a feeling this wouldn’t end well…