Truth or Dare

Thelma was as timid as they came. Nothing could make her come out of her shell, not even a new environment. Her parents had moved from Nigeria to Canada in the summer permanently. For a girl who hadn’t maximized her stay in her own country, how could she do any differently in a foreign one?

Chike was her last name. Thelma Chike wasn’t a bad name at all just that the person who bore it didn’t live up to it. She wasn’t like that all the time, it always takes a push to land you downstream when you are at its bank.

With her parents’ constant fighting while they were still in Nigeria, the little girl suddenly began to talk less, keep to herself, and relive the images of her father hitting her mother violently and her mother throwing wild curses at her father. That was enough to destroy any childhood dreams she had ever hoped to have. She was scared of almost everything around. From the harmless ants to the wildest lions. She was sentenced to life imprisonment by her own mind in which her parents played Jury.

Canada wasn’t any different for her if she still got to stay with them. She still had to play dumb and say little. Her parents were so oblivious; they never could tell how their baby girl could grow up so. Maybe they thought their quarrels were quiet enough and the charade of a happy family could make a young girl not ask questions.

Her mother barely says a thing. Just the routine questions. How are you? Is your food enough? Any boyfriend yet? Do you know you can talk to me? She only felt pity for her and wished her mother could talk to her instead. She just converted her anger into the energy she used in taking care of her younger children.

Her father on the other felt that paying the bills and providing for their needs were all there was to his duty as a father. He didn’t owe them the fatherly pat or hugs and kisses, that was what women did. He was a man after all. That was why while he made plans for their emigration, he didn’t bother to consult their opinion, to him it was the best thing any father could do for his family.

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She was enrolled in Graceville high school. Asides that, other preparations were made for their settlement. Grocery shopping, making friends with the neighbors, getting accustomed to the laws and regulations but she was not interested in any of these except the laws’ part.

As the new girl in school, she felt utterly shy. After the initial introductions her class teacher gave, she avoided eye contact with the other kids. But there was this one who kept staring at her. The girl was creepy and was sitting alone. The other kids seemed not to like her and she didn’t seem to care. Thelma stayed on her own for the rest of the day.

Sooner than later, the kids at school began to make fun of her. Some concluded that she was a mute while others just thought she was dumb. The bus ride became an event of dread for Thelma, she had to endure the horrendous comments the kids made about her.

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Fortunately, the only one who sorted out to befriend her was Macy. The creepy girl from class. Turns out she wasn’t creepy at all. She was just different. She was a foreign exchange student who didn’t know how to socialize and ended up being blacklisted.

One day while Thelma and Macy were collecting their stuff from their lockers, the crème d’ la crème of the school walked into the hallway. They called them the tribe. In Graceville, there was a hierarchy in the social strata. There was the tribe which obviously ruled the school, then the mean club who were actual snubs, the geeks which were the nerds and the least- the blacklist where people like Thelma and Macy were.

The tribe was made up of two girls and two boys, so she learned from Macy. There was Adellet, the head of the tribe. Her best friend Tasha and the boys, Ade and Lance. For the first time in forever, Thelma had a strange feeling as soon as she set eyes on Ade. He smiled at her and she smiled back, too bad he smiled that way at everyone so there wasn’t any special feeling to it but everything about it was special to her.

“Ada nnem, you look so happy today, how are you? Is your food enough? Any boyfriend yet? Do you know you can talk to me?” Her mother asked at the breakfast table.

“Who wouldn’t be happy if they had the chance of living in Canada? Thelma, it’s high time you looked for an after school job, they should have those around.” Her father said.

“Yes, papa,” she said.

Thelma and Macy made it a ritual to wait for the tribe to walk the hallways. Thelma just wanted to get a glimpse of Ade while Macy worshipped them to the point that she would do anything to be a part of them.

Thelma got an after school job at a diner whose customers were mainly high school kids. It was no wonder its owner wanted someone who knew how to draw in that kind of crowd, too bad he didn’t know that she was blacklisted.

It became a routine for her, charade breakfast with her family, annoying school bus ride, rituals with Macy, school, and then her after school job. Not to forget at night she dreamt only of Ade.

The diner was having a fundraising project to help orphans and Thelma was meant to hand out flyers and sell as many cookies as she could. She somehow talked Macy into helping out and they started at the Cafeteria in school.

There sat the love of her teenage life Ade in the midst of his friends. She suddenly became aware of her looks. She could instantly hear her own breathing. It was all Macy could do than to shove her right to their table.

“Errmm, errm.”

“Yes, freak what can we do for you?” Adellet said

“I’m sorry, it’s just that, err, err I am, I mean we are sorry The Billy’s diner where I work after school, we are having errrm a fundraiser and mmm well cookies?” The whole time she had her eyes on Ade.

“Sure,” Ade said as he bought an entire pack.

“You are the new girl, right?”

“Yes, Iiiii am”

“I am Ade and you are?”

“Thelma.”

“Nice to meet you, Thelma, good luck with your fundraising.”

They were fighting again and she couldn’t care less. She had a new focus now, Ade. One could only wonder if both of them would have a relationship that was different from her parents’. She muffled the sounds of their quarrels with her headset as she listened to ‘who run the world by Beyoncé’.

She was in literature class the next day only to find out Macy skipped school because she was ill. Darn! It meant that she was without a seat partner. All the while the class went on and the students took turns in reading out ‘William Shakespeare’s Macbeth’, she all but daydreamt about Ade. Only Miss Rosabelle’s yell of her name brought her back to reality. It was her turn to read and she was absent-minded. After the class, Ade walked up to her.

“I must say you have a lovely voice. I enjoyed your reading the most.” He said.

Before she muttered a thank you or recovered from her awestruck smile, he was gone. Later that week it was announced that there was going to be a school play featuring ‘William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet’. When all the girls in school heard that Ade was casting for the part of Romeo, there was a long line of girls waiting to cast for the role of Juliet, and Thelma thought that maybe this was her only chance with him.

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It was not an easy road, at least the acting lessons in Nigeria finally paid off. Everyone claimed she was a magnificent actress. Everyone except Adellet of course. She was also vying for the role of Juliet. If the decision was based on social strata, then it was obvious that Thelma stood no chance. But it was based on talent, skill and of course presentation, that was why Thelma got the part. Of course, she got to kiss the love of her life, Romeo her Ade.

The play skyrocketed Thelma up the social ladder and she was no longer blacklisted, although she didn’t know exactly where she fit in the chart. Macy’s opinion would be their best friend would be on the mean girls’ part of the chart. Their relationship had been strained which led to their eventual breakup. Macy claimed that she didn’t know who Thelma was anymore and Thelma claimed that Macy was only jealous because she was still blacklisted. Macy had teared up eventually and threw their friendship bracelet at her. Thelma picked up and walked away with her chin high up.

Who am I? Thelma Chike wasn’t the same timid girl that moved to Canada and that was for sure. The next time her parents fought she walked into their room and gave them a piece of her mind. Her parents were shocked. Although she earned a befitting punishment for her rudeness, the quarrels seemed to subside.

It was now that Thelma was reborn that she was invited to the party of the tribes. Although everyone was invited to the parties thrown by any of the school kids, there was always a party in the party and only the elites were invited by the host- the tribes.

Everyone was excited to attend the party at Shirley’s. It was her turn to host and what a perfect timing because her parents were out of town for the weekend. Secret letters were passed over the school stating the venue and time of the party but the only problem was what excuse everyone was going to tell their parents to let them out on Friday evening.

“Ma, I have to go to Macy’s for a group meeting, we have presentations on Monday.”

“Why not go tomorrow?”

“Ma, we already fixed the time.”

“Be back before your curfew.” Her father said.

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Thelma had not expected the party to be this large. There was enough booze and any other thing you would see at a teenage party. The wannabes, the geeks, the couples, etc. If she wasn’t sure she was going to see Ade at the party she wouldn’t have risked coming.

She was met by Shirley who took her down to the basement where the real party was. Technically not the only party but it was the tradition of the tribes. Every time there was a party they got their special spot at the party reserved and pretty much shun every other person at the party.

Thelma wasn’t as surprised to see Ade as she was to see Macy. Talking about the caliber of persons that were at this party Macy was supposed to be outside not here. Since they were no longer in talking terms she just ignored her.

They started with introductions, there was Adellet, Tasha, Macy, Thelma, Chanel, Ade, Lance, Adams, and Henry. A group of five boys and five girls. They sat at a round table. There was provision for drinks, snacks, and music.

They paired up for a dance. Ade was walking towards Thelma when he was stopped by Adellet and they started dancing. She ended up being paired up with Henry whom she could only recall from History class. It was awkward dancing with him, he had stomped on her leg twice in thirty minutes.

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After the music stopped, Adellet requested everyone to gather around the table and it was for the games to begin. They sang karaoke, played cards and drinking-game. It was at the heart of the party that they decided to play TRUTH OR DARE.

Thelma was skeptical about playing this game. She had played that game when she was in Nigeria and it had always been a bloodbath but she couldn’t chicken out in front of Ade, who knows she may be able to steal a kiss.

What is the game truth or dare all about? The rule of the game was that a bottle would be spun by the person whose turn it was. Whoever the bottle points at when it stopped would be asked Truth or dare? If you pick truth you get to give the answer to a question you are asked and if you pick dare, you get to do whatever you are asked to do. So the game began.

They took turns according to their names and Adams was the first to spin the bottle. It stopped at Henry.

“Truth or dare?” Adams asked.

“Truth,” Henry answered.

“What secret would you not want to get out?”

“Hmm, I made out with the Principal’s daughter in the last boot camp.” He said with a grin on his face. All the guys were oohing but the girls just found it disgusting.

It was Ade’s turn to spin the bottle and it stopped at Tasha.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Is there anything you wish to tell anyone here on this table?”

“Ok, I think it’s about time I let this off my chest. Adellet I was the one who sent the viral image of your breast to the entire school. I’m sorry.” Everyone was dead silent.

Adellet was mute for a second and the next thing that broke the silence was a resounding slap on Tasha’s face.

“No violence, remember?” Ade warned.

“I am sorry,” Tasha said.

“Keep your sorry b***h, consider our friendship over slut.” Thelma stood up to leave but she was told she couldn’t, once this game began it was a fight till the finish. She quietly sat down.

Adellet spun the bottle next. Luck would have it, it stopped at Ade.

“Truth or dare.”

“Dare.” This should be interesting. She gave a wry smile at Thelma before she said,

“I dare you to kiss me”.

“What! You possibly can’t be serious, ” Ade asked.

“Of course, I am.”

“I possibly can’t do that.”

“Why can’t you kiss your girlfriend?”

“Adellet!”

“You sure do like it when I wear ruby woo and you are in luck today.”

“Kiss her already, ” Henry said.

Looking from Thelma to Adellet and back to Thelma, Ade reluctantly stood up to where Adellet was seated and gave her a kiss. Even when he was trying to pull away, her firm grip around his neck wouldn’t budge.

Thelma understood how all the king’s men and horses couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again because her heart shattered into irrecoverable pieces. Girlfriend? You like it… she didn’t know when a tear rolled down her cheeks.

“Why do you have to be bitchy all the time, you damn right know that Thelma has a huge crush on Ade and you wanted to spite her,” Macy said.

“Look what the cat dragged in? Does a blacklisted brat dare to question me? Whoever invited you to this party, return to the dumpster where you belong.”

“That’s enough Adie, ” Tasha said.

“Is what Macy said true?” Ade asked, referring to Thelma.

“No, it isn’t and I don’t need you having my back Mace. Spin the bottle already!” Thelma said.

Chanel who had been quiet all the while spun the bottle. It stopped at Adams.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth, there’s too much drama with dares.”

“Why didn’t you call me after like you said?” The color drained from his face almost immediately did he cloud his emotions and his eyes became murderous.

“That was because I saw you kissing Henry.”

“He kissed me!”

“What! He said you kissed him. Henry?” The guilt in Henry’s eyes was enough to give the answer he wanted.

It took both Ade and Lance to separate the fight between Henry and Adams.

“I trusted you, I told you that I loved her and you went behind my back and destroyed whatever chance I had with her.”

“You do not deserve her,” Henry said between clenched teeth.

“I think we had better stop this game,” Lance offered.

“No way, it’s just getting started. Spin the bottle.” Adellet said.

Lance spun the bottle alright and this time it landed on Thelma.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Why are you so quiet all the time?” She looked frightened by the question but she narrated the whole ordeal with her parents.

Macy spun the bottle next and it stopped at Lance.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“When are you going to tell everyone the truth?”

“What truth?”

“Do you know what I mean?”

“What truth?” Adellet asked.

“The truth is that we are next-door neighbors,” Lance said.

“No, the truth is that we are dating.” Everyone was shocked. Especially Thelma and except Ade, he knew about Lance and Macy.

“Are you ashamed of me? I guessed right.” Macy said with a voice choked with tears.

“No Mace, it’s not what you think.”

“It’s damn right what I think.”

“Mace, I thought we were best friends,” Thelma asked.

“You lost that right when you walked out on our friendship. Besides we started dating after you ditched me for the tribes.” Thelma was relieved a bit because she didn’t know how far their relationship would be drawn apart if Macy had been dating Lance when they had been best friends.

When everyone had enough of the game, they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. They were happy to see Shirley their host and had almost missed the man pointing a gun to the back of her head.

“Your hands in the air!” He yelled.

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He had all of them cornered and soon after his companions joined him and bolted the door out of the basement. The basement was soundproof and with all of them engrossed with the game, they had not noticed that everything was amiss upstairs.

There had been a robbery in the street and the robbers thought it best to take shelter at Shirley’s place but their guns had frightened the other kids. They ran off when one of the robbers shot into the air. Fortunately, Shirley had nowhere to run off to so she was apprehended. With the sounds of the police siren blaring they had asked her if there was anywhere that was hidden in the house.

Being at gunpoint scared them more than anything. The robbers were irritated and that made them dangerous. The bad thing about their situation was that there was only one entrance which was also the exit. This meant that although they were trapped in there with the robbers, the robbers were also trapped in there with them.

It was past her curfew and her parents hoped that she had a very good excuse for staying out past that time. Thelma’s mum called her cell, it rang but there was no answer. She rang Macy’s’ but still there was no answer. She decided to call Macy’s mom and when she answered she said that Macy told her she was going over to hers. All their alarms went off.

“Who owns those blasted phones? In fact, all of you turn in your cells.” One of the robbers said angrily. After they had turned in their cells the basement became dead with silence.

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To break off the silence, one of the robbers decided to toil with Adellet. As he was about unbuttoning her shirt, someone tugged at the door of the basement. The robbers became alert and quietly motioned for everyone to be quiet.

Before one could be the wiser, Ade had run up the stairs and immediately his hands undid the bolt of the door a bullet pierced through him.

There were screams and bullets exchanged. With two of the robbers shot, the remaining one had to surrender. Everything happened in a blink of an eye. Ade’s body was put into an ambulance and the other kids were attended to by the paramedics. Later that night they were all returned to their homes by the police.

Thelma’s parents were shocked to see the police returning their daughter. She had a lot of explaining to do and of course, she was grounded for the rest of the school year.

On Monday there were no ritual tribes’ walk on the hallways. Everything couldn’t just go back to normal and Ade was in a critical position at the hospital. The bullet had barely missed his heart.

Thelma sent a note across during class letting the other know that she would like to see them during the break. She sat in the cafeteria waiting and thinking that they would never come but they began to troop into the cafeteria one after the other.

“Thank you guys for coming. I will make this brief. I am sorry about everything that happened Friday night. Macy, I am really sorry I left you because I had a little fame and I would like us to be besties again. To everyone, this is not the time to be at each other’s neck. Ade is in the hospital and he needs our support, he saved us.”

“I am really sorry guys, I was a total b***h. The truth is I am adopted and I have been bitter since I found out my real parents didn’t want me, that’s why being a b***h is easier for me.” Adellet said.

Everyone apologized to each other and decided to visit Ade at the hospital soon. Thelma and Macy returned to be besties, Lance became public with his relationship and they sorted to work it out, the same with the others.

As the school bell rang, Adellet pulled Thelma behind to have a word.

“I am really sorry about the kiss. The truth is I and Ade had history but that ended before you came to our school. I was just a little jealous when I saw he had the hots for you. About your parents, you are lucky to have them, if you know what I mean?”

“Thanks,” Thelma said.

That evening, during dinner she went straight to her parents and gave them a big hug as she whispered

“I hate it when you guys fight, can you find better ways to settle your differences. I love you both so much that when you fight it gets to me.” Her parents were amazed and shocked.

At breakfast the following day, her mother asked the same questions she did but this day they were answered.

“How are you? Is your food enough? Any boyfriend yet?”

“I am fine mama. I would love to have extra meat if you do not mind, and about boyfriends, I would love to have one soon, his name is Ade.

The day Ade was supposed to be discharged from the hospital, they all came around. Thelma finally got to tell Ade how she felt about him and it was safe to say that he felt the same too. If their lives were about the truth or dare game they played, then right now they never cared.

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