Prologue
'ZARIA, GET YUH ASS OUT HERE NOW! YUH WILL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!'
School. Forgot I was starting a new term there. I was 12 years old(now I'm 16) when I successfully passed for the worst school in Trinidad, well to my knowing. I lazily got out of bed and proceeded downstairs to see my mother, dressed in her nightgown with curlers in her hair and cup of coffee, walking all over the kitchen trying to prepare breakfast. When she saw me leaning on the wall with my eyes closed, she walked up and snapped her fingers, jolting me in the process.
'So you forget yuh have school?'
'Good morning to you too, Mom.'
She sucked her teeth then said, 'Good morning, ma'am. Now hurry up and get ready.'
I leaned there staring at her with cold in my eyes and a white line of dribble streaking my face. I had a hard day yesterday preparing for this stupid term, now I'm not in the mood to go. She looked at me and laughed softly.
'Looking like a blasted zombie. Go and get yourself cleaned up, food go finish in 10 minutes.'
I peeked over her shoulder. 'What you making?'
'Eggs 'n bacon. Now hurry up.'
I sighed heavily. Trying not to show my enthusiasm for school, (which, by the way, I don't have any), I walked up the stairs and prepared myself for the worst.
Because in Richmond Secondary, there were no good days. None.