By Azapaa Lohani
“Hello Class,” said Lily as she walked into the class. Lily was the class teacher of grade four.
“Hello Madam Lily!” greeted the class.
“Oh dear, I forgot to tell you guys that we all will be having a roommate,” said the house captain of red house. Her name was Sarah.
“Who told you?” asked Nella. Nella was a new student. She was slim and pretty but rather rude.
“Obviously Principal Martin. You do not even know that,” said Rose.
UGH! SHUT UP! ROSE! shouted Nella.
ENOUGH! NELLA! shouted Lily and Rose together. Rose closed her mouth in embarrassment realizing what she was doing.
GO TO THE OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL MARTIN! shouted Lily.
“But, you did not say anything to Rose,” said Nella acting innocent.
I SAID GO TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE, shouted Lily again.
I DO NOT KNOW THE PASSWORD Madam, said Nella.
“The password is @@@martin###$$55790%terry, Nella,” said Lily.
“Whatever!” said Nella and went to the office of Principal Martin.
After class was over, Nella returned looking as some kind of hill under the ocean. Everyone returned to their dorm. As Rose was a new student she went to Mr. Johnson’s office. Mr. Johnson was the dorm master. Madam Lily had told her and her classmates about Mr. Johnson and where to find his office.
As soon as Rose found Mr. Johnson’s office, she knocked at the door.
“Come in,” said a proud humble voice. Rose went inside the office. “Mr Johnson, I am Rose. Could you tell which is my dorm number?” she asked.
“Ah Rose,” said Mr Johnson looking at some paper. For sometimes he kept searching a name called Rose. After 15 minutes he stopped and said, “Third floor, room 111.”
Rose began to search for her dorm. When she finally found it, she went inside and started unpacking her clothes, brush, shampoo, soap, hair brush etc. After she finished unpacking, her roommate came inside. Her name was Clover. Clover was Rose’s best friend. When Rose saw her she said, ‘‘Hey Clover! Shall I help you unpack your things?”
“Sure Rose,” said Clover.
After they had unpacked Clover’s things, it was 8:00 at night. Homework was still undone. When they had finished their homework it was 9:59. Clover and Rose were so tired that they fell asleep at their chair. In 5:30 the bell rang. The hostel’s large bell rang in the morning every day to wake the children. The bell would also be rung when it was the assembly time, then after each class was over.
Meanwhile Rose and Clover woke up at 5:28 thinking that it was 12:00. They went to the clock and found it was 5:29. They gave a sigh of relief as everyone wakes up at 5:30 in the hostel they were living. At 6:59 they were ready. They ate there breakfast and finished it by 7:30. Their class would always start at 8:30 and it was just 7:31. So Clover and Rose played a game till 8:30. At 8:35 they were already at the class seated on the front bench together.
‘‘Hello class,’’ said madam Lily. “I want you all to show your homework to me first. Rose, please give me your homework.” Rose stood up and went near Madam Lily. She was carrying her school bag in her hand. She handed her school bag to Madam Lily. Madam Lily opened the bag. But it was empty! Rose and Clover had forgot to pack their school bags in hurry. WHAT IS THIS?! NO HOMEWORK ROSE! DETENTION ON MONDAY AFTER CLASS! FIRST FLOOR, ROOM NUMBER 133.
“Now Clover bring your homework,” said Madam Lily.
Clover came over there without her school bag and said, “I’m very sorry miss. I and Rose were in such a hurry today morning that we forgot to pack our school bags.”
“Oh then I am afraid u are going to the detention with Rose,” said Madam Lily.
It was Sunday, their principal Martin’s birthday. There were no classes that day. Everyone had to go to the main hall and partake in the celebration of Martin’s birthday.
The students were in the hall. All the students were interested in cake and other foods. But Clover and Rose were busy playing with balloons. When they were tired and restful, they saw Madam Lily going out of the hall. “Rose, Madam Lily herself had told us that no teachers or students would be allowed to go out of the hall. Then why is Madam Lily going out?” asked Clover.
“I think we should follow her. Shall we?”
“Of course we should follow her, Rose,” said Clover.
“Clover, if anyone sees us going down the hall,” asked Rose.
“Well, no one will see us as everybody is busy eating food,” said Clover.
They quietly followed Lily. After following for two hours they finally reached a dark, rusty, old, black and dirty place. Sunlight would not reach there.
Madam Lily went in front of a big stone. She dragged the stone out of its place and there was a hole in the place of the stone. She slid down the hole. The two children also followed behind her. The bottom of the hole was surprisingly neat and clean. They had landed on a big cushion. There was a big door and a large key was there on the keyhole of the door. Madam Lily opened the door and went in.
“Do you think Madam Lily is doing something criminal?” whispered Rose.
“No she is not. Someone else is doing something criminal,” whispered Clover.
“W-hat a-aa-re y-ou do-i-ng he-re? asked a voice suddenly.
“Nothing Ma-d-dd-am Lily,” said Clover without looking at the stranger.
“Isn’t Madam Lily the name of the person I fooled? And make her come here?” said the voice.
“That means you are not Madam Lily as I thought,” said Rose in a loud voice.
“We will tell the police now,” quickly said Clover.
“No! Do you think I am letting you go?” said the voice again.
“Who are you to stop us Devil?” said Rose.
“Me? Hah! I am Archanaa,” said Archanaa.
“Archanaa, leave our madam and get ready yourself. Police is coming here soon,” said Clover.
“I already told you I am not letting you go. Then how will you go to the police?” said Archanaa.
ARCHANAA, LEAVE THE KIDS. I AM SAYING YOU LEAVE THEM. THEY ARE JUST TEN YEARS OLD, shouted Lily.
“Oh shut up!” said Archanaa dragging the kids inside. She tied their legs and hands with a rope.
“Listen, Archanaa! set us and Madam Lily free,” said Clover.
“Why should I? Your stupid Madam Lily has not given me Rs. 300,000,” said Archanaa.
Lily whispered something in Clover’s ears and Clover again whispered something in Rose’s ears. Rose dragged herself near Archanaa’s pencil holder. There was a pair of scissors. Rose took the pair of scissors and dragged herself back. She gave the scissors to Lily and Lily freed herself from the rope easily with the help of scissors. She freed the children too. After all that stuff, Rose again slipped near the pencil holder and kept the scissors back into the holder.
When she was about to go, she saw something shiny at the bottom of the holder. She took that shiny thing out of the holder and to her surprise it was the key that she and Clover had used to come into the room. Rose took the key so they can unlock the door to get out of the room. Rose went in front of Madam Lily and whispered, “Madam I have something to give to you.”
“What is it, Rose?” whispered Madam Lily.
Rose showed the key. “Wow! Rose, you are so smart,” whispered Clover.
“Yes I knew Rose was clever,” whispered Madam Lily.
“So what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” whispered Clover. Lily slipped to the door. The Children followed Lily. Archanaa still hadn’t noticed anything. When they came out of the hole, Clover asked, “Where are we going?”
“Of course, to the police station,” said Lily.
When they reached the police station, they informed the police all about it. A big contingent of the police went to find the hole. When they finally reached the hole they went inside and arrested Archanaa. When they arrived at the school they told everybody about their adventure. Madam Lily cancelled Rose and Clover’s detentions. Everybody believed in the adventure of Madam Lily, Clover and Rose but Nella said that she would only believe it if Madam Lily said it was true. She asked Lily about it. When Nella found it was true, she left the hostel forever because she felt jealous of Rose and Clover.
So this way Rose and Clover spent the first three days after their ascent to grade four.
(Azapaa studies in grade three in Kathmandu.)