THE FIRST STRAW

''Girls it's time for prayers. 'the matron announces to the girls sited in a circle in their dorm. One girl holding the school newspaper responds'' We're coming.''' No now! I don't want Sister to find you here! Out! Out!'' she pressures them. The matron is in her late twenties wearing a faded black T-shirt, a leso, and had long dreads. A sweet lady who cared about the girls but had to be strict with them to avoid them from getting in trouble with the Catholic Sisters who ran the school. They expected order and high levels of discipline.

The girls stand up and join the rest of the students at the small assembly ground near the grotto. The statue of Mary seems to be looking at them with compassion. The students take out their rosaries and the prayers start. Melinda the girl who was reading is standing at the back keeps reading the paper particularly a story from someone who called themselves ''Stacy Njenga'' But in the whole school there was no one with that name but every week there was a new intriguing story in the paper.

It was the only reason the students ever spent their pocket money in the school. There was no canteen as the sisters believed inequality and even though the girls lived in the city and for most the school wasn't far from their homes but no one was allowed to leave during the term and for the creative young Melinda it felt like a prison and her fellow students were her fellow cellmates.

The only reason one would ever leave the school before midterm was either sickness or death in the family. After the last Hail Mary, the girl standing next to Melinda is called by the sister, and later that night they see the girl leaving.

'And an unsuspecting girl's worst fears come true and leaves the blue gates of her school on a cool calm evening after prayers to The Virgin Mary.'' Melinda read that night. That was the end of this week's story.