The Girl with a New Attitude

Sometimes a small change in behaviour reveals a much bigger secret.

The morning sun was already shining over Techage Model College. Students walked through the school gate in groups, some discussing football, others rushing to avoid being late for assembly.

A few students stood near the notice board, checking the timetable for the week's activities.

But something unusual was happening.

Precious, who was usually among the students struggling to arrive before the assembly bell, walked into the school compound earlier than almost everyone else.

Her uniform was neatly arranged. Her shoes were polished, her hair was carefully styled, and she carried her books in a new, attractive school bag.

She stopped near the entrance to the classroom block and looked towards the staffroom.

She checked her wristwatch.

Precious: He's not here yet.

She looked around to make sure nobody had heard her.

A few minutes later, Favour arrived with a bottle of water in her hand.

Favour: Good morning, Miss Perfect!

Precious turned.

Precious: What's that supposed to mean?

Favour: Nothing. I just want to know who woke you up this early. Are you sure you're feeling alright?

Precious: Must somebody be sick before coming to school early?

Favour: No. But you? Coming before assembly? This is a historical event.

They both laughed.

Esther arrived shortly afterwards, holding her mathematics notebook.

Esther: What's happening here? Why are you two laughing?

Favour: Ask Precious. She has suddenly become the most serious student in Techage Model College.

Precious: You people should leave me alone. I just decided to take my studies seriously.

Esther looked at her carefully.

Esther: That's good. I hope it lasts.

Precious ignored the comment and looked towards the staffroom again.

Favour noticed.

Favour: You're looking for somebody?

Precious: No.

Favour: Okay, no problem.

Favour exchanged a knowing look with Esther.

The three girls walked towards their classroom.

The SS2 classroom was already noisy.

Samuel was standing beside the whiteboard, entertaining some classmates with an exaggerated imitation of their mathematics teacher.

Samuel: Class, if you don't understand this topic, it means you have chosen to fail in life!

The students burst into laughter.

Blessing, who was arranging her books, shook her head.

Blessing: Samuel, one day this your mouth will put you into serious trouble.

Samuel: Trouble is my second name.

Precious entered with Favour and Esther.

She walked straight to her seat, brought out her notebook and arranged her pen.

Favour sat beside her.

Favour: Who are you, and what have you done to our Precious?

Precious: Favour, please. I want to read.

Favour: Since when?

Esther opened her notebook.

Esther: Allow her. At least somebody in this class is trying to improve.

Precious smiled and began reading.

A few minutes later, Mrs Williams entered the classroom.

Mrs Williams: Good morning, class.

Students: Good morning, ma!

Mrs Williams: Take your seats. I hope everybody completed the assignment I gave you on Friday.

A few students immediately began searching through their bags.

Samuel slowly lowered his head.

Mrs Williams: Samuel, I can see your face. Don't tell me you have forgotten again.

Samuel: Ma, I didn't forget. I was still thinking about the answers.

The class laughed.

Mrs Williams: Then I hope your thinking will produce excellent results in your examination.

She collected some notebooks.

When she reached Precious's desk, she paused.

Mrs Williams: Precious, you completed your assignment?

Precious: Yes, ma.

Mrs Williams examined the work.

Mrs Williams: Very good. I hope you will maintain this attitude.

Precious: Thank you, ma.

Favour looked at her friend and smiled.

For once, Precious had genuinely completed her assignment before the deadline.

Later that morning, Daniel walked into the classroom carrying his lesson notes.

The students stood up.

Students: Good morning, sir!

Daniel: Good morning, everyone. Please sit down.

He placed his books on the table and looked around the classroom.

Daniel: Before we begin today's lesson, I want to remind you of something. Education is not just about passing examinations. It is about developing the ability to think, make good decisions and become responsible people.

He wrote the topic on the board:

DEMAND AND SUPPLY

Daniel: Today, we are going to discuss demand. Who can tell me what demand means in Economics?

Several students raised their hands.

Daniel pointed towards Blessing.

Blessing: Demand is the quantity of a commodity that consumers are willing and able to buy at a particular price and time.

Daniel: Excellent. That's a good definition.

He turned towards the board.

Daniel: Now, let us make it practical. Imagine that the price of a bag of rice suddenly increases. What do you think will happen to the quantity people are willing to buy?

Samuel raised his hand.

Samuel: Sir, people will start buying garri.

The class laughed.

Daniel smiled.

Daniel: That may happen, Samuel. But let's hear an answer that explains the economic principle.

He pointed towards Precious.

Daniel: Precious, what do you think?

Precious sat upright.

Precious: Sir, when the price increases, the quantity demanded will usually decrease, assuming other factors remain constant.

Daniel: Correct. That is the law of demand. Well done.

Precious smiled.

Precious: Thank you, sir.

She looked down at her notebook, but her smile remained.

Favour noticed.

After Daniel continued the explanation, Precious began writing almost every word he said.

She even asked two questions before the lesson ended.

Daniel answered them patiently, just as he would answer any serious student.

Daniel: That's a good question. Always remember that asking questions is part of learning. Don't be afraid to ask when you don't understand something.

Precious nodded.

To Daniel, she was simply a student showing improvement.

To Precious, however, every little interaction seemed important.

During break time, the three friends sat at their usual table in the canteen.

Favour was eating a meat pie, while Esther was drinking water.

Precious was busy reviewing her Economics notes.

Favour: Precious, are you preparing for WAEC already?

Precious: Is there anything wrong with reading?

Favour: No. But you have been reading since morning. Even during break, you're still reading.

Esther: Maybe she has finally discovered that books are more useful than gossip.

Favour: Esther, don't spoil my business. I'm trying to understand this new Precious.

Precious closed her notebook.

Precious: You people are making me uncomfortable. Can't somebody decide to become serious about school?

Esther: Of course. We are happy you're improving. But I hope you're doing it for yourself.

Precious looked at her.

Precious: What else would I be doing it for?

Esther: Nothing. Just asking.

Favour leaned closer.

Favour: By the way, Daniel sir praised you today.

Precious immediately smiled.

Precious: Did you hear what he said?

Favour: Everybody heard him. He said your answer was correct.

Precious: He also said asking questions is important.

Esther: That's what teachers are supposed to encourage.

Precious looked at Esther.

Precious: Why do you always have something negative to say?

Esther: I'm not being negative. I'm just saying we shouldn't misunderstand ordinary things.

A brief silence followed.

The school bell rang.

Favour stood up.

Favour: Come on, let's go. I don't want Mrs Williams to catch us outside when the next lesson starts.

The girls picked up their bags and returned to class.

Inside the staffroom, Daniel was arranging his lesson notes when Mrs Williams approached him.

Mrs Williams: Daniel, how is SS2 treating you?

Daniel: They're doing well, ma. Some of them are quite active during lessons.

Mrs Williams: That's good. Precious, especially, seems to be taking her work more seriously.

Daniel looked up.

Daniel: Yes, ma. She participated well today. She answered questions and asked a few of her own.

Mrs Williams: She's intelligent. But sometimes she allows other things to distract her. I hope she maintains this improvement.

Daniel: I'll continue encouraging the class to focus on their studies.

Mrs Williams nodded.

Mrs Williams: Good. That's what we expect from you.

Daniel returned to his notes.

Neither of them knew that Precious's new attitude had more than one explanation.

The closing bell rang.

Students poured out of their classrooms, some rushing towards the school gate while others waited for friends.

Precious, Favour and Esther walked towards the entrance.

Favour: Are you going straight home today?

Precious: Yes. I have some assignments to complete.

Esther: That's good. Don't forget the Mathematics exercise.

Precious: I won't.

As they approached the school gate, they saw Daniel speaking with another teacher.

Precious slowed down.

Favour: Why have you stopped?

Precious: I want to arrange my bag.

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder.

Favour glanced towards Daniel and then back at Precious.

Favour: Your bag is alright.

Precious: Can you just allow me?

Esther said nothing.

Daniel finished his conversation and walked towards the staffroom.

Precious watched him briefly.

Favour: Precious, let's go.

Precious: I'm coming.

The three friends left the school compound.

That evening, Precious sat in the sitting room with her books spread across the centre table.

Her mother walked in carrying a plate of food.

Mother: Precious, come and eat before your food gets cold.

Precious: Okay, Mummy. Let me finish this question.

Her mother smiled.

Mother: Since when did you start doing your homework without somebody reminding you?

Precious: Mummy, must you always complain about me?

Mother: I'm not complaining. I'm happy you're becoming more responsible.

Precious collected the plate.

Her mother sat beside her.

Mother: How was school today?

Precious: Fine.

Mother: How are your teachers?

Precious: Everybody is fine. Our new corps member taught us Economics.

Mother: Is he teaching well?

Precious: Yes. He's very intelligent. He explains things properly.

Mother: That's good. You should pay attention to your teachers and learn as much as you can.

Precious: I do, Mummy.

Her mother looked at her for a moment.

Mother: Precious, I want you to remember something. Your education is important. Don't allow anything to distract you from your future.

Precious nodded.

Precious: Okay, Mummy.

Her mother stood up and returned to the kitchen.

Precious looked at her Economics notebook again.

But she was no longer thinking about the lesson.

She was thinking about Daniel's smile when he praised her answer.

Later that night, Precious was in her bedroom.

She picked up her phone and opened her WhatsApp conversation with Rita.

Rita was a twenty-year-old acquaintance she had met outside school.

Unlike Favour and Esther, Rita was not part of her daily school circle. Precious liked talking to her because Rita often listened without asking too many questions.

Precious typed a message.

Precious: Something happened today.

A few minutes later, Rita replied.

Rita: What happened?

Precious: Our new teacher praised me in class today.

Rita: Congratulations. At least you're doing well in school.

Precious: He said I was intelligent.

Rita: That's good. Keep it up.

Precious hesitated before typing again.

Precious: I think I want him to notice me more.

Rita responded almost immediately.

Rita: Notice you how?

Precious: Like, I want him to know I'm different from the other students.

Rita sent a voice note.

Rita (voice note): Precious, listen. If you want your teacher to notice your academic ability, that's fine. Read your books, answer questions and do well. But don't start confusing a teacher's encouragement with something else. He's your teacher.

Precious listened to the voice note twice.

She typed:

Precious: I know. I'm not doing anything bad.

Rita replied:

Rita: Then keep it that way. Don't let a simple admiration turn into something that will bring you trouble.

Precious dropped her phone on the bed.

She wasn't happy with Rita's response.

She had expected encouragement, not a warning.

After a few seconds, she picked up the phone again and opened Favour's chat.

She typed something, deleted it, and locked her phone.

Precious (to herself): Maybe Favour will understand.

She turned off the bedside lamp.

The following morning, Precious arrived at school even earlier than the previous day.

She walked into the classroom, cleaned her desk and arranged her books.

Favour entered shortly afterwards.

Favour: Ah! This girl again!

Precious laughed.

Precious: Good morning to you too.

Favour: At this rate, you will soon start opening the school gate.

Precious: At least somebody has to be serious in this friendship.

Favour sat down.

Favour: You're really determined to impress somebody.

Precious stopped arranging her books.

Precious: What do you mean?

Favour smiled.

Favour: Nothing. I'm just joking.

Esther entered and placed her bag on the desk.

Esther: Good morning.

Favour: Esther, tell Precious to relax. She has been behaving like the school's best student since yesterday.

Esther: Let her read. We should all be serious.

Precious smiled, but her attention shifted when she heard footsteps outside the classroom.

Daniel walked past the doorway carrying some books.

He briefly looked into the classroom.

Daniel: Good morning, everyone.

Precious, Favour and Esther: Good morning, sir!

Daniel: Please make sure you complete the assignment I gave you yesterday. I'll check it during the lesson.

He continued towards the staffroom.

Precious watched him walk away.

Favour leaned towards her.

Favour: Your day is complete now.

Precious laughed, but she did not deny it.

Esther quietly opened her notebook.

She had begun to notice something about her friend.

Precious was no longer simply trying to become a better student.

There was something else behind her sudden change.

And Esther was determined to find out what it was.

To be continued...