Moonless Night (Preview Edition), Page 3

and Matthew used the opportunity to further admonish her. She listened happily to him. For the first time in her life, she felt she had a true friend who unlike other boys that were keen on exploiting her, was trying much to help her improve, both academically and morally. She made up her mind to follow his advice to the letter, fully convinced that doing so would help her succeed in life. Matthew advised her to part ways with the likes of Roslyn and she agreed, after realizing particularly that a few good friends are better companions than a million bad ones.

  They both left for the beach after a while at Matthew's request where he succeeded in displaying his fishing skill to Sarah’s amazement. She was delighted at the sight of his fishing equipment.

  "You never told me you are a fisherman,” she remarked.

  "No, I am not. I am a fisher boy," Matthew joked.

  They both laughed off the joke and moved closer to the sea. Matthew caught a big fish in fifteen minutes, which had haplessly fallen a victim of his bait. They were really excited. Moving away from the sea, they lit up some sticks to roast the fish. Lola spotted them sitted by the fire and enjoying the fish and she approached them.

  "You two are enjoying,” she said.

  "Be our guest!" chorused the twosome.

  They handed her a portion of the fish and she readily accepted it with thanks. She sat down with them and ate the fish. Matthew left the two girls shortly after to chase after crabs. That was an opportunity for Lola to share her innermost and sincere feelings with Sarah, which she couldn’t afford to let slip away.

  "Sarah, I congratulate you.”

  "On what?” asked Sarah, suspecting that Lola was about to accuse her of being engaged to her new friend.

  "You ask as if you don't know why I am congratulating you. To be honest with you, I wish somebody could teach me Mathematics the way your friend does. You know I perform poorly in it. "

  "Oh! I didn't know that was what you meant," said an obviously relieved Sarah.

  "I would discuss it with him. I am sure he would be willing to help.”

  "Please don't. If Roslyn and the rest see me with him, they would be angry and might tell my boyfriend," said Lola. Sarah was greatly annoyed by Lola's comment.

  "Boyfriend my foot!” exclaimed Sarah.

  "It's easier for you to say that because you are not engaged to anyone. I am not as free as you are. Can you help me, Sarah?"

  "You amuse me,” continued Sarah.

  “The only help I can do for you is, when we resume next session, I should be a better Mathematician, then I would teach you myself.”

  Lola appeared grateful.

  “Lola, if you don't stop being crazy about your boyfriend and focus on your education, I fear you would fail woefully in your final exams,” added Sarah.

  Lola promised to think about it.

  Matthew returned without catching a single crab and all the boys and girls soon retired for the night.

  Night on the Island of S.T. Patrick could be simultaneously sweet and scary. Due to its proximity to the sea, the atmosphere was ever cold, a factor that made its inhabitants sound sleepers. The thick forests on the Island contributed much oxygen to its surrounding, thereby, making the environment very cold. However, noises of various creatures, ranging from the howling of birds, bats, frogs to wild pigs from the deep forest made the night scary for light sleepers.

  The students were informed during one of the sessions on the island about its history. The Island was first discovered by an American sailor over 200 years ago. He was travelling to a part of Africa when a strong sea wind forced him to change his course. He eventually stumbled on the Island. It fascinated him greatly. He and his crew spent about two weeks on the Island before taking their leave. He named it S.T. Patrick Island after a Catholic priest who presided over the church he attended in America.

  After fourteen days of fun, the children had satisfaction and ecstasy written boldly on their faces, and were longing to go home. Matthew was determined to give a parting gift to the girl he loved as a darling sister. Therefore, unknown to all, he ventured into the forest, hoping to kill a pig or rabbit which he would roast for her.

  Thickets and thorns made his adventure through the forest a very difficult one, but his determination kept him going. He had a paper on which he drew the directions he took, just to ensure he did not get lost in the forest. After walking a long distance through the forest, he stumbled on a pig. He ran after it and with all his might, he threw one of his specially prepared wooden arrows at it. However, he missed his target and the terrified creature escaped unhurt. He stopped running and stood panting under a tall coconut tree. Looking up, he saw big coconuts on it.

  "If I can't kill a pig, these coconuts will serve as a replacement,” he said to himself.

  Aided by the tall trees beside the coconut tree, he ascended to its top. He dropped five big coconuts and was about to descend when he saw faintly, the top of a big black chest, mostly covered with dry leaves buried shallowly in the ground at a spot about a few metres away from the coconut tree. Matthew descended swiftly, stored the coconuts in a big bag and went in the direction of the chest. He sighted a rabbit in the process. He moved closer stealthily to the hapless creature, threw a wooden spear at it, wounded and pinned it down. He moved closer promptly, killed it and threw the dead creature into his bag, fully satisfied with his hunting expedition.

  He was very curious about the contents of the chest he spotted.

  On getting to where the chest was, he forced the lid open and was flustered to see some papers and lots of golden jewellery in it. Despite how heavy the chest was, he lifted it to his head, balanced it and supported it with one hand and carried the bag with the other hand.

  After a very long and strenuous journey, he emerged from the forest. As he approached the other children, they all burst into uncontrollable laughter. The sight of the chest on his head, the stained bag in his hand and the thorns stuck to his clothes all depicted him as a madman.

  The laughter of the children and the way they all trooped to see what he carried attracted everyone.

  "I strongly believe your boyfriend is a madman,” said Roslyn to Sarah, who did not bother to honor her comment with a reply. Sarah had been worried because she had not seen him for hours.

  "What is this?” asked the chief organiser of the program, Mr. Marku.

  "I found it in the forest, Sir,” replied Matthew. He opened the cover of the chest. They all stared in astonishment and Mr. Marku immediately took custody of the treasure chest. No one bothered about the dead rabbit and the coconuts in his bag. The adults and the children all trooped after the treasure, leaving Sarah and Matthew behind.

  "Where have you been and what have you been doing?” enquired Sarah.

  "I went to get you this,” said Matthew as he pushed the bag to her.

  "Wow! You shouldn't have troubled yourself so much. Thanks a lot. "

  "I thank God sister,” said Matthew.

  He was happy with the outcome of his adventure.

  "That poor boy is becoming too popular for my liking. How on earth did he know there was a treasure on this Island?" asked Roslyn rhetorically.

  "You don't know anything. Didn't I tell you that these poor boys have charms?”replied a girl. Roslyn felt bitter and envious, and said, "charm or no charm, that boy is becoming too popular. Look how beautiful I am, yet, no one knows me well on this Island. Well, he would always be a church rat."

  Lola, Sarah and Matthew were all seated alone at half past six in the evening. They munched the roasted rabbit meats, as well as the coconuts and chatted joyfully.

  “I must admit that one of the best days of my life was the day we met. Brother Matthew you have greatly helped me and these gifts are very special,” said Sarah.

  "It's nothing much,” remarked Matthew.

  "It's something great. You don't know what difference you have made in my life. Your pieces of advice have also been invaluable."

  "Let's tha
nk God, I am glad I met you too. I would miss you so much, " said Matthew, acknowledging for the first time how attached he had been to her.

  "We shall write each other,” said Sarah. They were startled to see tears trickle down Lola's eyelids.

  "Why are you crying?” asked Matthew.

  "Nothing,” she replied. Sarah used the palm of her hands to wipe her tears.

  "I hope it's nothing,” she said. They decided to let her keep her reason for crying to herself after she resisted a prod.

  Having had a memorable camp on the island, all the children returned home on the sixteenth day.