Chapter 7

Nana woke up in the morning and prepared breakfast with Linda. They put the breakfast on the dining table. After eating their breakfast, they proceeded to the church.

On their way to the church, Nana asked Linda what time she slept a day before. Linda said she slept very late, that there was a good documentary which she was watching while waiting for Stepmother to come back.

Linda said that it was around midnight when she heard stepmother's car outside the gate and then she switched off the TV and ran to bed. She said Father was already in his bed asleep. At church, Nana joined the church choir during the service while Linda sat in the congregation.

The girls went straight home from the church. Unfortunately, Stepmother did not prepare lunch; she and Father were in the lounge. They both looked angry and they were not talking to each other. Nana greeted his father while Linda greeted stepmother and father.

Nana and Linda walked out of the lounge and went to the kitchen; they debated what to cook for lunch. While they were busy discussing, father came and told Linda that since it's her day off, she should not cook. He asked Nana and Linda if they can join him for a drive. The girls were very happy about that suggestion, they accepted immediately.

They drove and drove, the girls didn't know where they were going, and they just enjoyed the ride. Nana kept on reading signposts and also asking her father questions about whatever she didn't understand. Linda was very silent, she didn't talk much but Nana was talking nonstop, she made her father laugh a lot with her analysis of the things she was seeing.

After a long drive, Nana's father parked at a very beautiful big gate and he hooted. There was a Watchman, he came close to the car and then waved at Father’s side. It seemed he knew who Nana's father was. He opened the gate and father drove in.

Before Nana stepped out of the car, she saw her Aunt Becky coming towards them. Nana was so happy to see her aunt again; she jumped out of the car and ran towards her aunt. She hugged and embraced her.

They all walked inside the house and sat down. Aunt welcomed them and greeted them. One set of twin girls came and greeted Nana's father, they said "we are so happy to see you, uncle." Nana's father hugged them and introduced Nana to them as their cousin.

Nana’s father asked the twins if they remember Aunt Linda too, the girls agreed and greeted both Nana and Linda. Aunt's husband also came in and greeted them, and then there was an old lady who also came in and greeted everybody, she is the nanny of the house. She brought juice and biscuits for the visitors.

They talked about many different topics, father told them how Nana is performing exceptionally well at school. They were so happy to hear about Nana's achievements. Lunch was served and they all ate together at the dining table.

It was a delicious Sunday meal that Nana’s father, Nana, and Linda haven’t heard for a long time; there was too much arguing in their home. Nana's father, Linda, and Nana bid farewell to her aunt, uncle, and cousins in the late afternoon. Before they left, Nana's aunt gave her a lot of presents, and clothing, Nana was very happy.

On their way back, Nana told her father about the impromptu test she did weeks back and she told him that whoever comes on the top of that test, he or she will win the scholarship to go to a Private High School. Father was extremely happy about this; he said "may the Almighty God help you succeed my child." They got home in the evening, Linda and Nana went to Nana's room to look at all the goodies aunt gave her.

A few weeks passed until the end of year exams started, Nana’s school was writing one exam per day. They wrote in the mornings only and by midday, the children had to go home to prepare themselves for the next exam. Nana would run home so that she can have her lunch and then study for the next exam. Linda made sure that lunch is ready before Nana comes home.

While Nana was busy with exams, Stepmother was away at her mother's house. She went to look after her mother because she fell ill. It was only Linda and Nana in the house; father will only come back in the evening and leave early in the morning for work. Father told Linda not to allow Nana to watch TV until exams are complete. Father and Linda were also coming closer and closer!

Nana would only come out of her room to eat and go back to her books; father was also coming back earlier in the evenings than usual just to help Nana to revise her schoolwork and also have long conversations with Linda. He would ask Nana questions from past papers to help her study better.

It took two weeks to finish writing exams. By that time; stepmother was back from her mother’s home, her mother was doing much better. She was looking forward to having her children back for holidays, she always felt bored when her kids were away at the boarding school.

Nana's school was also busy preparing for the end of year school concert. Nana was participating in the choir and she had also written a poem to present on that day.

Nana's stepbrothers and sister ended school a week before Nana's school closed for their end of year holidays. They were happy to be home. They were getting on well with Nana and they promised to attend her school's end of year concert. Nana was happy about this; she even informed all her friends that her brothers and sister will be coming to the concert.

The concert was organized to take place on a Sunday. Nana gave the invite to her father who also decided to invite Nana's aunt.

On Sunday, the concert day, Nana dressed up very smartly in her school uniform; she ate her breakfast and started walking to school. She was supposed to be their earlier before guests arrive. Father offered to drop her and he did. At school, Nana and her fellow students prepared themselves and waited for the guests to arrive.

Everybody at home was getting ready for the concert; they bathed and got ready to go. Father stepped into the car and told Linda and the children to hurry. Before the children stepped into their father's car, stepmother came and told them to stop. She told them that they will not go to the Village girl’s concert. The children begged their mother to let them go but she refused.

Father and Linda are the only people from home who went to watch Nana’s school concert, they found Aunt Becky already at school with her children.

As soon as father and Linda arrived at Nana's school, they spotted Nana's aunt and her children in the parking lot. They greeted each other and Father thanked Nana’s aunt for coming. They went to the main hall and sat down. Aunt asked Linda to go look around for Nana, Linda found Nana with her peers.

Nana was happy to see Linda, she hugged Linda and she asked her where her siblings are. Linda explained everything to Nana that her stepmother refused the siblings to come. Nana looked disappointed but Linda told her not to worry because her aunt and her cousins came to watch her perform.

After a few minutes, the concert started, the principal came to the stage and greeted the parents. He thanked the parents for coming and promised them that they will be glad that they came because the children worked very hard for this concert. Nana performed in the school choir and everybody was happy with the choir. They performed so well, they danced and sang beautifully.

Nana also presented the poem she wrote. She came out, smartly dressed, stood up at the podium and she presented her poem. Nana's poem was about children, she presented it with a lot of enthusiasm. All parents stood up when Nana concluded her poem. They clapped their hands for her.

At the end of the concert the principal started giving away awards to the students who performed well in their grades and in extra mural activities.

Nana received many awards for the best debater, well-mannered student, the best student in her grade, and the most punctual student. Nana was so happy, she took her awards to her father and she sat next to him while the principal was still giving away awards.

After the principal's speech, he called one gentleman on the stage. The principal said, "Dear parents, I'm calling Mr. Peter on the stage to give away the scholarship from his school." Mr. Peter stood on the podium with a sealed envelope. He said that the name of a student in the envelope he was holding is going to win a scholarship to his school.

Mr. Peter said that the scholarship will cover everything from the school fees, uniforms, stationery, and everything the student will need. The parent's job will be to cater to the student's pocket money and transporting the child to school at the beginning and end of the term. He then opened the envelope; he waited for a few seconds before he said, "The winner is, Nana Kisakye."