The Excursion

Just a month after she met him, Juliet was already completely in love with him. It seemed intense, sudden. I couldn’t help but felt that what she called love was more likely to be infatuation, it was lust in disguise.

Juliet and I were classmates and close friends, our school was a 'day and boarding' school but we were off campus students. Our families knew each other well, and everyone around us was aware of our friendship. We did everything together, we studied, we gossiped, we even swapped clothes, yes! That’s how close we were.

She met Daniel one afternoon after school while walking home. A tall, dark-skinned handsome guy. They exchanged numbers, and from that day, Juliet talked about him constantly. Every conversation started and ended with "Daniel". I was already tired of hearing it when she asked me to accompany her to visit him. I refused not because I didn’t want to accompany her, but because it felt too soon. They’d only been talking for a month.

Around that time, our school distributed excursion letters. Each student needed to get parental consent and pay ₦50,000($31.19). Most parents including ours thought the amount was too high and unnecessary. Juliet and I were disappointed, but we weren’t the only ones staying back, only a few students could afford to go.

One afternoon, I was washing my clothes when Juliet burst into our compound, excited. I thought maybe her parents had changed their minds about the excursion. But no, she had a different plan entirely. She wanted us to forge our parents’ signatures, submit the money, and pretend to go on the excursion while secretly going to visit Daniel.

I was stunned. “Are you crazy?” I asked. “That’s a terrible idea.”

You know you are my best friend, we have done everything together, oh…oh remember that one time I lied on your behalf, when your mum almost caught you with James Okoro and then you remember that other time I….

Just hold it, Juliet! I see what you are doing? I should return the favour right? But you know if we get caught we are gone! I replied.

Don't worry we won't! Juliet replied confidently.

Daniel has got it all covered, in fact he had sent money for the excursion.”

So what do we tell our parents? I asked as I raised my eyebrows and folded my hands.

Oh come on! That's easy, we tell them we have group reading and so we will be spending a night at the hostel, Juliet suggested.

And you think they will believe us? I asked.

Why not?

Hmmm…I don't know about that.

Against my better judgment, I agreed. I convinced my younger brother to forge our mother’s signature. The following day, Juliet collected the letters, paid, and submitted everything on our behalf.

Luckily our parents agreed without further questions, we were permitted to spend the night.

The plan was simple: Daniel would pick us up at the excursion lodge, take us to a nearby hotel, and return us before sunrise the following day. It seemed manageable, but I was scared. Still, I did it for our friendship.

Daniel lodged us at a hotel near the school’s official accommodation. As soon as we arrived, his phone rang. “Order anything you want,” he said, rushing out. “I’ll be back soon.”

We were exhausted and hungry, so we ordered two plates of jollof rice with salad and chicken, and soft drinks. After eating, we fell asleep.

Hours later, we were woken by the hotel phone ringing persistently. Juliet answered. It was the receptionist her shift was ending, and Daniel hadn’t returned or settled the bill.

Juliet checked her phone. It was 4:44 a.m the following day. She tried calling Daniel, but his line was unavailable. Panic set in. She looked at me, tears forming in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, sitting up.

“He’s not answering,” she whispered. “And the receptionist wants us to pay.” Juliet replied.

The bill was ₦34,000($21.2) which is ₦19,000($11.8) for the food and ₦15,000($9.3) for the room. Juliet had only ₦20,000($12.4) left from the money Daniel had sent her. I had nothing.

Oh God! I never wanted to come but you forced me… how do we pay and how do we go back to the others? Please call him again… I pleaded with Juliet, she did but not reachable still, I muttered.

We sat there, silent and confused. Calling our parents would mean not only getting ourselves in trouble, but also risking the school’s reputation. After some thought, I called my aunt in Lagos. I told her the truth. She was furious and scolded us for half an hour before finally sending the money we needed.

She made me promise I would confess to my parents once I got back.

I did, eventually…my phone was taken away from me until I was done with school. Sadly, things were never the same. Juliet and I drifted apart after that incident. Our parents thought it was wise for us to go our separate ways.

This happened when we were in high school. To this day, I don’t know where she is and the reason why Daniel never showed up.

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All images are mine.