Corper T

         The three girls strode towards The Youth Corps Quaters. That was where the new, goofy corps member resided. They all loved him. He was popularly refered to as " Corper T". Asides his affability, he was also good-looking--his arms were muscular. He was broad-chested and his ebony skin glowed under the sun. As they chattered away happily, Tayo walked behind them. They had outstripped her. Something like a trance was happening to her. She saw it clearly. Someone was going to eat the four of them for supper. In the vision, Corper T was in the room holding a sparkling matchet. The four of them were seated on his mattress placed on the floor. They had a photo album in their hands which they were flipping through. They would laugh and shake their heads in disbelief at the bizzair pictures of Corper T. He lifted the matchet up and slashed off a head. Blood sputtered all over his white shirt. The rest of the girls looked up. Horrified, they let out a howl.

Tayo chest started heaving on seeing this. 

" Girls!" She called out to them. They stopped abruptly. It was then they realized they had left her behind.

" What's wrong?" Seun, the plump one among them asked. " And why are you walking behind us?"

" I have a feeling," Tayo said. Her lips quivered. Her hand began to shake. Perspiration suddenly broke out of her forehead. " This man is going to kill us for supper."

The girls suddenly dissolved into laughter.They stamped their feet on the ground, pulled at one another's clothes and jabbed at one another. They even choked on their own laughter.

" I am serious," Tayo said, having observed that they were all mocking her. They were not going to take her seriously. 

" This is not funny," she said. " I just saw a vision. We are walking directly into danger. This is a suicide mission."

" Come on," Solape waved her off. " Your joke is becoming expensive. You have been watching a lot of psychopathic movies. You even read about them in your novels."

" Have I ever joked about pressing matter like this?" Said Tayo.

" You have!" The three of them said in unison.

" Remember the last time I fell in front of the class and everyone made jest of me?" Seun said.

" Yeah, that moment," Joy said, trying so hard to stiffle her laughter, careful enough not to touch a nerve.

Tayo had suddenly rushed into the rowdy classroom to announce the approach of the school principal. Everyone ran helter- skelter to their various seats. But Seun slipped in the process and her massive figure gave a loud thud on reaching the floor. The whole class erupted into a mockery laugh. Few minutes later, the principal was not in. It was then that the class knew that she had tricked them. She did that most of the time. It was hard to discern if she was being serious or if she was in her playful mood. 

The first time Corper T was introduced to the class, Tayo was the first to have noticed him at the staffroom. She overheard the conversation between him and the principal. She knew he would be assigned to their class. Caught off guard by his handsomeness, she proceeded to her class to announce the news to her classmates beforehand.

" He is the most handsome creature I have ever seen," she crooned. Some of them gushed over her description of him while others raised their brows at her in scorn. They were expecting the opposite of whatsoever it was she was describing.

Lo and behold, the attractive figure, clad in khaki pants, sand-coloured boots and a white shirt with the incription " NYSC" walked into the class. He introduced himself as Corper T. The students discovered that they loved his sexy assent. He would be their French teacher. 

" What is French?" He had asked the class.

" French is a language none of my parents speak but they are forcing me to learn," said Tayo. The whole class burst into laughter. The teacher joined them. He loved them already and they admired the fact that they were free around him unlike the other teachers who would not hesitate to use their canes on them. Corper T found a place in the hearts of both the male and the female students. They always visited the quarters where he stayed. The Female students who stayed in the school dormitory would cook for him and have it delivered to his room. Sometimes, they fought dirty over him. Other male teachers started to fly rumors around that he was sleeping with the female students. Because he was loved by all, including the principal, the flying rumour was taken with levity. It soon died down. However, it did not stop the students from paying their usual visitation.

" Tell me why Corper T would hurt us?" Seun asked. " We would not be the first to pay him a visit. Others did too. Why didn't he hurt them."

" I have heard about serial killers," Solape started. " They would rather lure their prey to a remote area to butcher them and not in a school premises like this. How do you see that, girls?"

" You are right!" Seun and Titi replied in agreement to what she said.

Tayo, being the class clown, and having notice that she would not be taking seriously, kept her premonition to herself.

The four stood right in front of Corper T's door. They knocked and he opened up. He had an apron drapped on his body and his hands were wet.

" Come in, all of you!" He said.

He took them to his bedroom. It was a little bit dark. Candle light placed on the table flickered in the dark. 

" I am trying to fix supper for myself," Corper T said. " Feel at home." He went over to his wardrobe and brought out a photo album. " I hope this will entertain you."

Tayo's eyes bulged immediately she saw the photo album. It was exactly what she saw in the vision. The girls came together to look through the album while Corper T excused himself from the room.

" Girls, it is happening. Just like in my vision!" They were not paying her any attention. 

Suddenly, Corper T emerged with a matchet in his hand. It reflected off the light from the candle. 

" No, please!" Tayo said. He gave her a wicked grin and walked over to the girl who were engrossed in looking at the photo album. He raised the matchet up, attempting to bring it down to one of a girl's neck.

" Noooooooooooo!" Tayo screamed. The room suddenly became quiet. The girls looked up, startled.

" Is anything the matter, Tayo?" He said. The girls glanced at her direction. She was breathing heavily. She felt she was going insane.

Corper T raised his Matchet in the air, brandishing it. " I need this to chop the chicken. I am making Chicken Soup," he said as he disappeared from the room.

The three girls stared at Tayo with great concern in their eyes. It was like she was going out of it. She needed help.