I had just completed my assignment that was to be submitted in the next class, I checked my small black watch, the bell had been rung ten minutes ago. "Lunch break is almost over " I gasped, as I picked up my light blue mini purse and ran out of the classroom. I approached the fat rotund canteen seller with large pimples on her face. "Aunty Funmi, good afternoon, I want meat pie and Fanta small one". I watched her pimples keenly, every one knew aunty Funmi's pimples always seemed to grow large at certain times. My classmates were sure it was the fake bleaching cream she rubbed. She handed me my snacks in a black polythene bag and waved me bye.
As I turned to go, I noticed a group of senior boys about six of them, huddled at the corner snickering. They were looking in my direction and laughing with each other. I am sure one of the boys pointed at me, then it dawned on me. I walked very briskly to the females’ toilet and turned my light blue pinafore to see a big red map. I broke down into tears, my uniform was stained with blood. I quickly drew down my pant and removed the sanitary pad, there was no waste bin to throw it in so I threw it inside the toilet and then tried flushing it. I stayed inside the toilet, till after school hours when my Friend Remi found me. She gave me her cardigan to tie around my waist, I held Remi's hand tightly as she led me back to the hostel. I knew I was the latest gist in school, I just wanted to get back to the hostel and hide. "Funke, Funke!" I turned to see aunty Funmi calling me and waving her hand frantically for me to come. Remi go on, I would meet you later" I said to my friend. The first thing aunty Funmi did was to hand me a pack of sanitary pads. She asked me to go and change my pad. When I came back, she asked me where I disposed of my used pad. I told her I flushed it down the toilet. “Ahhhhh!”, She screamed, then she told me of how I had just blocked the toilet drainage system by what I did. "I did not know about that," I said with pleading eyes. Would today get any worse, I wondered.
"You should either burn your sanitary pads after use or tie them carefully and throw it inside a waste bin. That is how to dispose of a used sanitary pad," she said.
She rubbed my back and told me it was okay. She called the boys that laughed at me 'a bunch of ignoramuses'. I loved the look of disdain and disgust on her face as she insulted the boys, I was assured by her that she would deal with the boys. She asked me to make sure I wash my body thoroughly day and night especially my vulva and I should feel free to come for a pack of sanitary pad every month. "Should I let you on a little secret", she told me. I nodded my head in affirmation, I am on my menstrual period now, that's why there are pimples on my face now. I felt like Aunty Funmilayo and I was now a team, I had told her I forgot to eat my meat pie and Fanta and she gave me the plantain porridge she had brought in a flask for herself, I thanked her profusely before I left the canteen. I greeted my classmates along the way as I walked back to the hostel and I realized I did not care that the whole school had seen or just heard of my blood-stained uniform. Aunty Funmi had told me that it was nothing to be ashamed of to be stained with blood during your menstrual period.
- ChidaluBarbara