September 13th
2007
It the sky was a bit gloomy and the air humid,but even that couldn't dilute the excitement and chatter of the students as the walked together in a straight line towards the school bus.
The bus interior was cool to some of the students who haven't entered one before but a bit normal to more ordinary students who had seen buses like this on a daily.
The bus was like a normal big transportation buses used for travel far places in the country apart from other means of transport.
It's exterior was coated in white paint and tinted glass windows.
The interior showcased black leather seats that were soft and comfortable to sit on with enough space to make the children comfortable.
The primary 2 and 3 classes had a joint trip to the zoo that had been planned since the last two months but shifted due to exams and the well needed students break.
Soon after the last student entered and was accounted for the school bus finally left the school premises and headed on their way.
Inside the bus the children were chattering loudly in excitement with their peers before being told to quiet down by their teachers Mr Emeka and Mrs Chinaza.
Mr Emeka is the teacher of primary 3. He is a fair-skinned man who looks to be in his middle twenties with average looking comprising of black hair and black eyes. He had an average build and was known to be both a kind and equally stern when necessary teacher.
Mrs Chinaza is the teacher of primary 2. She is a fair-skinned newly married woman of a curvy yet slim build with dark hair and beautiful brown eyes. She was known for her warm smiles and motherly nature.
The two teachers chatted with each other and asked about each's family with the occasional glaring at troublemaker or soon to be offenders(people who were attempting to do something mischievous).
Mrs Chinaza even encouraged the students to sing and dance together as the journey proceeded.
All in all the journey to the zoo went wonderfully well.
The Imo state zoo. A nice state zoo found in the early 2001,just a year after Kelechi was born. He boasted having various animals especially the famous Lions,Tigers,Monkeys and the rest.
The zoo was located at Saint Obinigwe road in a large area with proper security and a high fence. The zoo itself was painted in white with yellow and a few other primary colours.
The white bus steadily approached the zoo before finally stopping at the outer parking lot before the gate.
The students eyes gleamed with unconcealed and excitement as some even pressed their faces on the windows to get a better view.
Once the bus was properly parked and finally stopped. The two teachers immediately sprang into action. Mr Emeka opened the door with a gentle whoosh!. He then stepped out and spoke a few words with the driver.
After that he came back and indicated that it was time to get down.
The two teachers tried their best to make the children as orderly as possible as they were filled with excitement.
Kelechi finally came down followed by two of his friends Thomas and Joshua-who was the boy who ran to get the teacher last year.
They all wore their school uniform and while some carried their school bags with them,others decided to leave it in the bus.
The zoo trip was an amazing experience for everyone.
The guide that was assigned to their group was a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties with a warm professional smile and soft features. The children liked her at first glance.
She wore the staff uniform that was a red shirt and black skirt with a black cap that had the zoo's name printed on it.
The moved around the zoo with her constant introductions of the animals,their scientific names, habitats and even eating habits.
The children with their teachers saw lions with their pride,tigers and tigress,monkeys, porcupines,snakes big and small and so much more animals.
She answered their questions professionally with a patient tone and warm smile on her face.
She even took them to the resting area where the children were given refreshments like cold water or other beverages.
There was a horse riding event done by one of the other staff members who was a guy with a lanky build, average features and warm smile.
He carried the children in two and sometimes ones and rode gently to a very short distance and back again.
Even Mrs Chinaza climbed on one. Her face was flushed with excitement when she came down.
There were other fun activities in the zoo as well and the children enjoyed them all.
They all took pictures later and after all was don it was already close to evening time.
4:30 pm,some parents like Kelechi's mother arrived at the zoo waiting for their children to come out.
The trip was by all the children's standards an amazing trip and some were even asking if they could come again.
Kelechi quickly ran over to his mother the moment he saw her an hurriedly gave her a hug.
His mother simply chuckled and after a few pleading not so subtle glances her son was shooting towards the ice cream stand near the zoo took him there to buy some.
She also bought for his two friends who thanked her before she offered to drop them off as their houses were on the way.
Their families were in very good term so both teacher when told along with the children agreed.
The journey home was smooth. Kelechi waved his friends goodbye one by one after his mother dropped them off with a few words of thanks from the available parent.
When they finally reached their home Chioma turned at her now quiet boy and chuckled lowly as she looked at his cute sleeping face.
The day went by.