GRETEL saw herself elevating as she took a step higher on the podium.
The shouts, cheers and wails coming from the audience; students, teachers and parents, was so defeaning that it could make someone go deaf for a lifetime.
She still couldn't believe it, was this a dream? Oh! She prayed never to wake up if it was.
She had once again bagged the much envied post, she had won the Miss Venya again, the third in three successions.
Wow! She couldn't believe it.
Her smiles widened as she waved to the crowd, the cheering and clapping increased as they blew her kisses.
Then she subconsciously knocked on her head, to be sure she wasn't dreaming, and that was when it happened.
The knocks had now increased, and she noticed she wasn't the one knocking anymore, and it wasn't on her head as well.
She tried ignoring it to continue with the celebration when a still voice spoke.
"Miss? Please open up", the voice came.
Now Gretel began fighting with waking up, or continuing with the dream.
She couldn't, and then she succumbed and opened her eyes.
She gasped...what?
It wasn't the school hall, it wasn't the audience, it wasn't the Miss Venya election, it was her room. Her large beautiful room.
"Miss, it's past 7am", the voice came again.
Hmph, she smirked getting up from the bed.
Whoever it was, whoever dared woke her up from her sleep, must have had strong guts.
She angrily pulled the door open to behold Lily, her personal maid. She frowned.
"Are you crazy?", she blurted.
The maid shook in fear, she knew it. She knew Miss would flare up, she had tried telling Ma'am when she sent her to go wake her up.
"I...I'm sorry Miss", she spluttered.
"Idiot, sorry for your miserable self. What's it?", she asked.
"Ma'am said I should come check on you, she's worried it's already 7am and you aren't up yet for school", she said.
"Rubbish!", and she slammed the door to her face.
Lily sighed and turned back, she didn't know why of all maids, she was the one allotted to be this lady's personal maid.
She hated it.
The door opened again and she halted.
"Hey you?".
Lily turned.
"Yes Miss", she said.
"Get my breakfast ready at the dining", and she slammed the door.
Lily sighed and walked away.
Gretel kept cussing and muttering words under her breath as she got ready for school.
Why would that daughter of a bitch disturb her sweet sleep, she had already won the Miss Venya, the third time. OMG! In three successions.
She smiled.
Gretel was the most beautiful and sophisticated girl in Venya High School.
She was tall, fair and extraordinarily brilliant. She also held many positions in the school.
She had the best voice and was the leader of Venya Musical School.
She was the second best dancer in the school and also the chief speaker of their debating society.
During the election of Miss Venya, she had canvassed for votes, passed all the tests and competitions required for the post, and not to be surprised; she passed all tests and got the highest votes.
Currently, she still holds the Miss Venya, which always lasts for a year.
This was the second time of her in that position as she had won it again after her first tenure elapsed.
To top it all, she was from a wealthy home. Her father was a politician and also the flag bearer of a ruling party.
Her mother was a big time lecturer in one of the renowned universities and a great novelist.
To cut it short, Gretel was an all rounder, and her fame grew wild round the school like harmattan fire.
Every guy wanted at all cost to be friends with her, but surprisingly, she was a snub.
By the time she won the Miss Venya the second time, in her fifth year in school, she let her achievements entered into her, she became proud and rude, gradually scaring people away from her.
Her disposition made her unapproachable, she thought all the boys as unworthy and unfit for her.
She stripped them off their confidence and they in turn, had no choice than to admire her from afar.
She picked up her school bag from the couch where she had dropped it the previous day and carefully placed it on the bed, admiring it, it was a designer bag.
Then picked up her phone; it was an Iphone 13 pro max, gotten for her on her birthday by her father.
She carefully unzipped her bag and put the phone inside.
Then she picked up the bag and walked out the room.
Walking through the hallway to the stairs leading to the dining, her shoe lace loosened and she bent down to tie it up.
A maid carried a laundry basket coming up the stairs, she halted immediately she saw Miss tying up her shoelace.
She instantly sensed trouble.
So she tactfully moved the basket to her right, as Miss was on the left, so she wouldn't hit her with it, then she continued walking up the stairs.
She got to her and bowed slightly greeting, "Good morning Miss", she said.
Gretel sharply raised her head up, and it hit the maid's left elbow as it protruded, holding the basket.
"Arrgh!", she shouted holding her head.
The maid quickly dropped the basket and touched her hand.
"Get your hands off me you stinking bitch!", she blurted, still feeling her head.
The maid flinched.
"I'm sorry Miss", she apologized, rubbing her palms together.
"Sorry for your miserable self, now bend down and tie up my lace", she said pointing to her shoe.
The maid quickly bent down and she received a knock.
"Ouch!", she touched her head.
"That's for your blindness, now tie up fast", she said.
After she had finished tying up the lace, she got up and picked the basket.
Gretel hissed and began walking down the stairs.
She got to the dining and sat down to eat.
She uncovered the plates and pulled a disgust face, taking the cutleries she began eating.
"Goodness gracious", she suddenly shouted, knocking the plates over, and spilling it's contents on the table.
A maid ran in, her eyes widened in shock.
"Miss, are you okay?", she asked.
"You are the one who isn't okay. What's this?", she pointed at the knocked over plates.
"It's...it's food Miss"
Gretel got up and picking up her bag which she had dropped on another dining chair close by, she sauntered out.
"Tell that Lily girl that she has me to contend with later in the day", she blurted and walked out, almost bumping into her mother who had already began walking in at the noise.
"Oh! Mom?", she said.
"What's the problem? Why are you shouting?", Mrs Clifford asked.
"Nothing serious mom, it's that Lily girl....", she glanced at her wrist watch and her eyes widened, it was already 8:15.
"I'm off", she said, dashing out.
