"What is going on here?" Miss Alex asked, when she got to the class. She was going round the classroom block, looking for Ellen, whom she was told is with the seniors in their class. Ellen quickly wiped her tears and looked down. "I have been looking everywhere for you, Ellen. Why are they on the floor?" She spoke to her first, then turned to the seniors with a question. "They are just being punished for insubordination, ma'am." Henry replied. "You are not serious." Ellen muttered with shock. "See what I mean ma'am?" Henry said, backing his point. "Get up, all of you. Henry, your father is with the headmistress. They want to see you. As for you three, say sorry for whatever you did to them, and explain to me why Esther punished you some time ago." Miss Alex commanded, and spoke at once. Henry was surprised to hear his father was in, and left for the administration block. The girls muttered sorry to the seniors, who looked at them with pity. They couldn't fathom why Henry punished them like this. Gloria, Kelly's roommate, had told them about Esther punishing them when school reopened, and Ellen came back. They were very upset, especially Henry, when he sent Gloria to go call Abby and Kelly, while Mercy went to call Ellen. Instead of asking for explanation or comforting the girls, he told them to kneel while they waited for Ellen. They left to find Henry after the girls had explained what happened. Miss Alex was terribly upset as she led the way to the house. Esther was definitely doomed today.
***
"What did he want?" Clara asked after meeting Henry on the way. He had a grim look when his friends caught up with him. Terry well knew Clara and Eric, but he didn't meet them today, as he left after doing what he came to do. "Where are the girls?" Henry asked instead. "They went to the house with Miss Alex. I think Esther will cease being a queen today." Eric replied. "Why did you punish them that way, Henry? And what do you mean by insubordination? You made Ellen cry; I thought you liked her! Are you tired of her already?" Clara threw a series of questions in a fit to Henry, but he ignored her and left in the direction of the boys' dormitory. Clara left, feeling very upset with him. She didn't understand what was going on. This is the first time Henry was doing something like this, he even ignored her earlier question about his father's visit to the school. "Esther Danso, come out now!" Miss Alex roared when she entered the dorm, calling Esther out from the prefect room. Esther, who was using her phone, got scared immediately and rushed out. "Yes madam." She responded meekly. "During roll call at the reopening date, what did I tell you concerning Eleanora Wilson?" Miss Alex quizzed. "You said she has permission to overstay ma'am." Esther replied, tension rising. "Oh great, your memory works perfectly. Why then did you punish her and her friends for overstaying?" Miss Alex asked, hands on her waist. Everyone was interested in what was going on in the dorm, giving undivided attention to the housemistress and the house prefect, who had beads of sweat on her forehead. The object of discussion was in another universe, thinking about the ridiculous excuse Henry gave for punishing them. 'When did we disrespect them?' She wondered. "Well, answer me!" Miss Alex demanded an answer from Esther. "I- uh, I punished them for unnecessary noise making ma'am." She replied innocently. "I see. Who here can testify she punished them for noise making, and said nothing about Ellen reporting late to school?" Miss Alex asked the crowd, and no hand went up. "Ellen, did she punish you for late reporting to school?" Miss Alex threw a question to Ellen. "Huh? Yes please, she did." Ellen replied after Abby gave her a nudge on the elbow. Esther shot her a dark look, which didn't go unnoticed by Miss Alex. "For lying to me, and having it out for these girls since last term, you are hereby demoted from your position with immediate effect. Till the next election, Hilary will be the main house prefect. I'll let the headmistress know of this development. Now, if I hear another complaint about you concerning these girls, I will have you de-broadened from the school with harassment of students. No one came to school for you. I hope I'm clear. If Esther bullies anyone in the dorm, report to me immediately." Miss Alex announced and left, the students in awe, and silent jubilation for Esther's demotion. She glared at Ellen and her friends, and stormed back to the prefect room. "Elle, did your dad perhaps speak to Miss Alex before you came to school?" Abby asked with interest. They did not get why the mistress would defend them this way, when she didn't demote Esther even after seeing her and Amanda bully them last term. What brought about the sudden change of heart? They wondered. "Um he called to personally ask permission for me to overstay, but I don't know what exactly happened between them." Ellen explained, thinking her father must have had something to do with this special treatment. "Wow. Aren't you glad you are the daughter of Dr. Aaron Wilson?" Kelly teased, and they laughed when she nodded, the punishment forgotten about.