"Aaaaaaahhhh!" Everyone turned to find out who and why the person screamed, when they saw Abigail and Kelly running towards Kingsley house. Ellen rushed to give her friends a tight hug too when Esther came out. "We are back to school again with you three taking front row seats to trouble land, huh? Do you think you own the school? All three of you, go on your knees now! For disturbing us with unnecessary noise." Esther fumed with annoyance when she came to meet the friends laughing and hugging. The smile cleared from their faces when they knelt to receive their punishment. Ellen had just been dropped off about an hour ago, turning the heads of the few people on campus with the car she rode in. Some could have sworn they saw Dr. Aaron Wilson come out of the car to hug her, after she alighted. Since it was a Sunday, most people were inside the dorms, so they didn't see her. She had gone to look for her friends when she realized they weren't around, and they were not at Kelly's house either. She left a message with Gloria, Kelly's roommate to extend to them when they came back. Her friends were not expecting her to come today, so it was normal that they screamed of joy after receiving the message, and running to Kingsley house to find her. Ellen was almost in tears as Esther pulled a chair to sit in front of them. She knew that only meant bullying. "Hey, you, why are you now coming to school? Are you above the rules here? Or do your family own this school? Answer me." Esther threw questions at Ellen, while poking her head with a satisfied smile when the girl began crying. "You are such a crybaby! Has anyone beaten you? You stayed in this school last term like it was on your shoulders. What? You thought Henry showed interest in you, so you're unstoppable? Hahaha, where is he now huh? Fun fact about Henry, he toys with you for a term, and moves on to the next one. You thought you were so special, in fact you decided to set your own reopening date, just like him. Do you know there is a rule against late reporting to school? Get up, go get a hoe, and go weed around the field, for the late reporting to school." Esther teased, rebuked, and decided to add more to the punishment. Ellen couldn't stop her tears as she missed home, she didn't realize she had become too dependent on her father now. Kelly was about to say something when Esther shot her a deadly glare. "Oh, I dare you to open that thing you call a mouth. It's because of the three of you that Amanda is still in the hospital fighting for her life, tsww. In fact, leave from my sight before I do something I might regret. I don't want to see any of you helping that little thing with her punishment, else, you will each get your own portions." Esther said in resentment and left, as Ellen came out with a hoe in hand. "Clear every weed on that field!" Esther commanded, when she bumped into her. "But senior Esther, that is not fair. The school field is too big for her alone". Kelly finally voiced out her thoughts. "Oh, I see. Since it's not fair, grab a hoe and clear the other half. Do you also want a portion of the pie?" Esther meted out another punishment and threw a question to Abby, who stood there silently. "That's what I thought." She said and left. "We're so sorry Elle. We didn't mean to get you in trouble." Kelly consoled their friend with regret. "It's okay. She's always had it out for me. She just needed an opportunity to punish me. She was asleep when I arrived, I think she just woke up." Ellen replied amid snivels. This was not how she planned on spending her first day back to school. She was going to meet her friends and tell them about the wedding, like she had promised. She would find time to look for Clara and the guys as well, but life, or rather Esther, had different plans for her. She wiped her tears as they neared the field. "No one is here." Ellen pointed out, the disappointment in her voice, not escaping her friends. They exchanged knowing smiles and Kelly asked; "Do you mean the sports team, the students, staff or… Henry?". They all burst into laughter when Ellen blushed and begun weeding, their moods lifted once again.
***
The time read 6pm on Ellen's watch as the sun set. It was past dining time, and they were famished. "Ouch, my back". Abby and Kelly groaned. They had taken a solid four hours to weed the entire field. They would occasionally sit and talk, especially about the Wilson wedding. That kept them going with laughter and sassy comments. "I can only imagine Elle in heels, hahaha." Kelly teased and they laughed. "Come on guys, let's go and bath. I'm starving as well, and I know you are too." Ellen said, taking the lead. She wasn't as tired as her friends, because she was used to farm work. "I'm really sorry you both got dragged into this. Thanks for helping us out, Abby. I know you both aren't used to this." Ellen apologized, with tears forming again. "No don't apologize Elle. We couldn't possibly leave you to weed the whole field by yourself. Besides, we have to apologize for giving that wicked girl a chance to punish you." Abby said. "Hey, on the bright side, we got to spend time together, right?" Kelly remarked, and they smiled. "Yhh, with blisters in our palms." Abby whined, earning a laugh from them, as they got to the hall. "Um, have you seen sister Clara and Senior Eric since you reported?" Ellen asked. "Girl please, no need to beat about the bush. But yes, we have. They are all in school, hahaha." Kelly answered the actual question beneath the voiced one, with a tease. "Awn, she's blushing." Abby teased too. "Don't worry Elle, they haven't changed the duty areas, so you might bump into him again tomorrow." Abby continued. "Are you girls done with what I asked you to do?" Esther's voice boomed above them, and they shuddered. They stood rooted to their spot, as she descended. "Yes please, we're done." Ellen replied, bowing her head. "Okay, lead the way. Let's go see your finished work." She said, waiting for them to start walking. The girls had no other choice than to go with her. … "You call this weeding? How is this field cleared? I don't care how you are going to do it, but make sure I don't see a single weed on the field. You two, leave from here." Esther demanded, giving Ellen more work to do, and asking her friends to leave. "But sister Esther shouldn't we all do this? You punished both of us." Kelly, the blabber mouth, spoke audaciously. "I said leave!" Esther commanded, and they left. Ellen knew there was no escape for her now. Esther just wanted to torture her.