When Mark Twain said that kindness is the language the dead can hear and the blind can see, I guess he was thinking about something so deep in his mind that he had to express the importance of being human. The necessity of being kind.Today I visited Katy. I choose to miss school because I was sick. I wasn't really sick to the extent where I couldn't move my legs from one place to another. I was just sick to the extent that I was unable to drive my whole body to school.Katy's room was lovely. She had her cylindrical music box turned up to its highest volume as she blasted some trending songs. She smiled as I reminded her of the night we spent together with Delaney. I know she wasn't really happy with Delaney joining us even though she didn't say it.There is something I have been noticing these days and I think it may be true about me. Whenever I am around Katy, I think better because her voice soothes my eardrums and makes me feel alive. But today, even when s
I saw a lot of faces today. Faces that I thought I have not seen in a long time. There were pieces of white chalks all over the class. It was as if someone had bought a whole packet and felt it was best to litter it around the class to prove to our physics teacher that his lessons were no longer worthy to take forty minutes of our time. I am glad that my physics teacher was sick today because I would really hate it if he came to our class only to see it in an unwelcoming state.The school bell rang when it was break-time not recess, because recess is not commonly used in Nigeria just as we call the final year before tertiary institution as the third year of senior secondary school and not the final year of high school as it is said in America and in a lot of parts in Europe.To most of us who gets tired of listening to a man talk about Nigerian politics and its upheaval, break-time to us meant liberation. The short period of time between midday and thirty minutes past
Goodness dropped by in the evening. He brought some of his notebooks along with him. We had discussed earlier at school that we were going to spend time studying together so we could make good grades together as friends."I forgot to ask you at the beginning of school," I said to Goodness. "What was your position in our class last term.""I took the second position. Slightly behind you."I was shocked but I did not show it. "And what was your average?""Ninety-four point two percent. What was your own average?""Ninety-four point three percent," I said. "A little ahead of yours.""I agree with you.""Do you think we could make a perfect score this term?"Goodness stopped what he was doing and faced me. "No! It can't happen.""Why? Anything is possible as long as we work harder than before.""That is not what I am trying to say. This term is the second term of our final year in secondary school. That is true but un
Everywhere was calm. The rain was slowly coming to an end and I felt at peace with myself. It was drizzling slightly as I crossed the busy road with my school bag. It was the second day of the week and the first working day of the week. I placed my hands on my face as I thought of all the work I had to do before the end of today. I had to make sure that all my notes were complete. I had to do my assignments, copy out figures, and draw diagrams for my biology class presentation. Too much work for me!The lady who sold at the largest bookstore close to our school had a sour expression on her face when I arrived."What can I do for you, young man?" She asked."I would like to have some white cardboard paper, a 5B pencil and an eraser," I replied.The lady's child smiled at me as he watched his mother listen to all I had to say before going inside to get what I wanted."This is everything you asked for," the lady said as she dropped the items that I ha
Today is Valentine's day. A day set aside for lovers to express their affections towards one another. I tried looking for someone to have some fun with today but it turns out that there is no single person in this world that is single and willing to mingle that I know."I am going to take Miss Bisi to a special restaurant," Uncle Max said to me in the morning. "Do you want to come with us?""No! I am fine. Thank you for asking anyway. I will just sit at home and watch TV till it is time to sleep.""Are you sure you will be fine?""Yes I will be. Enjoy yourself."
Sundayy is the only day in the whole week since I resumed school that I get to go out and do whatever I wanted, be whatever I wanted and visit whoever I wanted. I looked at the sky strangely today. The horizon was a peak of clear blue and tufts of white hairs that served as clouds. Shinning gloriously was the sun and you wouldn't think the sun will shine like this, in glittering gold dust and in spears of light as it watched me miss church a third time this month.I watched the grasses. Bright in color and lined up in rows of shinning green covers. Seven years ago, Christle and I used to lie in the grasses at school behind a provision shop whenever it was newly cleared and it was midday. It was always like breathing in a perfume made from heaven, all rolled up in a drop of sunlight and in a bed of greens. Christle and i always had splotches of dark green on our uniforms after we were done but it was worth it. Moving our hands in the grasses as we tried to imitate flying angel
Our last period was over. School had ended. Noise overtook the hallways again, like a cloud of warm fog. Students dashed from one place to another so did adults. The place was like a small camp with soldier ants parading every nook and cranny in search of suitable spots to smuggle their goods. School prefects gathered around the entrance of the school. The gate!Anyone could feel the burning energy radiating from the school prefects bodies. Everyone could feel the energy radiating from my body. Fear and anxiety are two unfortunate brothers with two different mothers."Why are you standing there?" Charles yelled at a junior student. I hope you have not forgotten that Charles was the sports prefect."I will be late for choir practice if I don't get home early," the junior student replied."Do you want our school to be dirty?""I don't want that," the junior student replied."Please go and join them in clearing the grasses."Even if Char
"I know you’re afraid, honey," Mum said to Christle some years ago, “but now that you have your WAEC, you can take some university classes in the evening whenever you are ready. It doesn't matter even if you are yet to be admitted. At least, your senior secondary school certificate will be serving a useful purpose."“University classes? Mum, give me a break. You know I can't do that,” Christle snapped.“Christle, don’t talk to your mother like that! She’s just trying to encourage you to become a better person in the society," Uncle Max scolded. He was spending the holidays with us at that time. It was a day before Christmas.Christle sighed. “I know and I am sorry about everything. I just- I just saw my WAEC results yesterday and everyone is forcing me to take responsibilities I don't want to take."“I’m sorry,” Mum said softly. “I just meant, you know, it would help you meet people.&