A MATTER OF HONOUR

OMERE KELVIN OSAMUDIAMEN 08034665792

`I glanced at my wrist watch for the hundredth time; the time was 1: 58pm. 1 waited impatiently for the closing bell to ring. The geography teacher popularly called Skullron by hostellers because of the deep set of his eyes was explaining map reading in his coarse voice. I had lost interest in the days lectures since coming back from the break at 11: am. I was not usually easily excited about something but today I had something worth being excited about. Suddenly the bell rang, marking the end of another school day and indeed the end of another school week at Our College of Faith Schools. I remain seated as my classmates started leaving the classroom. I was beckoning all the nerves I needed for what I had vowed to myself that I was going to accomplish today. Edestruction, why are you still sitting down or are you not glad that the day is over? Donford, my classmate and my bunkmate asked. I am coming, was my short reply. I am going to the hostel right away. And hope you have not forgotten that todays lunch is beans and dodo? How can I forget such a thing, I replied absent mindedly. Have you forgotten that beans and dodo is my favourite food? I will come to the hostel soon; I have an important issue I must attend to first. Please yourself, but dont come begging me for milk and biscuits later. I dont know what you are waiting for here; later you will come to the hostel and starts to Para. Thats your problem, Please leave me alone. Tell Acum to help me keep my food if I dont come on time. I will gist you guys everything later. Donford walked out of the classroom and headed towards the stairs. I remained seated, my eyes focused on a group of girls who had gathered a chair in the first row discussing only God knows what in low tones. After some time, I suddenly realized that I was the only male student left in the classroom. I lost my nerves and walked out through the back door. I stayed in the backdoor and leaned on the rail pretending to be looking at the many students moving about the compound. Never for a moment did I take my eyes off the girls in the classroom; I could see them through the louvers still discussing and giggling occasionally. I had no doubt in my mind what

they were discussing. Girls only laugh and giggle like they were doing when discussing about boys. I looked at my watch and became restless. I had hoped I could rap up my mission and still make it to the dining hall in time. If only I was a day student and not a boarder, I would have had all the time in the world to I must have lost focus because the next thing I knew the girls had scattered. The day students among them went through the front door and headed toward the stairs while the hostellers came out through the back door near where I was standing and began to move down the corridor towards the girls hostel, which is located inside the school compound. Err, please errexcuse me, I stammered as the girls filed past me. Eight pairs of eyes immediately stared at me inquisitively. I pointed at the tallest of them and mustering all the nerves I have, looked her straight in the eyes and said. Nancy, please I would like to have a word with you for a minute. Hope no problem, she asked. No, no problem. Actually I was I looked at the other girls still standing there and they took the hint and walked away. I was wondering if I can get to talk to you privately. What more privacy do you want? We are alone here, she replied, boldly looking me straight in the eyes. You know how the rules are around here; we could get in trouble if we were found here all alone. Alright, why dont you wait for me to change into my hostel cloths? We can go to the dinning together; I am sure that you can say all you have to say on the way? That would be okay, I said. I will be waiting by the school gate. She walked away and I climbed down slowly from the third floor where our class was located. The building also housed the administrators office, the principal office, the account office and the staff room. To say I was happy was an understatement, I was thrilled. The first and most difficult part of the mission has been accomplished. I had no doubt that things will only get better from here. The distance from the school gate to the boys hostel where the dinning was located was not much but I had no doubt that I could turn her antenna to my frequency before we get to the guys hostel.

I got down from the last step and went past the chemistry and physics laboratory and began to walk towards the gate. I was busy reciting all the lyrics I have been practicing over the past two weeks. Actually, I had meant to talk to her before now but on the several occasions I have resolved to talk to her, I always lost my nerves whenever I set my eyes on her. It was always as if a bucket of cold water was poured on me. I will suddenly go cold and my heart will melt suddenly like a piece of ice thrown into a hot pan. But today will never pass me by! Osagie and about five other form five guys already had girlfriends. It was a shame that me, Edestruction was still without one. After today I hope to be among the privileged few who have the guts to approach and win over a girl. In my case, I actually hope to have an edge because according to a parable I have heard somewhere If you must eat a frog, endeavour to eat a big fat one. I was going to have the tallest and one of the most beautiful girls in the school as my girlfriend. As I walked leisurely towards the gate, I chided myself for having waited this long. I was almost sixteen old and still a virgin. It was a secret that must never be known even by my closest and truest friends. In the hostel that we live in, a soul can never be too careful. Kelvin! Have you gone deaf? I looked up from my dream world to see Mr. Peter, the hostel master staring at me angrily. I was almost at the gate and knew that my babe-to-be would be coming along any moment. I quickened my pace to meet him. I had to discharge him as soon as possible. What is the problem with you? the house master inquired. Have you gone deaf that you could not hear me calling you? I am sorry sir. I want you to go to my house and tell my son, Jacob to give you the files on the table in my bedroom. They are thirteen in all. Make sure you handle them carefully to ensure that no paper slips out of any of them. But sir, I am almost late for lunch! I protested, If I dont go now, there will be no food left for me. Dont worry, He assured me, I will instruct the caterers to keep food for you. With that he dismissed me and turned his attention to the school gatemen with whom he obviously has an unfinished discussion. I turned back mournfully and began to walk back towards the school compound. A number of girls have passed me already on their way to the dining hall. I saw a group of form

five girls going to the dinning with their eating materials conspicuously absent. Big girls! They have no doubt giving them to some junior girls to carry it to the dinning for them. Nancy was not moving with the others; she walked leisurely, like a princess at a considerable space behind her mates. I had no doubt that she has purposely chosen to move behind them so as to encourage me to approach her and tell her the sweet nonsense she obviously knew I was going to tell her. If she was surprised to see me walking back towards the school compound, away from our pact, she didnt show it. She only nodded her head to my quick explanation that the house master sent me on an errand and that we will talk later. It could have taken me less than ten minutes to get the files from the housemaster apartment located in one of the building beside the church. I however took my time going about it. I wanted to make sure that by the time I return, lunch time would be over and I would be able to take my food to the hostel where I would be able to eat in more comfort and leisure, not to talk of the opportunity to snub off the other guys, most of whom will surely come begging for a spoon or two. The housemaster apartment building was separated from the main school compound by a fence, nevertheless, a gate in the school hall made it possible to move between the two compounds. After collecting the required files, I took the leisure of going into the big church building next to the housemaster house and watched the drama group as they rehearsed for what was probably going to be their Sunday service performance. I tried not to dwell on my disappointment. The devil has used the housemaster to ruin my day. The housemaster has succeeded in pouring a lorry-load of sand into my small-cup of garri. How was I ever going to get the nerves and opportunity to achieve what I had done today? All the same, I encouraged myself with the words of Archbishop Benson Idahosa, you can strip Joseph of his coat, but you can never strip him of his dreams. Mr. Patrick may have succeeded in striping me of my opportunity, but one thing he will never succeed in was to strip me of my desire. When I remember the words of Abraham Lincoln that my own resolution to succeed should be more important than any other one thing, I vowed in my heart that come what may, Nancy must become my girlfriend! Fifty minutes later, I was relaxing in my bunk enjoying a big bowl of beans and dodo with a friend, Ben. As I had expected, many of my hostel mates had tried to Para me when I entered the dormitory with the food. My food was unusually much with the pieces of dodo numbering more than fifteen. Unbeknownst to them, I had voluntarily assisted the cooks in washing the cooking utensils in the kitchen. That calculated move has rewarded me with a big bowl of extra food. After eating my reserved food in the kitchen, I proceeded to the dormitory with my big bowl of food.

Out of all of them that circled me, I only allowed a few of them to take a few spoons and a half piece of dodo; I then invited Ben, who had missed lunch because he secretly went to town, to join me. Ben was explaining to me and Donford how his activities in town went when suddenly; Our Nose suddenly grabbed some pieces of dodo from my plate and made off with it. Before I could get up to give him a chase, he was already out of the dormitory running down the stairs. He was no doubt running to hide in one of the junior students dormitory where he hope to eat the dodoes in peace. That guy is a real thief! Ben exclaimed. Just imagine the way he stole those pieces of dodo right before our eyes. What do you expect from Delta boys? They are all thieves! I concluded. Hey, mind your mouth! Acum, a Sapele boy shouted. Is it because of your stupid food that you are insulting everybody from Delta state? Cant you talk to the person that took your food? So the food has now become useless? When you were almost kneeing down crying for a slice of dodo and two spoons of beans some minutes ago, you didnt know that the food was useless? I challenged him. Most of the students started laughing. This infuriated Acum so much that he jumped down from his bunk and dared anybody to laugh. This only prompted for more laughter from more students. Red Tomatoes, who are you laughing at? Acum challenged one of the smaller boys who was so light complexioned that he earned the nick name Red Tomatoes. I am laughing at crying for dodo, Red Tomatoes replied. Or might your name be crying for dodo? Everybody in the dormitory burst into uncontrollable laughter. Crying for dodo rushed at Red Tomatoes with clenched fists and with the agility of a cat, Red Tomatoes jumped off his bunk and picked an empty bottle of groundnut nearby. Come near me if you have two heads! he threatened. Crying for dodo weighed his options and decided it was not worth the risk. He reluctantly returned to his bunk and sat down. This action initiated another burst of laughter from everyone present.

Crying for dodo, Oh boy, what a name! someone remarked. Another round of laughter followed. You guys are only just jealous of me because I have a girl friend! Crying for dodo blunted out. How many of you laughing pigs, apart from Osagie and big belly here has a girl friend? Do you idiots know how it feels to even hold a girls hand? He has struck at where hurts and he knew it by the sudden silence that enveloped the dormitory hall. Before I could stop myself, I blunted out. Do you call that ugly duckling of yours a girl? Havent you seen my girl friend? That what a girlfriend supposed to look like. Your girlfriend my foot, whenever did you have the guts and the lyrics to talk to a girl? Or is it the one you talked to in your dreams? A couple of the guys laughed but the majority of them were actually waiting for me to authenticate my declaration of a girlfriend. The issue of girlfriends was a very serious in our dormitory and was not something to laugh about. For your information and the general public, Nancy the tallest girl and unarguably one of the most beautiful girl in the school is now my babe! I declared. Everyone should by this declaration defray from looking or even thinking of her, not to talk of approaching her. There was a moment of silence before Crying for dodo blunted out, Edestruction is lying, tell us one person who actually saw you talking to her. I saw him talking to her, Ben came to my rescue. Liar, Our Nose, who has sneaked back in to the dormitory shouted. Ben, you are a liar! You that went to town today, when did you see him talking to her? I actually saw him talking to her today after school hours, but I doubt if the duration they spent talking together was enough for him to have won him over, Peace, the most quiet and cool-headed guy in the dormitory said. I still disagree, Edestruction will never have the guts to ask Nancy of all girls to be his girl, Our Nose said. It became obvious after several minutes of arguments that many of the students were not convinced that I have won Nancy over. It was agreed that to prove my claims, I was to give her one of my uncompleted notes for her to help me complete it. In addition, I was to be seen holding her hand in a walk before Monday.

I had no choice but to accept the condition. To do otherwise would have been suicide. Ben and Donford were secretly concerned about me but I assured them that there was nothing to be worried about. I had spoken to Nancy and she has accepted to be my girl, I insisted. As I prepared myself for the mandatory church service that evening, I told myself a million times that failure was not an option. Thanks to the rumour channels in the hostel, everybody, including the senior and junior students has gotten to hear about my challenge to prove my claims. I was worried that the rumour might even get to the girls hostel before the end of the day. Anything I must do must be done quickly. Was it Waldo Emerson or is it Abraham Lincoln, I am not too sure now that said You can succeed if nobody believe in you but you will never succeed if you dont believe in yourself. Given the time, I had the confidence that I will surely win over Nancy, but with the time limit set for me to prove myself, I know I needed a miracle to save my face, my pride and maybe even my stay in the hostel. Being the jest of the entire boarding students can sometimes be worse than outright expulsion. At about 6: pm that evening, we filed out of the hostel compound with our two house masters like a herd of sheep led by two shepherds. Attempts in the past to make us walk in single files have always been unsuccessful. Today, it seems like the house masters themselves were not too enthusiastic about the church service because they just walked behind the SS 3 boys, who were the most senior students. They had the bad habit of always been the last to participate in anything. The housemasters made no attempts to hurry or coordinate us as we nosily discussed between ourselves and moved scattered along the road. Along the way, we passed a small street, no, a small close would be more appropriate. The close contained a few residential buildings that separated the hostel complex from the main school compound. Opposite the close and the male hostel was the school field. Adjacent to the field, separated by a fence was another compound that housed the school chapel, the crche, kindergarten, and primary schools. The premises also contained the basket ball court and the school clinic. We also passed the senior school main gate on the right which was directly opposite the basketball court and the school clinic as we hiked to the church compound which housed the magnificent church auditorium. Used to the routine, we marched not-too- silently into the church and settled down at the part of the church always reserved for us. The female students were not were not yet present even though their hostel was much closer to the church than ours. The choir was just starting to sing when we walked in. The church attendance was unusually few. I suspected that the announcement two days earlier that the general overseer and most of the senior ministers were traveling out on a tour was singularly responsible for the low attendance this evening.

I have often wondered how many Christian will actually make heaven when Jesus comes. The church these days was full of hypocrites. I believe that people like me and my fellow students have better chances of entering heaven on the last day than so many so called bornagain-Christians. I know that if given the choice, many of the students including myself will not attend a single church service; not even if the pope himself was to be the usher. At least we were not hypocrites. Soon enough, the girls started filing into the church in an orderly manner. I could feel all eyes settle on Nancy as she towered above the other students. She moved herself like a royal princess as she sat down in a seat I was convinced was purposely chosen so as to enable me be in her sight. The service ended without my hearing one word that was spoken by the preacher I was busy daydreaming of Nancy and I being together in one dark room, holding hands and The only memorable event of the service was when we were to give offering. I had timed my standing up to collide with that of Nancy. As I strolled purposely towards the offering box, I held a hundred naira note rather loosely on my hand. Fortunately and unfortunately, I must have been wrong in my timing because before I could get to the box, Nancy has already dropped her money and was on her way back to her seat. I quickly pocketed the hundred naira note and brought out a ten naira note which I proceeded to put in the offering box. The next day, Saturday, though was the best day according to students rating, passed by like a cloud to me. After washing my cloths in the morning, I kept to myself and refused to participate in any sport activity or even in any discussion or arguments. I was aware that my time was quickly slipping away. Evening met us preparing for the best and most loved service. Known as social gathering, the students were allowed for three hours to mix up and interact. Nevertheless, the gathering was coordinated by both the male and female social prefects. The students were allowed to sit together and entertained themselves with jokes, songs, general discussion and general entertainment. Though the school authorities set down rules and regulations to be followed when organizing social gathering, the students has overtime modified them to suit their own purposes. Boy, I think this is the best opportunity to prove to everyone that Nancy is really your girl, Donford said, on our way to the senior school compound where the social gathering was to be held. I will prove everyone wrong, I replied unfriendly. Hey, we have always been on your side, Ben protested. Werent we the ones who reminded you to take along one of your uncompleted note to give to her to help you complete?

After today, you have just tomorrow to meet the deadline; like it or not you have the opportunity to either make or unmake yourself. Whatever the outcome of this challenge, it shall become one of the major discussion till the end of the term. You can either make yourself a hero or the school clown, the choice is yours, Donford said seriously. Thank you for your long speech. Like I have told you guys more than a thousand times already, Nancy is my girl and as for the challenge, thats just a piece. Stop trying to deceive us! Ben interrupted, If you are as confident as you sound, why have you been so gloomy and hot tempered all day. I dont have time for all these trash! I increased my pace and left them behind in pretended anger When I got to the venue of the gathering, the place was already filled with students. I tried to pick out Nancy among the sitting students to no avail. I then strolled round the wooden benches that has been arranged for the occasion but still couldnt spot her. I finally sat down near some primary school girls in an attempt to discourage any of my friends from coming to sit with me. The evening started with an opening prayer after which a group of smallish junior students, who ironically call themselves d big boyz entertained the group with an hip hop song a disregard of the school; rules.. Different students came out to sing, give jokes or tell a story. After two hours, I have become worried and agitated. All my efforts to locate Nancy have proved abortive. I was already giving up when the female social prefect called out ten names from a piece of paper in her hand. To my greatest delight, among the names called was my Nancy. If you heard your name, please come out to the front! The male social prefect shouted. Five boys and five girls walked out and among them, I saw Nancy walk out from among the students and made her way like a goddess to the front. The female prefect brought out a small bag and announced. Inside this bag contains ten folded papers; you are each to pick one, open it and read the content to the hearing of everyone. We expect maturity from all of you. We dont want anybody to shout or misbehave. Anyone found wanting would have his or herself to blame. Fellow classmates, please cooperate. The prefect stepped forward with the small bag and the ten selected students picked a folded piece each from the bag.

The folded pieces of paper contained different instructions. Some instructed the student to dance, sing, or make the students laugh. Noteworthy is the one that instructed the students to call out a student of the opposite sex and give him/her a slap. Since it was a female student that picked that particular paper, she was expected to call out a boy and slap him. In a second, almost all the male students have bowed their heads in an attempt to shield their faces. Nobody wanted to become an object of ridicule by being publicly slapped by a girl. The girl wisely called out her brother who went to receive a playful slap from her without much hesitation. Every male student heaved a sigh of relief. Another student was instructed to drink up a big jar of water. After drinking to his fill, he poured the remaining water on a nearby flower. He was asked to kneel down in front of everybody till the end of the gathering. He complied quietly without any argument. Incidentally, Nancy was the last student to read from her piece of paper. The students thoroughly enjoying themselves were silent as she read from her piece of paper. Call out a student from the opposite sex and do something stupid to him, she read aloud. Silence followed as most boys again bowed their head to prevent her from calling them. Kelvin, please come out! she said, rather loudly and coldly. I remained frozen to my seat. Is Kelvin not here? one of the prefects inquired. I willed myself to stand up and walk as majestically as I could to the front to meet her. I wondered what stupid thing she might have in mind for me. I was certain she was going to punish me for calling her my girlfriend she has no doubt heard about my claims on her. My fate was no longer in my hand wasnt even in the hand of God. My fate was in the hand of a tall beautiful girl who stared at me coldly as I approached her. What stupid thing would you like your girlfriend to do to you? she asked me so quietly that even the prefects standing close by did not hear her. I was too confused and ashamed to answer. Please, tell me, she pleaded. I dont want to do something that you would not like. Kiss me! I blunted out before I could think. I was still not sure if she was being serious or just taunting me.

She suddenly stretched out her hands and held me across the neck. After a moment surprise, I held her waist and drew her closer to me. We stared at each other eyes for a moment before our lips touched A deathlike silence enveloped the students as they watched incredulously, with their mouths open as Nancy and I engaged in a full blown kiss for what I estimated to be half a century. It was my first kiss ever and from the way Nancy was trembling in my arms, I had no doubt it was her first time too. I never knew anything could be so rapturous. It took the combined efforts of the two prefects and the wild exclamations of the students to break us apart. With the shouting and jumping by the students in their excitement, there was no doubt that the gathering has come to an unscheduled end. I looked at Nancy and she smiled at me. With the joy and happiness within us, I had no doubt that we would withstand any punishment that awaited us. Not even the threat of expulsion could kill or decrease the joy I felt within me. I was a hero to be discussed for years and I knew it!