I have just read the complete story from the first to last line. Did I enjoy it? You bet! I could go as far as saying the writer, Prof. Osondu has written about events at Madonna High School, Ihitte. You figure that out. But then, I may have called it wrong. Yet I can identify with this story at both of its ends: first as a junior student and then briefly as a senior. I suffered most of those punishments and exacted my revenge even if briefly. In 2009 I had the opportunity of confronting one of those "seniors" who made being in school a nightmare. He had forgotten.
Basil
From: Ikhide <xokigbo@yahoo.com>
To: "USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com" <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; "krazitivity@yahoogroups.com" <krazitivity@yahoogroups.com>; "Ederi@yahoogroups.com" <Ederi@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 4, 2013 6:35:11 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Boarding School - by EC Osondu
"In boarding school everyone was known for something. We all had nicknames. Everyone got in trouble but Ben got in trouble most and was known as One Day One Trouble, after a book title. Kizito was known as Miler. He loved to run and would wake up early to run ten miles before the bell rang for morning prayers. Sule was the only Muslim in the school and was allowed to observe Ramadan, he was exempt from running errands and from punishment during the holy month. Gideon Malanga was from Rhodesia, this was during the days of Apartheid, he was spared from punishment by the seniors—it was said he had suffered enough in his home country. He was the only one who didn't have to eat spicy food, well not only him, there was also the kid named Sylvester who was said to have a stomach ulcer and sucked at an antacid all the time.
Patrick was good at art. He would climb over the school fence to go and buy and smoke cigarettes in the tiny store across from school. He was suspended for his large painting of Peter Tosh across the dormitory wall. In the painting Peter Tosh was smoking a giant spliff and the words Legalize It were written underneath
.
Baka walked like a girl, and spoke like a girl, he even laughed like a girl. For some reason the seniors liked him, he never got in trouble and was never punished and he laughed with everyone. He was the son of a senior police officer.
Richard was a rich boy, or was usually rich at the beginning of the school term but was wont to spend his pocket money rather too quickly. He would begin the term as Richard and by the end of the term he transformed into Poorchard."
- Ikhide
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