When the holidays were over, students didn't want to return to school, do you know why? Because of the looming uncertainties. You never know what tragedy will befall you the moment you step onto the school grounds and put on those uniforms.
This was typical of almost every Nigerian boarding school. Indeed, every day felt like a test of survival.
But you wouldn't expect these misfortunes to come rushing at you on your first night at school. Unfortunately, Joe, yet again, was a casualty of fate.
____
Joe resumed early that term, marking the first time he had returned so soon since his admission; he usually came back at the end of the first week. This time, however, he resumed on the second day of the first week of resumption.
Joe didn't like resumption days, why? Because of the check-in process at the gate. It wasn't the fear of getting caught with some contraband of any sort that bothered him; it was the harassment from the staff members at the gate. They showed no hesitation or remorse in sending you home for not having a cup, bucket, or even a spoon! It didn't matter even if you completed your school fee worth over 5O thousand naira!
Misplaced priorities!
There was a time when a staff member Joe knew helped him get in without any hitches. They didn't even bother to know if he carried any luggage with him. They just reviewed his receipt and let him through. Sadly, the following term, this staff member was transferred to another school and Joe's plight endured.
Joe always faced trouble at the gate, even though he never owed the school a penny. These staff members were the bane of Joe's existence at school.
____
Joe was happy seeing his mates after the long holiday – everyone was. The school population was always scanty during the first week of resumption, as many preferred to resume much later when the term had properly begun.
Although there were many advantages to resuming early, it also had its drawbacks.
____
The following day began rather roughly for Joe. The prefects took them out on the cold Harmattan morning to sweep the school compound. This was typically the responsibility of JSS1 students, but due to the sparse number of boys, the Prefects included everyone. Joe was especially upset by this, as he was no longer in JSS1 and felt embarrassed sweeping alongside his juniors. Of course, this didn't matter to the Prefects, as to them, both groups were simply juniors—indistinguishable.
However, the latter part of the day was enjoyable and stress-free. It was fun because they spent money on food and shared it in the class, and stress-free because no teacher sauntered into their class for any lessons.
____
The day was finally coming to an end, and the students were preparing for night prep. Normally, night prep lasted for about 2 hours and 30 minutes – from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm – but since it was the first day of resumption, it only lasted for an hour and a half.
Moreover, since it was the first week of resumption, the evening prep felt like a get-together with the girls. It was a time to chat and show off new clothes, footwear, wristwatches, and other items – a brief glimpse of the essence of resumption. Nothing serious was going on academically, so Joe lavished the preps doing nothing.
Joe waited impatiently for the prep to end, eager to join the boys' get-together in the hostels. He couldn't bear the thought of missing out on the gossip and meals.
____
It was late in the night, but the distinct voices of the boys in room 5 could still be heard, talking and laughing hysterically at each other's jokes. It was truly a get-together after the long holidays.
Unbeknownst to them, something lurked outside.
Something sinister!
The noise they made had attracted the boarding master. Joe was so caught up in the moment that he didn't notice the old man slip in through the half-closed door – nobody did!
The BM caught the first boy, who was sitting on his bed near the door and talking rather loudly, with a deadly blow from his fan belt and ordered him to step outside and wait for him.
The impact of the blow took everyone unawares and offered no respite, as the BM immediately charged toward another boy. Joe who was sitting in his bed, quickly lay down and pulled the sheets over him, closing his eyes – albeit shakily – to pretend he was sleeping, thinking the BM hadn't seen him. However, the old man proved him wrong as he turned and charged toward his bunk. Swiftly, Joe slipped out of his bed and ran outside past the BM, missing the old man's fan belt by just a hair's breadth.
Joe joined his friends at the frontage -- they were about 10 in number -- and together they waited for the inevitable. If only he had delayed his resumption, this wouldn't have befallen him. It was well past lights-out time, and it would take a miracle for them to be absolved.
Who even left the door open? Why was he still awake? What's all this? Joe asked himself the questions anybody would in such an unfortunate situation. He blamed everything and everyone.
It was frustrating having to sadly acknowledge the fact that no one and nothing would save them from this situation they've plunged themselves into, they were simply doomed!
The BM came out shortly and observed them with a glint in his eyes. He looked at them the same way a soldier in war would look at his plunder -- with lust. Indubitably, they were at his mercy.
The BM began flogging the first boy he caught, with his fan belt. To Joe's dismay, that wasn't all; the old man instructed the boy to wait on the other side, as he wasn't done with him just yet.
But was it just him? No, Joe was wrong again.
What was this man up to again? Joe wondered. The BM was so full of malicious schemes that it was almost impossible to tell what evil he was plotting next.
Joe and his friends were yet to serve the punishment this man was so fond of – frog jump. Yes, they would hop like frogs, for only frogs made noises at night.
Frog jumping wasn't the only problem; the other problem was Joe didn't know when the old man would release them. The BM was insatiable when it came to administering punishments to students.
Joe and his friends were instructed to frog jump from their room to the block's farther end. Did he hear that right? The block spanned about 30 meters, and their room was the second-to-last one on the block! Technically, they had to frog jump a distance of about 23 meters, not once, and not even twice! This was madness – cruelty at its greatest.
Maybe the BM thought this was some kind of military school, or perhaps he assumed that everyone had been to the military like he had.
____
Joe lay down in his bed, sweating profusely and his chest heaving with indignation. He reflected on the day's events – how he had nearly been turned back at the gate because he didn't have a bucket, and now the BM – his nemesis – had made his day even more tragic. It felt like too much for a single day.
Yet again, Joe seemed to be a casualty of fate.
YOU ARE READING
Ordinary
AdventureJoe, a young African student, steps into the chaotic world of a Nigerian boarding school, where every day feels like a test of survival -- you never know what trap awaits. From his run-ins with the harsh Boarding Master, the unpredictable Principal...
