The Variable Life of Sam

22. The End or the End of the Beginning?

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Oprah Winfrey once said, "'Great Expectations', a book written by Charles Dickens in all its beauty and my ignorance of the contents therein, forgot the sweet, sensational and great expectation of going home".

It was the great day I had waited on from the first week of this tourist programme, the day to finally go home.

The departure day was just like arrival. Students were excited and everywhere was busing with activities.

A brief "Vote of Thanks" programme was conducted before we were allowed to go. Also, presentation of prizes to their winners.

By "prizes", they also acknowledged those who pioneered different clubs that night, meaning that Everly got awarded for the pioneering a club and winning the event game.

"Certificate of Participation" was presented to all those that played in the Hunger Games event.

Schools started leaving once the programme was over as they were those whose drivers had arrived before time. We(Jenny, Temi, Osmosis and I) waved our goodbyes to our new friends(Lasisi, Hillary and Thelma) before they left.

Well, we had to wait an extra hour before we departed for school from where we would all go home. The first thirty minutes was ensuring that all students were present and none was left behind. It came with "shouting" here and there from the teachers.

The second thirty minutes was spent waiting for the drivers to come. It was only thirty minutes because Mrs. Ozoemena called them a "dozen times".

Well, within that time, people took it upon themselves to pile up more pity for me. Something I had been receiving from friends and everybody alike right from the moment I left the arena furiously, with my gear on and everything (I guess we all that got shot left the arena the same way. Well, mine was more understandable, I felt betrayed) with the announcement going on;

OKOYE SAM FROM HERBERT MACAULAY HOSTEL IS OUT, SHOT BY EVERLY KINGS FROM OKONJI IWELA HOSTEL

EVERLY KINGS HOISTS THE PLAQUE. WE HAVE A WINNER!

That night was no good for me. Coupled with the unnecessary pity that was getting me annoyed the more. I had to try very hard to keep my cool and not vent my anger on people trying to be empathetic with me.

In the morning, I was feeling "brand new". It was almost like it never happened. I understood indepthly, the meaning of "Sleep over it" after that. I was just anticipating the departure.

Actually, when I was leaving the arena, she wanted to say something but didn't or couldn't.

It was later during the prize presentation that she walked up to me, with pity in her eyes.

I stared at her blankly while she talked;

"Sam. I'm very sorry about yesterday. It wasn't intentional. No, it wasn't like it wasn't intentional. Emm...it was intentional. It wasn't in a way. I..I.. "

"It's alright. It's cool. It's just a game. There must be a winner and loser, right?", I managed to pull up a smile. Although I wasn't like totally over it. I knew I would be, in no time.

She muttered a "thanks" and left.

Well, she wasn't totally at fault. It was just me not understanding that her "I owe you one" literally meant "I owe you one".

The bus trip back to school was more or less uneventful. Temi was just teasing me on how I will finish a whole pot of food once I get home. She was sensitive enough not to bring up the event stuff again.