April 20, 2021
April 20, 2021
Moving from OGS (Okrika) where discipline was an identifying mark I thought that HSC in Baptist High School (BHS) would be freedom for me as a senior boy. But I discovered that BHS under 101 was a continuation with even higher stakes. For example, it was still from Khaki to Khaki,even longsleeves .
I turned my green Khaki inside out and decorated it with threads. It was special and different, hard to place and copy. Artfully, I dodged the principal ie 101 successfully for almost a term. I was enjoying the game . Not having much in height and stature, it was easy for me to (during assembly hide behind friends like John Onumbu,Sunny Erekosima,Sunny Marisagba(forgive me if the spelling is wrong —it's a long time, since 1977/78) and Tony Nwalia(reasonable height for cover but boney framework —so I combined him with One B Woks if I couldn't get around Boomy)
Suddenly, I was asked to pick my letter in the admin block. I thought I had checked very well:although distracted by my excitement for the letter —Dames ruineous— I surely thought that the Principal's kind and unique car was neither at the office area nor at the quarters. For, 'she' would have shouted the signal .
As I finished my 'business' and was cerebrating my 'victory', I froze as I heard that calm unmistakable and firm voice: "Kemka Gbasam, come come". It was the Principal, (101,for sure)," come, I have been looking for this boy"he called and the magnet of his knowing voice turned me around to be face to face with him."I thought you had left this school".I made up immediately (then we were relishing the art of having something reasonable to tell him instantly —Tony Nwalia and Sunny Rex were experts) so I said to him,"yes sir,my uncle wants to take me away..."Sensing that that was not enough,I came up,"Now I am a day student... "I sturttered away on all cylinders. " OK tell John(my father) that I want to talk with him ".Wahala! Then he ordered," For now give me this your senior army uniform"; then it dawned on me that he was sending me home to report myself.
Now,he stamped the real victory, "Did you think that I was not seeing you? Look at how you took time to change my uniform ". He turned to Nwabali and said " He thinks he is smart ,give him back the cloth". He promptly asked how the world would be if everybody walked and worked about without greeting; everyone dumb,bottling his own worries not sharing them with any. Then he landed :"worries not works kill".
Of course I did not wear that uniform again; and I stopped dodging him and the teachers, I became his little friend.
After about 22yrs, he discovered me in the Seventh–day Adventist Church. I had become a lawyer and he was very happy with me. He was for a longtime and uptill death a worthy Elder of the church. He reinforced the lessons of humility and simple Faith in the Lord. He maintained a delicate balance of these with diligence, fairness fineness.
An urbane Teacher/Principal and an astute Elder of the church,l.O.I lzewgu was of the species of real great men that could not be bought or bent into the vanity of this world. His type is becoming increasingly scarce.
May the lord help his family and us.
I turned my green Khaki inside out and decorated it with threads. It was special and different, hard to place and copy. Artfully, I dodged the principal ie 101 successfully for almost a term. I was enjoying the game . Not having much in height and stature, it was easy for me to (during assembly hide behind friends like John Onumbu,Sunny Erekosima,Sunny Marisagba(forgive me if the spelling is wrong —it's a long time, since 1977/78) and Tony Nwalia(reasonable height for cover but boney framework —so I combined him with One B Woks if I couldn't get around Boomy)
Suddenly, I was asked to pick my letter in the admin block. I thought I had checked very well:although distracted by my excitement for the letter —Dames ruineous— I surely thought that the Principal's kind and unique car was neither at the office area nor at the quarters. For, 'she' would have shouted the signal .
As I finished my 'business' and was cerebrating my 'victory', I froze as I heard that calm unmistakable and firm voice: "Kemka Gbasam, come come". It was the Principal, (101,for sure)," come, I have been looking for this boy"he called and the magnet of his knowing voice turned me around to be face to face with him."I thought you had left this school".I made up immediately (then we were relishing the art of having something reasonable to tell him instantly —Tony Nwalia and Sunny Rex were experts) so I said to him,"yes sir,my uncle wants to take me away..."Sensing that that was not enough,I came up,"Now I am a day student... "I sturttered away on all cylinders. " OK tell John(my father) that I want to talk with him ".Wahala! Then he ordered," For now give me this your senior army uniform"; then it dawned on me that he was sending me home to report myself.
Now,he stamped the real victory, "Did you think that I was not seeing you? Look at how you took time to change my uniform ". He turned to Nwabali and said " He thinks he is smart ,give him back the cloth". He promptly asked how the world would be if everybody walked and worked about without greeting; everyone dumb,bottling his own worries not sharing them with any. Then he landed :"worries not works kill".
Of course I did not wear that uniform again; and I stopped dodging him and the teachers, I became his little friend.
After about 22yrs, he discovered me in the Seventh–day Adventist Church. I had become a lawyer and he was very happy with me. He was for a longtime and uptill death a worthy Elder of the church. He reinforced the lessons of humility and simple Faith in the Lord. He maintained a delicate balance of these with diligence, fairness fineness.
An urbane Teacher/Principal and an astute Elder of the church,l.O.I lzewgu was of the species of real great men that could not be bought or bent into the vanity of this world. His type is becoming increasingly scarce.
May the lord help his family and us.