chapter 10

The day for the school 20th anniversary arrived. It was also the day which the school will be closed for vacation. Sadik was so worried because he tried calling his parents to send him his transport fee but their number was always not available. He complained to Peter about it but Peter asked him not to worry that his parents will help him. The anniversary was to take place in the school field. The school field was decorated with balloons of different colours and there were canopies arranged in circle with chairs under them and stage at the centre.

By 9 O'clock parents of students had already started arriving. Sadik and Peter sat at the front of the administration building and waited for Peter's parents. Around 9:30 am, there were a lot of cars parked at the front of the administration building. Peter saw his parents coming and he quickly jumped up."Look Sadik, there are my parents" Peter pointed at a brand new black car. Sadik was so surprised because the car looked so expensive, and he never knew Peter was from a rich family."Are these really your parents coming?" Sadik inquired astonishingly."Yes of course" Peter replied and he held Sadik by the hand and they walked towards the car. When his parents saw them, they stopped and parked the car beside the school dining hall.

Sadik and Peter walked to them."Welcome dad, welcome mom" Peter said."Thank you my boy, how are you doing?" replied Peter's Father."I'm doing okay dad, where is Jane and Ben?" Peter asked." We left them at home" Peter's father responded. Peter's Mr John was a man with an average height and fairly dark in complexion. He was a manager of a bank in Abuja. His wife Mrs John on the other hand was a very tall woman and fair in complexion. She works as a nurse in a hospital close to their house in Abuja."Good afternoon" Sadik greeted them."Oh how are you doing?"Replied Peter's mother."I'm doing good Ma" Sadik answered."Mom this is my friend, his name is Sadik" Peter introduced."Oh that's very good, is he also in Jss2?" Asked Mr John."Oh no he's not, he's in SS2" Peter answered."Wow! I guess he has been taking care of my poor little child for me" Mrs John grinned."I'm not a child anymore mom, I can take care of myself" Peter replied, and his parents laughed."Where is the anniversary ceremony going to take place?" Mr John asked."It will take place at the school field" Peter answered."Okay let's go there, the program may start without our presence" Peter father Said.

Sadik, Peter and his parents walked to the field. Some of the students were dressed in yellow. They help in directing visitors and distribution of food during the ceremony. When they arrived at the venue, they found Sarah also dressed yellow."Welcome sir, I hope you had a pleasant journey" Sarah said."Of course my dear, and how are you?" Mr John asked."I'm doing fine sir" Sarah smiled."The white canopies over there are for Parents and guest sir" Sarah Said pointing at a section of white canopies."Oh thank you" replied Mr John, and they walked in the direction of the white canopies.

Peter and Sadik were about to follow Peter's parents when Sarah grabbed Sadik by the hand."No students are allowed there" she informed."Oh really?" Peter asked."Yes you should go to the other side" Sarah Said."The blue canopies are meant for students" she added."Alright Sarah, you even look better in yellow" Sadik complimented."Oh really? What do you mean by that?" Sarah asked."I mean it would have been better if you were in Princess House" Sadik replied."Well, that's just your assumption" Sarah concluded.

Sadik and Peter walked to the canopies and found themselves seats. They sat there among other students and waited for the occasion to start. By 10 am, the principal of the school including teachers and other special guest walked to the ceremony ground and they all sat in the section where teachers were to seat. The program started around 10:05 am. After the opening prayers were said by both Muslims and Christians, the school band played the song for the National anthem and everyone stood up for it. After the national anthem, the principal walked up to the stage and thanked parents and guest for coming.

Some of the special guest used to be the students of the school. As the ceremony went on, they were asked to come and introduce themselves and give some advice to the students. During the ceremony, some students performed various cultural dances. About ten cultural dances were presented during the ceremony and Fatima was among the students who danced. She danced as a Fulani girl, and the costume she wore looked so beautiful with her long hair falling behind her back. Sadik kept watching her alone when the Fulani tribe students were dancing. Even though some of the girls in her group looked pretty, Sadik failed to understand why he was so attached to only her.

Many events took place during the ceremony and it got to the last stage where student's results will be announced. Only the first best three were to be announced. The vice principal was the one to announce the names. When a name is called, the student and his parents were to go to the stage for the collection of the result and the prize given.

The vice principal started calling out the names, when he got to SS 2 C, to everyone's surprise, Sadik was called as the person with the best result. He walked slowly towards the stage because his parents were not there. Suddenly, he saw Peter's father coming to help and he felt so happy. And he also received awards for the highest score in almost 6 subjects in the whole SS2.All the students were surprised including Peter and Sarah. Even the teachers were not left behind. They thought he was someone weak, and he appeared to be beyond their expectations. And he was also prized as the overall best student with the best result."That's impossible, how can someone poor from the village get a result like this? This is something we are not going to believe" James protested. Some of the students also protested saying they were not going to agree.

Sadik walked up to the stage and spoke to the vice principal."Sir, I have something to say" Sadik said."Okay here's the microphone" the vice principal replied and walked down the stage."Good afternoon Principal Sir, the Vice Principal, our beloved parents and my fellow students. My name is Sadik Tanko from the village of Mazaga Yobe state. I can say being in this school is the greatest luck to have ever happened to me. It's been my dream to come to the city since when I was young. Before I came to the city, I thought life will be simple as that of the village. In the village, we love and treat visitors as our families without considering their social status. But when I came here, things were contrary to what I've expected. I was treated differently just because I came from a poor background. But in case you have forgotten, none of you here originated from the city. If all your great grandparents' origin will be traced, it must have all started back from the village. If I can precisely recall, the first Prime minister of Nigeria was also from a village. You see, intelligence is not about your social status or where you come from, it's about who you are in person. There are a lot of people in the village who have great potentials, the problem is that they are never chanced to show how magnificent they are. Intelligence is a God's gift that cannot be bought with money. And I want you students to understand something, I didn't just get the scholarship, I earned it by hardworking. And if any of you think my result is questionable, the person should come forward, I'm opened to any challenge" Sadik announced.

The whole place remained quiet for a while until the principal walked up to the stage and collected the microphone from Sadik and asked him to go and sit down."There is a proverb that says never judge a book by its cover and you all know what that means now. If for a second you think you are better than someone just because of your wealth then you are not so far away from failure. And I'm indeed impressed by your achievement Sadik, you did something I never expected and I hope you will maintain it like this" the Principal advised. Sadik became the subject of discussion even among the teachers."You are full of amazement Sadik, I think I still don't know the real you" Peter surprisingly said."Oh come on Peter, don't exaggerate" Sadik replied."I'm really serious Sadik, for this while I never knew you are such a genius" Peter insisted.

The principal gave the closing remark which signified the end of the ceremony. Peter went to look for his parent and asked Sadik to wait for him. Sarah walked to Sadik with a smile on her face."You know when I first saw you, I know behind those shivering and shy eyes were some hidden talents" Sarah said."I offer you my congratulations by the way" Sarah cheered."Thank you Sarah, but you know you have exaggerated" Sadik replied."Oh what part have I exaggerated? Is the part of the shivering eyes?" Sarah jokingly asked."You have exaggerated everything" Sadik chuckled."I was wondering if you would give me your phone number so that we will be able to communicate during the holidays" Sarah requested."Oh but unfortunately I'm not in a possession of a phone" Sadik responded."Oh have you lost it what happened to it?" Sarah asked."No actually have never owned a phone" Sadik replied."Wow! Really? I can't believe this, are you really serious?" Sarah was completely taken aback."Yes of course I am, what I have been using was my mom's phone and it has malfunctioned" Sadik replied. Sarah remained there so amazed without even knowing what to say. "Okay I'm going Sadik, my parent are waiting for me in the front of the administration building" Sarah concluded."Okay goodbye Sarah, until we meet next term" Sadik replied, and Sarah walked away.

Sadik was looking around then he saw Fatima sitting alone with her arms folded around her chest. Sadik was wondering if he would go and say something to her. He made an attempt to go to her but unfortunately for him a boy was there before him. Sadik remained there looking at them."Can you please give me your phone number?" The boy asked. Fatima looked away with a frowned face."I don't have a phone" She replied."How can a big girl like you don't have a phone?" The boy asked."And how is that supposed to be your business?" She asked, and the boy quietly walked away looking embarrassed."That's why everyone is beginning to hate her, because she's so arrogant" said a voice behind Sadik. When he turned, he discovered that it was Peter."You really like this girl, don't you?" Peter asked."Yes I do Peter" Sadik responded."Well, I know you are going surprise the hell out of me just like you did today, that's why I'm not going to bother telling you what to do" Peter laughed."But I don't stand a chance Peter, the head boy likes her and you know he's good with girls" Sadik complained."If that's the case, then I have good news for you" Peter replied."Oh really? What is it?" Sadik asked."I've never seen her looking at any boy with a smile like she did when she looked at you the other, that alone makes you stand a chance" Peter encouraged."Besides you are so smart, she doesn't have any reason not to fall for you" Peter added."Thank you Peter" Sadik said."Oh don't mention it, I have already spoken to my parents about your transportation and they said you should come with us" Peter mentioned.

Peter and Sadik walked to the front of the administration building."Oh Sadik you are such an intelligent boy, why didn't you advice your friend to study like you?" Mr John happily said while he held Sadik by the shoulder."He did study sir" Sadik smiled."I heard that you were unable to reach your parents on the phone" Mr John said."I yes sir. I don't know what happened" Sadik responded."Okay why don't you come with us so that you can leave early in the morning tomorrow?" Peter's father recommended."Okay sir that will be helpful" Sadik happily agreed.