Chapter 12

A Role Model

The moon has bidden the sky goodbye, paving way for its arch rival---the sun. The moon has turned reddish in the eastern sky like a big round, well ripen orange. This is the time the morning trumpeters, the cocks, stretched their necks out to announce the birth of a new dawn at Iddo town. But because Government Boys College was situated at the extreme-outskirt of the town, the crows of the cocks and other noises couldn’t pollute its morning air. Apart from the chirping of wild birds, insects and the croaking of toads in raining seasons, no other major noise to disturb the students’ ears from outside of the school compound. The state Government had built the school in such a serene environment for proper assimilation of the students.

It was the morning of a moderate raining season of late August, 2001. The sun has sprouted out yellowish in the eastern sky, having less brightness. This was caused by thick rainy clouds which had stood in the sky, not letting the sun bright enough. The weather was cool with little breeze, looking as if it would rain but would not actually. And the trees planted in the school environment were slowly dancing to the rhythm of the gentle breeze.

Adrian just left the dreamland. After opened his eyes, he half sat-up on the bed, leaning on one arm, his mouth opened wide as he yawned loudly. He stretched his slim body to his last limit, his joints creaked. And the bed also creaked as if it wanted some relieves from the load it was carrying. He suddenly let out a loud scream: "oh no!’’, as if he just recollected something vital to his life. Trying to look alert, even though the sleep still hung unto his owlish eyes, he swapped his eyes around the room. Nobody was presence. His small head stretched out of his bunk bed as would a little tortoise out of a giant, oversized shell. Hastily, he yanked his blanket off as a snake would shed its old, unwanted skin! Without waiting to wear a shirt even though it was a somehow cold, cloudy morning, he sprang to his feet, wearing only his floral short. The sleep has not totally cleared off his eyes, so his movement towards the wardrobe was a stagger. He picked his school bag from the wardrobe top and rattled through it, found his analogue rubber wrist watch and checked the time.

"It's six o’clock! Oh my God, I’m late already!’’ Those words burst out in one breath.

He sank back wearily on the bunk bed. The bed creaked again, louder this time around. He buried his oval face in his slim palms and did a short, silent devotion. He was not from a religious family, but he had learned act of praying in the school. Shortly after that, he started feeling comatose. The sleep that hung unto his eyes has totally disappeared and has sent a regiment of drummers to play on his head. Without him knowing, that morning disappointment, coupled with the previous day’s fight injury pain has resulted to headache for him. He tried to force himself to feel better but his swollen lower lip kept supplying painful pulse to his head. Trying to know the real course of the sudden illness, he examined his lips with index finger. He felt a solid, bump-like nudge. Then it came to his notice how he had wanted to see the bump yesterday but wasn’t able to because of darkness. The previous day’s fight has come to his notice, too. Quickly, he flipped the window louvers apart in search for light because the hurricane lantern was doing nothing to illuminate the room. A straight, direct sunlight x-rayed its way into the room, illuminating it. He picked his little hand-mirror from the top of the wardrobe and checked his lips.

"Oh my God,’’ exclaimed Adrian, ‘’is this my check or something else? No wonder, I have been feeling headache since I woke up.’’

He made for the little Robb balm tin bottle from his school bag and applied it sparsely and carefully to make his check less painful and stopped bulging. Ajoke had added it to the few provisions she had provided him before leaving for college last holiday. Though, Adrian had thought he wouldn’t need it, since the school has a sickbay. But he now saw the need for it. Mothers always know what their children need, he thought. The adage which says what the elderly see while sitting, the youths won’t see even if they climb the highest mount in the world, Mount Everest, came to his mind. His face gradually cracked into a fainted smile. The smiles couldn’t expose his corn-like white teeth before it was interrupted by urgent and loud footsteps outside.

The door carelessly flipped opened. And without knocking, Adamu hurried in, heaving breathlessly. He slammed the door without caring to look into the room may be someone was there. As he turned to face the room, his glance directly met Adrian’s. Without bothering, Adamu removed his gaze and glided towards his bunk. Adrian rested his owlish eyes towards his direction, looking at him from head to toe and back again. Adamu was wearing his sport wears, a navy blue long-sleeve and trousers and a pair of white snickers shoes. The sport wears looked oversized on his tiny body; breeze blew them when he bounced in, giving him the looks of a flying butterfly. Adrian need not to be told, Adamu was coming from the early morning jogging. Mr. Friday, the Physical Health Education teacher and sport master, had instructed all the boys to be doing it every day, starting from 5a.m or before any sign of the new sun showed in the sky. He had said that would make them feel fitter, smarter, stronger and healthier. Adrian had never for once missed it. So, by missing that day’s jogging due to late waking, he felt so saddened, just like when an unmarried woman missed her monthly period.

Just as Adamu made towards the wardrobe to pick his towel for bathroom, his eyes met Adrian’s angry, owlish eyes again and the later ranted, "don’t you see me standing here? So, you’ve to be told before knowing you should greet your senior, isn’t it? Or I’m too small for you to see? I can see the reason why Richard treats you with disdain, pulling your legs always!’’

"I…I…I’m sorry, sir!’’ Adamu shuddered and stuttered. He knew Adrian was always soft towards him unlike Richard. He didn’t fell any serious fear around Adrian but he did respect him so much, just like an amiable elder brother. "I…I…I thought you were busy and didn’t want to disturb you with greetings, sir.’’

"That’s a flimsy excuse! Next time, if you behave in such unmannered way, I’ll deal with you in such way that you’d never dreamt of, even from the dreaded Mister Cowtail. Now, clear off my sight! Nonsense! ’’

"I’m sorry once…once again, sir!’’ Adamu pleaded whole-heatedly but he has nowhere to go that moment. So, he couldn’t clear of Adrian’s sight completely. He just shifted a bit away from his sight in the room and continued to undress for bathroom, stripping himself down to a reddish floral short, displaying his tiny body, bony rib and very fair skin covered by black hairs.

‘’Where is Richard?’’ Adrian asked him with a voice so mellow that you wouldn’t think he was the one who just ranted at the boy.

"He said I should be going back to the hostel while he wanted to continue jogging, sir,’’ Adamu looked very submissive. He was accustomed to Adrian’s behavior and wasn’t surprised at his accustomed quick change of attitude or mood swing. Adamu racked his brain and added: "Eh…he also said I should take my bath first, then go to the kitchen to bring our breakfasts.’’

"Alright, alright,’’ Adrian nodded, feeling pity for the boy’s have-mercy-on-me looks. He remembered when he was young like him. Though, he was not as adamant as Adamu but he had his own K-legs too. He would look for his senior students’ trouble and escaped. No matter how they tried to hoodwink him, they wouldn’t---a clever and artful dodger he was. But he always wished Adamu was a blood brother whom he had prayed to have in vain. If he had been his brother, he thought, he wouldn’t allow a scratch to touch him let alone bullies like Martins and Richard. He moved closer to him and said almost in whisper, ‘’you see, Adamu, don’t always allow people to correct you in everything. You know what is right, I know you know. But it’s your attitude of negligence towards doing the right things at the right time that makes Richard pick on you always. I would never lay my hands on you. Never! Because I belief beatings couldn’t change anyone---but lots of advice and admonitions could. From now on hope you’ll change for better?’’

Adamu opened his mouth but was not sure of what to say, he closed it back and opened it again like a drinking bird.

"I insist you to promise me you’ll change for better from now on, totally.’’ Adrian added, calmly fixing his eyes on him.

"I…I…I will, I promise, I will,’’ Adamu said finally with unsure mind, "thank you sir."