Chapter 23

Contemplating

As they were standing, Adrian lingered over the choices to going with them or not. Suddenly, he made up his mind. He would never go with them at all. Yes, he won’t, never! Richard wouldn’t go either, he thought. He trusted him. The bookworm is going to "ghosting" after dinner as usual. He had better tell them to continue with their risky adventure and ceased waiting for them. What if they were even planning to hurt him in the town as retaliation for the beating he gave Martin? No, he barred the idea. He didn't agree they might be planning a revenge. They might not have that coward idea in their minds, he thought. But fearful and strange feelings made his mind cold immediately he heard about going to town.

"We are not going boys, sorry,'' Adrian said to the two daredevil boys in an unrepentant tone. He’d arrived on a good excuse to give to them, he was happy. ’’We would be going for night studies. You know, ghosting is good for better conceptions because of its silence. The library We went to, I couldn’t grab anything into my brain. So, I need to read tonight, to supplement for my lost reading time…’’

"Guys," Martin said, trying to convince the boys, "haven’t you heard that all works and no play makes jack a dull boy? We’re on a vacation for God sake! Why do you want to make your life dull in the name of preparing for Senior School Certificate Exam? The exam that is not even few weeks coming but more than half a year away! Let’s go have some fun in other to give our memory a moment of rest and relaxation, boys. Pass through school and let school pass through you it’s not to be crawling from library to the dining hall, from dining to the room like wall geckos and house rats. It’s to do things that are remarkable, things you won’t forget after you’ve left school; things that will make you remember your days in school and laugh or smile. Thing like going to the night clubs in town, evade the strict school rules without being caught. Or being caught and escape punishments."

"Martin had given you a sound, brotherly advice. It’s left for you to hearken or not. But I would advise you to hearken, anyway. Stop crawling about the dormitory, library and football pitch like house mice or wall geckos." Taj ended his talk with a sudden laughter. The boys all laughed too except Adrian.

'I’m going with you guys," Richard volunteered. He didn’t want the outgoing boys to see him as a dull jack. "I’m giving it trial, just this night alone."

"Yes, you are now talking like a man!" Martin hailed elatedly, clasping Richard’s palms with his.

"That’s a brave decision Richard,’’ Taj added, nodding in approval.

"And you, Adrian? You’re coming with us too, aren’t you?" Martin asked as if he won’t accept NO for an answer. As if it’s a suicide to say no, I’m not going with you.

Adrian became silence. He was baffled that Richard accepted to go with the boys. He felt disappointed because he had thought Richard wouldn’t go with them either. Well, he thought, he was different from Richard. They’re not born in the same day but were just friends and roommates. Even the twins born in the same day with one placenta, from the same womb, had different characters, traits and aspirations.

"I’m still standing on the same ground, guys," Adrian insisted, shaking his head disapprovingly.

"I’m not going to town. The risk is too much for me to take. I know how I left home. I don’t want to create any unnecessary trouble for my parents back in the village."

"We are assuring you that there won’t be problem at all let alone involving your parents. More so, I would buy you whatever you wish to eat. As you know, there are all of different kind of food and things in the town. I’m loaded for the outing boys! There’s not going to be disappointed or boring moment at all,’’ Martin bragged. He removed some huge wads of naira notes from his trouser’s side pocket and flashed it to tempt Adrian.

Martin and Taj were wearing blue jeans and T-shirts, while Adrian and Richard were wearing the college hostel blazers and trousers. Many times, when Mr. Cowtail was around, Martin had put on mufti instead of the school uniform or hostel blazers and got punished. But, just like when you throw a machete up hundred times and would land with the flat side hundred times, Martin kept on wearing jeans and shirts in the hostel. One day, the Principal was walking around the dormitories, inspecting them. He saw Martin dressed in jeans and T-shirt instead of his hostel wears like other boys. The principal was infuriated. But Martin was his friend’s son, what could he do? A mosquito which stands someone father’s bald head requires a lot of wisdom to kill. He just chided the boy a little bit and put most of the blames on the house master, Mr. Cowtail.

"Mister Adebola Lawal or what do you call yourself?" The Principal, a man of about 55, short, dark and pot-bellied had lashed-out to Mr. Cowtail, a six-foot tall young man of around 30, in an irritated tone. The principal had a permanent frown plastered on his face, making the teachers and students feared him, even though he’d an amazing caring heart. Some students even thought he would flare up if you greet him. A sadist they thought he was, but wasn't actually.

"Excuse me sir..." Mr. Cowtail stuttered, surprising how the principal had just burst out like that. He bowed his head respectfully in front of the principal, not looking into his eyes. The atmosphere looked like when a palm tree is bowing before a pineapple tree.

"You hardly take proper notice or serves as a mentor to this boys. It’s obvious you don’t know how to perform your duty professionally. I think we should write the state Ministry of Education to change you as soon as possible."

"I beg of you, sir," Mr. Cowtail pleaded in panic. He dreaded transfer so much. All the teachers in GBC dreaded transfer. Why? Most of those teachers who have been transferred on the principal’s complaints were usually end up in remote village schools. Someone who is used to electricity supply, pipe borne water, even though they come once in a blue moon, would find it difficult to live in the village where such amenities can only be seen in a dream. 'It’s not my fault, sir," Mr. Cowtail pleaded on. ‘’I’ve been trying to do my best as a disciplinarian house master but this boy called Martin, he is like an Okro tree which had grown beyond what a farmer could bend easily. He is as stubborn as an illiterate goat. I have cautioned and disciplined him several times but he wouldn’t adhere, sir."

"It’s high time you know you best is not enough at all. Are you saying he is stronger or more powerful than you, his teacher and house master?’’ the principal queried.

Mr. Cowtail shook his head repeatedly, confused on what to say next.

Though the Principal knew how notorious Martin had been but he was enjoying how he was pulling the housemaster’s legs, anyway. Perhaps he wanted the boy’s notoriety to be curbed but he didn’t want to do it himself. He didn’t know how his friend, Chief. Adekola would feel if he hears his son is being punished over an offence.

"May be we shall bring someone who can curb him and send you to one of those remote villages then,’’ said the principal in a threatened tone.

"Oh no, please sir! Don’t do that me, sir! My life will be in jeopardy if you that to me…’’ pleaded on Mr. Cowtail.

The principal left him as he was pleading, saying, "I have forgiven you but make sure you turn a new leaf. Bring the boy’s notoriety and ill manners to its knees. Now, go in peace and sin more."

Anyway, "Go in peace…’’ was the nickname the student had coined for the principal because of his too frequent use of the biblical allusion. "Go in peace and sin no more," he would say if a student or teacher offended him and he has forgiven him. But, sometimes, he would say so and still punish the offender later on.

'I can’t go with you boys, sorry. I can’t; I just can’t go with you to town,’’ Adrian said with the air of finality, shaking his head like a puppy which has fallen into a pound or a river. He was making his way towards his dormitory briskly as if staying a bit longer would make him change his mind and follow them; as if staying with the boys a bit longer would generate a magnetic element that would force him to town.

Richard followed him and announced, "guys, let me drop my books in the hostel and perhaps, gulp down a glass of water also. You know the body needs water always, even more than food. We need to always hydrate our system with enough water to avoid dehydration…"

"Doctor Richard!’’ Martin and Taj chorused in mockery tone.

"You can say that again, I’ll be right back!’’ Richard said, dashing away.

Martin and Taj nodded to Richard’s excuses. They felt bitterly disappointed at Adrian for turning down their persuasion to accompany them to town.

"That sheep thinks he’s smart, eh?’’ Martin asked Taj, disappointment writing all over his face. He shrugged and shrugged his shoulders, "We’ll still get him. Don’t worry, Taj. We’ll get him soon. He’s like a kite; no matter how high a kite fly, it will still be brought down by its rope. We’ll still get his rope soon, he won’t escape."

"Black Scorpion,’’ Taj hailed, "I belief in your words. It’s a matter of time, we’ll still get him. But an idea just sprouted in my head: I think we should send Richard to talk him into compliance."

"Yes, that’s a good idea. I sensed they hear each other well, just like the hibiscus flower and the butterfly. Let’s call Richard back before he goes too far. Perchance, he could start the talking now and convinced him into following us."

"Yes, let’s call him now.

"Richie…Richie…!’’ Martin and Taj shouted at the top of their voices and with all the strength they could muster, "Richie…Richie!’’

Richard has walked almost two yards away. Turning back, he saw the boys beckoning on him to come back. He pleaded to Adrian to wait for him while he attended to Martin and Taj. But, Adrian would leave immediately Richard leaves, breaking his promise of waiting for him.