[Story] Love, Lust And Lost

8 years ago

[Story] Love, Lust And Lost

“When the ritualist came to pick the first person to be used, it was Akpan the Lazarus that was picked. They took him into the shrine and set him on the slaughter table; uttered some incantation but his spirit was rejected by the gods” he waited a little to see the students reaction but went on since he didn’t get any.

“He was later set free because the oracle said his head didn’t yield to the ritual. Do you know why he was set free or what saved him?” Mr. Oriyomi asked but the students gave different chorus answers.

“Because his spirit rejected” a boy called Anord in JSS2 shouted.

“Because his head didn’t yield to the ritual” a JSS1 girl said.

Another student from JSS3 said “because the oracle rejected” but Mr. Oriyomi shook his head as though he said `These children don’t know anything,’ then he blurted out in a matter-of-fact tone “it was the injuries and wounds on his body that saved him. The Oracle often rejects such people cause they were regarded as deformed or handicapped. If he had not had wounds on his body, that would have been his direct visa into a rich man’s cupboard, bringing money to him every time he is called upon.”

Mr. Oriyomi wiped the sweat on his face with an handkerchief and spoke on “since Akpan had injuries all over his bodies, the oracle(devil) rejected him and from thence, Akpan who was always angry when he was called `Akpan the Lazarus,’ now enjoyed being called the nick. Whenever he was saluted `Akpan the Lazarus,’ he would reply `it is a good thing that is happening.’ What did I say?”

“It is a good thing that is happening” the students gave a chorus reply.

Some sections of the students appeared to be less fascinated by the story as if it meant nothing to them. It was well written in their faces.

Adefemi’s mind had drifted off the assembly ground soon as he heard the climax of the story.
He was thinking about how he had been dancing in the school hall before the bell rang. He had felt reluctant to dance in the first instance the Award`ing’ Ceremony of the Literary and Debating Society had ended when the DJ played an old school DMX track titled ‘Ruff Ryders.’

Halimat had first walked up to him so they could dance but since he was shy, had ignored her request. It didn’t take some few minutes before Fatimah also asked why he was not dancing but he said “I’m just not in the mood.”

“Hmmmmm! My charm not in the mood, what could have caused that?” She had asked but got no reply as he walked out on her.

“Why does he behave this way these days?” She had asked herself as she watched him leave.

Tosin had been observing the event pretty well and had also followed him to where he moved to after leaving Fatimah’s presence. She asked him “can you please dance with me please, don’t feel shy. I won’t be hard on you!”

His eyes had bulged out of their sockets hearing that. His shyness also seemed to have left him once his sound system picked the signal and he couldn’t turn her request down. But he also felt somehow, `how do I dance with Tosin when I had already turned down Halimat and Fatimah who were far better than her in studies, beauty, package, attitude and behaviour?’ He thought but dismissed it when he remembered `i won’t be hard on you.’ What this silly girl means, I don’t know, he made an aside as he watched her wring her waist to the dance floor.

Though Tosin used to be his closest friend from JSS1. What strained their friendship came back fresh to his mind. She used to be his girlfriend and usually they bought each other snacks, ice-cream and drinks but Tosin bought more for him than he does for her. She was a girl as understood and girls were often given much money to spend than their male counterparts.

It was on a Thursday, a fateful one as could be said. A news got to their class while in JSS2 during Maths period, Tosin’s mother was in the staff-room. The reason soon travelled like a jet to the ears of the student – Tosin had stolen her mother’s 5 thousand naira (5,000) and brought it to school to flex amongst and with her peers.

It didn’t take long, people were being invited out of the classroom to face the panel set up in the staff-room. They had called almost 8 out of the 14 friends she was often seen with. It was remaining 6 and there was possibility Adefemi was one of them. “It would soon be my turn. Chai!!!. I don die today” he had sat in shock and fear in the Maths class.

All Mr. Ajumo, the Maths teacher was teaching wasn’t entering his head anymore.
His heart began to beat fast as though there was something in its pursuit. He almost wet his pants. His bladder was filled but he sat still on the chair, thinking he would be next to be called.

“As I have given you examples on the board, who can now factorize this equation for me” he picked the chalk up from the front desk where he placed it and wrote.

Solve x2 + 5x + 6 = 0.

“That’s the equation on the board” he said moving away from the blackboard and pointing at the written problem on the board.

“I sir” Malachy, one of the most brilliant student in Maths said and raised his hand.

“I sir, I can give it a try” Vincent, a very dark but also intelligent boy, who was good in Maths also raised his hand to show he could try provide solution to the problem on the board.

“Are they the only student in the class?” Mr. Ajumo asked pacing round the free path close to the board, surveying the eyes of the other students, about 60 of them who didn’t raise their hands up. His baggy pant-trousers obeyed the wind and his shoe that was filled with dust and chalk remnant shone beneath his black trousers.

This was one of the days people like Malachy and Vincent were needed. They would have practice and read ahead of the class and so such questions were not always strange to them to answer. Teachers and their tricks, always givng simple and direct examples but very difficult and different question to students to solve.

As Mr. Ajumo couldn’t waste time again, it was 1:45pm and just 15minutes to round up the last period and dismissed the student. He broke the chalk into two, handing one to each of the boys and asked they solve at the two edges of the blackboard their questions.

After some minutes of thoughts, chalk crumbling against the board, they were finished and Mr. Ajumo said “give them both a round of applause. That’s how we know serious students” he said as they both smiled to their seats feeling on top of the world.

“Mr. Ajumo, please can I have 3minutes of your period please” a non-teaching staff of the school entered and spoke.

“Hope no problem ma?” Mr. Ajumo asked seeming very strange to him what the principals clark was doing interrupting his class but he thought she might be sent by the principal and allowed her proceed.

Adefemi knew this was it, he almost shed tears down before even being called. He who was considered honest and highly respected amongst the teachers had soiled his own identity by relating with a thief.

She unrolled the little piece of paper with her and said “if you hear your name, down to the staff room right now”

To Be Continued….