SCHOOL FEES DRIVE!
NON FICTION!
EARLY 2008 (JSS 2)
Leave out the moody and emotional moments that follows after the drive had happened, the panics only occurs when there's going to be a test or when it's exam day.
Nothing compares to the excitement that comes with hearing that sound.... "If you have not paid your school fees, come out"
Maybe it's my thing for holidays, or I already have seen ahead to how brutal or bored the day will be, and on some days, I just don't want to be in school. That sentence can change a moody day to an exciting one, returning home at such odd hours when everywhere is quiet and only 'elders' are around, getting a break from academics to relax at home or just follow mum to the market (what my heart truly adores, for the love of food and mineral).
The one I want to share with you today is the very one amongst others I greatly enjoyed. Yes o, there are times I enjoyed school fees drive, and I won't even tell my dad its time to pay so that I'll be driven. How can only you stay in class when almost 50% of your mates are going?
Okay back forward to ogbunabali Port Harcourt, where my junior secondary school was situated. SEGA, PS2 and GAME BOY just made their first entry into the world, and like a new bride was sweeping the attention of every young human being, and for those who could not afford, they made a house, game house where you can buy time, sit down and play for as long as the time you purchase.
I'm weird, I don't know how to play games, not even handle that joy-pad, but I like my weirdo like that, even till now, I enjoy watching others play games on screen, you will not catch me by mistake, I will not come and disgrace my ancestors, my ancestors and I don't know how to play games. But that matter in the face of peer pressure? No it doesn't, they didn't win me sha, if not by now I'd have been saving money for PS 4, I kinda like that I don't do games, when I think of the money I'd have spent on it, but what's really eating my money? Gadget and Data, phones and laptop in the gadget category, and then travels and tours!
But then there's this new game house that one of my classmate's brother had opened at Chiokwa street, and my class mates where going to check it out. Of course, its useless to start going to game houses by 2:30 (closing time) when your time is already running late and even though my parents won't find out because they return from 7pm, they will know I didn't return on time because I'll not be able to finish the chores. But morning is perfect time, and should I add that my dad already said, anyone the police picks at the game house will rot in jail, his shadow will not come to bail the fellow. I know mum will come sha, but ehrrm will dad allow her come?
Those warnings fall flat when we gathered at my classmate house whose brother owned the house, and planned on going to the game house to while time. The thing is, as they drive you home, hang around till its closing time then return like other children, only that they spent their time with whips and learning and you? Ha! Having a swell time. We numbered above five, I mean, both myself, that my classmate and others who refused to tell their parents that its school fee drive time.
That period, learning no dey my body, I no lie you, and how e wan take enter, when other people wan play game?
The Vice Principal made the announcement and sent us away! We left, to my class boy's house, where the thought entered our mind and we went to the game house and were told they don't allow people with uniforms, we lodged at the boy's house watching Mortal Kombat on chin chin, his family were welcoming I tell you, the mum will be feeling like "poor children, the school do not know how much their parents is trying to make ends meet" and we we are like "lecture free day, daddy will not know until he is told"
The next day, we all brought extra clothes for the game house. And before the Vice Principal will do the announcement we already filed out, carried ourselves to our meeting point and moved straight to the game house. Of course I disgraced my ancestors in that Grand Theft game, but I like the outside school adventure! And so it continued.
Major highlights includes: Days when the Vice Principal will forget to announce the drive, we'll announce it and drive ourselves home.
Days when he will say he has forgiven us for the day that we can stay and learn and we will refuse the mercy and drive ourselves home. 😂 😂
The man got confused one day, he knows our parents, especially from that clique, both the guy that his dad has paid also joined the drive home. And so this day, he'd driven us home and we were strolling home, (of course you know the home right?) and the father of a particular girl had stopped us, and told us that he will go and speak with the principal on our behalf, (Ogbeni who send you work? Did you think our parents forsook us?) we agreed, and started following the man, the oga faced front, bouncing to the school, feeling like a hero who is going to save kids from not learning, only to turn back to see the population has drastically reduced. “Where are the rest?” he asked me, I don't know sir, he shook his head and sha was determined to save me and a few others, only that I dashed into the shortcut closest to the school and disappeared into thin air.
Did they tell you I carried another cloth in my bag for fancy? Of course not. That man who stopped over thirteen students got into the school with only five. (some days are like that sha) we don't need your help sir, try again later.
The man poured his shock to the principal, who was also shocked himself, but hid it. He came the next day to tell us that there will be no “school fees drive” unfortunately we didn't hear the no we started hearing from the school fees drive. This has gone on unhindered for one week and our parents had no knowledge of it until that day. That day, the vice principal had come up with the announcement…..
“If you have not paid your school fees….” don't worry oga, our new environment is better than school, we filed out, with our school bag, we headed out of the school, my peers were going to the game house, my spirit would not let me go.
“Go home” it commanded. I've always grown with that still small voice, I kinda build relationship with it, and until I found out it is the voice of the Lord, I had always referred to it as my spirit or mind, or a sensation. I knew better than arguing, any time I failed to follow that voice the trouble I get into are profound.
That day, I didn't argue, I told my clique I will be going home because I feel like going and headed home. Low and behold, my parents were coming to pay the fees that day, what would have become of me if my father had come to that school that day and didn't see me and had gone home to carry me back and had discovered that my shadow is not at home? Well since he didn't caught me, let me stop imagining.
He carried me back to school, and I entered the class, of course the day was dull and boring, others are chilling off in our joint and I'm here learning. Mtcheeeeeew!
My boredom was dispelled the next day, I felt gratitude instead, when I learnt that the police came to that game house the day before, and arrested people, and my friends narrowly escaped and the other one was bailed.
My dad's words came back, and I thank my spirit for watching my back! And that's how they all went to pay their school fees and continued classes!
And you will be thinking that I made a resolution not to ever hang around or do that again ba? Big lie, I did it over and over with skills sef!!
Tell me about yours!
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