IN THE DEN (final part)

 Episode 8

(facts and fiction. all characters are fiction)

The semester was becoming more interesting. More billings were coming from all angles. Sometimes Mark was even afraid to announce new payment as small complaint grew into protest. The most interesting of them all was when we paid 30 naira each to print our exam papers. 

Ebuka wrote a petition against Mark to the HOD of the department, complaining that Mark was extorting money from us. We were all baffled when the news came out. It was after a proper scrutiny that we found out that Ebuka had run out of money and his parents weren’t sending him money as usual. He was becoming frustrated as the day grew into weeks and months. He wished he had been more careful with money was what he told me later.

M.s Helen was also not helping matters. She was always complaining. I however, grew bullheaded as the semester passed. Sometimes she would call me but I won’t pick up. There was even a time I blocked her for one week. Every one of the class excos was frustrated by her. This made us to dread her. We avoided anything that would make her notice us like pestilence.

There was a particular list she had asked me to make for her. After submitting this list, she had persistently complained that I did not make it well. for almost six times she had sent me back to work on the list again. At a point I became tired and blocked her. She retorted to disturbing Mark, who already knew the kind of person she was and had stopped picking her call as well. when she could not reach us again, she started using threat, because she was in my class what’sapp group, she would send a threat to us, insisting that many would fail if we didn’t come to submit a new list. We paid deaf ear to that and the semester continued. I had to go back to her later to reconcile and answer her, knowing full well that she would not do anything but nag at me.

While these were happening, internal conflict broke out among us the excos. One of us had demanded an equal treatment for all the excos which Mark refused vehemently. It became a bone of contention that even grew into a scary beef. Letters were coming from all angles to impeach the class rep. I wasn’t in support of that. In fact, I tried everything possible to make sure I explained every of Mark’s step to all those that misunderstood him. Yes it helped to some extent but it rather dented my own name. They called me Mark,s puppet whom he used at any time he wanted. I laughed when I heard that.

There was a course my department borrowed from another department. The lecturers in charge of the course were not that punctual to class. We hardly had any of the classes and we were supposed to write the exam. As a result of this, Emmnauel introduced my class to one graduate who was preparing for his youth service. According to Emma, it was the guy that made it possible for them to pass the course.  But we had a problem, the man; Mr. Chuks requested that we paid him before he could tutor us. After deliberating with the class, we all agreed that we would pay the amount the man demanded and Mark asked me to handle everything concerning the man. 

During the first and second classes we had with Mr. Chuks, I found out that what we paid for wasn’t what we were getting. I complained to the man about how he deviated from the subject matter more frequent than was necessary but he was defiant, he continued with that. As exam was fast approaching, tension became higher but the man remained adamant. 

One day while we were having his tutorial. He had tried to deviate as usual when I called him back to order, trying to explain to him that exam was already at hand but the man shunned me and warned me never to talk in his class or he would walk me out. I felt pores of anger open through every part of my body. I was furious and, to avoid saying what I would regret later, I walked out of his class.

Initially I thought I had done the best thing. I was even praising myself that I had demonstrated courage, that if no one would talk, I will always. I was in the frenzy of this stunt when criticism began to come from all sides. All my course mates in the hall scolded me for the act while a section stopped talking to me. Then a very few insisted on painting it worse than it was. I was brought to a halt, I had to sit and reflect on what had happened. At the end I learnt never to take any decision out of anger. I had to write an open apology letter to both my course mates and Mr. Chuks. I kept learning.

The journey continued, not so smooth though some days were fun. Exam came and we wrote, some a thorn on our flesh while some added smiles on our faces. Miss Helen never relented in showing me shege; showing everyone that was close to her shege, but would be  lovely and enjoyable sometimes. The journey is still on although every day brings an opportunity for new learning. 

End.

Kenewrites 🥰

Forever appreciate you my readers😍