ONCE IN A LIFETIME

THE PENULTIMATE

ONCE IN A LIFETIME: By Adesanya Noah.
Season 1, Episode 1: THE PENULTIMATE

***
It was the third Sunday in the month of September 2005. Monday, the next day marked two memorable events for Adaora Dorcas. First, she will be adding another year to her years the next day, turning 10. She actually did not want to celebrate the event. Her family were known for not always celebrating birthdays as they were Jehovah's witnesses.
The second event was that she'll begin her first day in secondary school come the next day. She did not feel more special about this than the first event. She wished she could just start her music career and forget formal education. Everybody knew dorcas as a good singer with a powerful voice from such young age. She had always pictured herself in the Jehovah's witness orchestra. How lovely! She thought.
All these thoughts went on in her mind in her cozy room around the ikorodu suburban. She stared at her neatly ironed pinafore and inner blouse. She placed her polished shoes and socks in their racks.
As she made for her bed, she was interrupted in the flight by her mother's voice from the kitchen.
"Dorcas! Dorcas!! How many times will I call you before you answer me?"
"Mum am coming." She quickly rushed out of her room and down the flight of stairs. "Yes mummy," she mustered almost out of breath.
Mum turned from the kitchen cupboards, looking rather tired, "Your dad just called that he'll soon be home. I want you to go to his room and get the place arranged!"
"OK mummy." Dorcas turned for her father's room. She still remained basking in the euphoria of the events coming up in a few hours.
***
"Pass! Pass! Oh! Which kain stingy boy be dis? Pass joor! Michael!...Oya na"
Those were the voices of some children on a street at ketu. They were shouting at their playmate, Michael Akpan to pass the ball to them. Michael, well known for his prowess in football, was often called "little Messi". He and the legendary footballer had a lot of things in common. They were both short, left footed and had bow legs. Michael is about to resume tomorrow at Day flower in same Ketu, just a few streets away. He is just getting admission into the secondary school after futile years of trying. He clocked 14 in January, already sprouting a beard.
He does not even have concerns about his secondary school life ahead. He has strong believes he will either end up being a footballer or a rapper. Michael had even repeated twice before in primary school. Afterall, his senior brothers are all traders and did not go to secondary school. Why would they not let him be? The sound of his Uncle startled him.
" Michael!!!" He exclaimed, getting down from the motorcycle.
Michael ran over to meet him as dirty as he stood and topless, his bowlegged feature more glaring as ever. "Uncle Emma...Good evening Sir!" Michael seemed startled by his Uncle's appearance.
Uncle Emma started to say something. But, all of a sudden he paused and turned for the entrance of the 'face-me-i-face-you' building where Michael and his mother resided.
Michael turned to his mates rather dejectedly and shyly.
He went lost in thoughts now. It was Uncle Emma that wanted to sponsor his secondary school education. His uncle was confident that if Michael attends a good private secondary school he will change for the better.
"How will the place even be? Will I still be free to play ball...mtchw. God help me." He thought aloud as he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up.
***
Akinlolu James was about to board the bus from abule egba to Ketu. He was coming back to his parents after spending the holidays with his cousins. His parents lived in a medium-sized bungalow around Ketu. James was brought back home by his mother.
He got his favourite seat in the bus. The back seat close to the right window. He loved to get fascinated about the road views anytime they ply roads by bus. He knew one day his daddy will buy his own car. He also had the ambition of building a big car in the future.
His mind drifted away from the roads into something more important. Tomorrow was his first day in secondary school. He was the best student in his primary school of course. Everybody knew James the 'guru'.
He kept on thinking if he'll still be able to maintain such status in Dayflower. He silently prayed to God to always help in his ordeals.
He was cut short by a venomous slap on the back. He felt like vomiting blood immediately.
"James?! Where is your belt?! Ehn! So no belt again!! See how you look...ewo bosheri...Only God knows the day you will be neat...ehn...your senior sisters are all neat..its only you!" She smacked him again, this time on his cheeks.
James immediately went moody. He started sobbing little by little. He stopped soon because he did not want to disgrace himself in the companion of the passengers on the bus.
It was that dirtiness and playfulness that made him not to be complete, he thought. It was then he remembered he had not even ironed his school uniform. Oh, If his mother knew there and then, she'll just kill him.
She soon drifted to sleep.
***
23rd of September marked the third time Kingsley will be coming back from Atlanta, USA. He always loved looking around the international airport in Atlanta. He was an halfcaste, his mum was an American and, his dad an Efik man from Nigeria. His dad felt he should finish his secondary school education in Nigeria before going to the states for tertiary education.
His dad had followed him to Atlanta, so they came back together. Kingsley was a very tall kid, standing at 5feet 6 inches at 9 Years of age.
Kingsley was resuming Day Flower on Wednesday. He wanted to settle down well enough before beginning another academic session. His father's house was in Adegoke Estate in Mile 12.
They announced his names and his dad's to come and submit their boarding pass. He just could not wait for the 16 hours journey on the plane to end... He wants to get back to Nigeria and see some of his friends.
***
Sewa's Dad was a lawyer in the magistrate court. She follows him to official events most times. Her mother died when she was still an infant. Sewa was told that her mother, a politician was murdered on the road not long after the 1999 elections.
All these experiences gives her undying love for the law profession, even at such tender age. She already was a wellknown and dreaded debater by her peers.
Sewa thought about resumption in Dayflower tomorrow. There is a lot ahead, she thought as the famous Fuji musician came on stage in the function she was with her dad. She continue in her thoughts.

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