THE TWIST OF FATE

Rhetorical questions still lingered in my mind. What was the meaning of all this? I mean, why did it have to happen so? And, why me? Why?

On a chilly cold morning, I woke up just as usual to go and learn a new thing. I take a shower and hurriedly rush to class. Mhh, those who know the boarding school issues, waking up at 5.00 am to go for preps as we called them. Funny to mention that in my school it was not compulsory. I guess it’s because there was a drawing on a wall on your way to the administration block that had pictures and was written “The choice is yours”. And guess what, you won’t expect it to be compulsory in the “School of Men” as we called it, especially for the form fours (Sheng’ -Bom – nei). It was on the high-rise of student’s rights and freedom awareness campaigns.

Alas! On reaching class, I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw. My locker was badly dismantled with the top thrown away. At first, I even didn’t see the top anywhere. I became very confused and dumfounded. Pain gripped my heart like an oyster removed from the water. That was not all, now getting closer to the locker; I am welcomed by pieces of papers bearing my handwriting. And guess what, the “attackers” as I called them had torn all my exercise books into pieces. I felt so painful to a point where not even tears would roll down my cheeks.

Looking around, I saw fellow classmates looking at me with disgusting eyes. Some of them seemed to sympathize with me, but others were bare and dry. Immediately my mind started profiling the previous day’s incidences that would have led to the attack. Whom did I wrong? Why then do this to me? Was there no other way of solving our dispute if there was?

Disappointed and stressed in took the chair which was also a distance away from the locker and sat down. I even didn’t know what to do because the top was not there, the books were torn to pieces. I just sat and tried to read the ones I had come with from the dormitory. Much as I tried to read and assume the incidences on that fateful morning, I didn’t get the peace of mind. It was just like playing a guitar for a goat to play.

Finally, the prep period was over and we had to prepare for the first period of the day. As usual, it was time to go to the toilet to relieve oneself. The other bit that shocked me even more is to find my name written on the walls of the ablution block. I stood mesmerized by the strange happenings. My heart was at the verge of collapsing. I stopped hearing the noises made by fellow students. For a little while, I was in a world of my own. I rubbed my eyes with my torn sweater to confirm that it was not a dream. Sure enough it was not a dream. The writings on the wall were “ Joshua Oyengo ni bleep” (Joshua Oyengo is a traitor)

I got inside one toilet and locked up myself there. That’s when I realized that the strength of a man lies in what others term to be his weakness. I faced the wall and cried. I asked God why that had to happen. It is then that I said, “God, comfort me and speak for me because I could not believe the shame I was subjected to.

I left the toilet for class trying to wipe away the tears. On my way I met the Teacher on Duty who looked at me and saw that I had a problem. “Are you sick? “He asked. I just nodded to fake the story because it was very shameful to mention. “You will get well” he said, while patting me on my shoulder.

I attended the first lessons after which I went to the librarian who after narrating the story to unquestioningly issued me with eight exercise books. Upto date I still believe the librarian was God sent.

I went back to class to proceed with the next lessons. I don’t know what was happening because when teachers came looking at assignments found me with new books and none of them questioned me.

At lunch break, I went to the “Chamber” (Prayer room/PowerHouse) since I had no appetite and as well I felt a burning issue that I needed to pray and get a revelation over the issue. I prayed until I found myself seated on the floor and other CU members were also there praying. I could feel like I have been assured into the heavenlies with the voices of my colleagues sounding like the angels singing. That is when I got a revelation that my stand as a Christian had caused me enemity with schoolmates. The sprit led me to read the text that encourages me upto date. Matthew 5:10 – 12 “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, 12 rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

It is from there then that I persisted in proclaiming the glory of God. I even vowed within myself to put more efforts in my studies to the glory of God. And more to a turning point this was a new twist of fate that did not only shape my high school life, but my entire reason for living.