My Secondary School Memories

In my Jss3, using fork and knife to enter the dining hall was mandatory. No complete set, no food. I always had a set in my locker. On this fateful day, someone had jacked my locker and stolen my fork. As I was getting ready to cry, the siren for lunch went off. Crying was no longer an option. I had to get a fork and get it fast. I asked around my class, the girls in my class were as hopeless as I was, none of dem had complete set, not to talk of spare fork. But as God would have it, Udeh Blessing passed my corridor.

Blessing was one of the serious students in school then. Morally uptight, brilliant and zero slack in her duties. She was already being groomed to be a prefect come ss3. If anyone would have an extra fork, it had to be her. I hailed her quickly, and asked her, b4 any of my classmates would be sharper. She answered in the affirmative. Proceeded to hand me a complete set of cutlery, including teaspoon and knife. I smiled, said my thanks, but I only needed d fork. Blessing started walking away. But some seconds later, she turned and said d thing every borrower hated to hear.

'Pls do not misplace it o.'

I felt the words ice my blood. I wasn't going to misplace it. I would just eat lunch and return it. I was sure I could successfully steal a fork the next day. Oh how wrong was I. Not with d stealing, with the misplacing. After eating lunch, I couldn't just remember where I put it. I laid on bed, trying to remember the events that took place after eating jollof rice, egg and banana. But nothing. It was like all memories of after lunch had evaporated. I went to the dining hall to search for the fork. I asked around, even the kitchen women washing plates had not seen it. I felt sick.

As I got to my class, I saw blessing waiting. My liver failed me.
Blessing: Nayna, I've come to collect my fork
Me: oh, I left it in d hostel. After night prep,u'll get it
Blessing: Hmmm, hope you've not misplaced it o. It's my grandmother's fork.
What??! Why did she have to give me her grandma's fork. Of all forks to give me. I knew I was in deep shit and for the 1st time, I didn't know how to get out.

I made several announcements in front of the class. Pls if u took any fork in d dining hall, pls return it. I had tears in my eyes. Sylvia pulled me to d side, she told me not to worry about it, dat if I wanted to pass d inspection for cutlery at d dining gate, all I had to do was hold two spoons upside down, present d rear end, and I would pass. Nobody would pull me back to inspect the end. I felt like slapping her. Why didn't u tell me about this trick earlier? Why wait till I borrowed and misplaced blessing's grandma's fork?

I decided to come clean about the fork to blessing. No need postponing the rainy day. Highest, I would buy another one during midterm. Again, I was wrong. Blessing wasn't interested in another one. She wanted her grandma's fork. It's was a family heirloom. She had intended passing it on to the daughter the same way her mum gave it to her. For the first time in boarding school I cried. I didn't cry when seniors slapped me, I didn't cry when my beret was stolen, I didn't even cry when I was assigned gutter duties. It was blessing's grandma's fork dat made me cry.

The next few days were unbearable. Blessing was everywhere. From my bedside, to d bathroom, to my class and even dining table. She needed her fork. I started having nightmares. Her grandma would ask me where her fork was and I would wake up screaming. I lost weight. I was doing badly in class. My bunk mate moved with compassion, went with me to beg blessing on my behalf. She begged, 'Please give Nayna a chance to buy d fork at least before she goes mad'. Blessing now went to her cupboard, she brought out an exact replica of the missing fork.

Blessing: Nayna, I found my fork lying on the floor in the dining. I picked it up and went to wait for u in ur class. When I asked u, instead of u to say d truth, u started lying. I decided to teach u a lesson. There's no need to buy me a fork. But next time be careful.

For the 1st time in days, I breathed in oxygen. My bunk mate was just smiling sheepishly. I felt relieved and den angry. That was an expensive lesson. I was just grateful it was over. My life resumed as it was.

Next Saturday, I lent Kosi my scrubbing brush. After inspection, I went to collect it. She told me dat she gave it to blessing, but blessing left it outside and now, it's missing....

What????!!!!! My great grand father's scrubbing brush. Our ancestral scrubbing brush? And for the 1st time in days, I smiled.