INDELIBLE MERIT
“Oh,” Mr. Dare exclaimed as he sat in his
office. “We just have two weeks to go.” He thought.
Mr. J.O. Dare was an experienced and astute
headmaster who truly knew his onions. It invariably took him nothing to get the
best of whatever he so desired; it suffices to say that he effortlessly strived
towards excellence. His kin cum junior colleagues respected him for such rare
idiosyncrasy. Another remarkable part of his person that was worthy of
emulation was that he was so disciplined and easy-going. You hardly saw him
quarrel with anyone even while issuing disciplinary directive to any of his
staff or family members, as the case might be. He usually reprimanded or
scolded anyone found wanting in a polite and mature manner, that, everyone far
and near found his presence very attractive. This attribute alone made him
maintained a good management–staff cooperation in the public primary school
where he was currently serving.
In spite of the fact that he was heading
a government institution, he handled and managed it as he would if it was his.
In fact, the school in question was widely reckoned to be a privately owned
citadel of learning, thus parents and guardians from all walks of life were, on
a daily basis, trouping to the school to get their wards registered. To assert
the least, Bojeri Grammar School as the name went, was always ahead of its
contemporaries whenever it called for inter-school debate/quiz competitions,
among other competitive outings.
As Mr. Dare was seated in that office on
a Monday morning immediately after the school’s assembly period, he was deeply
occupied with the ongoing Mathematics quiz competition his school had been participating
in, with a few other primary schools across the federation. The preliminary
rounds of the competition had already been conducted; hence, Bojeri Grammar
School was one of the best and lucky ones that made it to the grand finale that
was expected to take place in barely two weeks time.
“Good morning, sir.” Mr. Ayo greeted the
moment he walked into the headmaster’s office.
“Good morning, Mr. Ayo.”
“Sir, you sent for me?”
Mr.
T.A. Ayo was the school’s Mathematics expert. The boss had earlier sent a pupil
to his office to call him.
“Yes I did, my dear,” Mr. Dare responded.
“Please, sit down.” He urged, gesticulating.
Mr. Ayo majestically sat on one of the
backseats sited opposite Mr. Dare’s. Going by his countenance, he already knew
the purpose for the invitation.
“Please tell me,” Mr. Dare said. “What is
the latest?” He inquired.
Mr. Ayo was silent, trying to employ delay
tactics.
He
was the most adored and celebrated teacher in the school at that moment, so he
could attend to questions in any manner chosen by him. It wasn’t that he was
impudent; he was only trying to showcase how important his services were, which
no doubt was a common trait in human behaviour.
“How prepared are the kids?” the
headmaster added in a jiffy.
He was referring to the primary six
pupils whom were meant to represent the school in the said competition.
“Sir, I must confess,” quoth Mr. Ayo.
“The kids are doing very well.”
“Sure?”
“Yes sir.”
“Remember, only two would make it to the
competition?” Mr. Dare reminded. “Others would only be there to cheer them up.”
Mr. Ayo nodded in comprehension.
“So, who are the two pupils that would
represent us?” Mr. Dare enquired. “Or, are you yet to decide?”
“No sir,” Mr. Ayo answered. “The two are
available.”
“So, who are they?”
“Amanda and Bisi.”
The aforementioned girls were among the
pupils whom had been actively involved in the race, ab initio, thus the
headmaster had nothing to doubt about their competence and reliability.
“Both of them are girls, right?”
“Yes sir.”
“I
understand both are competent, but…”
“But what, sir?” Mr. Ayo interrupted.
“You see, Lagos is a cosmopolitan
state,” Mr. Dare asserted. “So, I wouldn’t want a situation whereby people
would think we lack competent boys in a school situated in such state.”
“How do you mean, sir?”
“I mean, we need to mix the genders of
the proposed participants.” Mr. Dare informed. “Let it not be one-sided.”
“Sir, are you saying this because both
are girls?” Mr. Ayo chipped in. “What of if they happen to be boys?”
“My dear, don’t let it seem as if I am
against a certain gender.” Mr. Dare clarified. “I am only trying to balance the
equation.”
“Sir, I understand where you are coming
from, but…”
“But what?”
“I am afraid,” Mr. Ayo notified. “Bisi
and Amanda are the best heads I can figure right now.”
“I have always trusted your ability, Mr.
Ayo,” the boss enthused. “So, don’t fail me now that I need your services
most.” He added, looking into his eyes.
“I will try my best, sir.”
“Now you are talking.”
“I wish to take my leave, sir.’
“It’s alright,” replied the headmaster.
“Please, do get back to me by tomorrow, okay?”
“Alright sir.” Mr. Ayo said, stood up
and walked towards the entrance.
“One more thing, Mr. Ayo.”
Mr. Ayo turned, remained attentive
while standing.
“Don’t forget,” quoth the 57-year-old Mr.
Dare. “We are targeting five million naira.” He frankly reminded.
Mr.
Ayo smiled and calmly took his leave.
Mr.
Dare smiled too as he watched him depart. “Stubborn man indeed!” He observed
amidst the smile.
The following day, the 43-year-old Mr.
T.A. Ayo returned to the headmaster’s office with the names of the newly
selected pupils for the awaited competition as requested. This time, the chosen
ones were Amanda and Kola; needless to say that Bisi had been delisted in order
to suit the gender-balance quest of the highly revered headmaster. Kola had
equally been amongst the active participants from the outset.
“This is good and acceptable.” Mr. Dare
enthused, as he received the names.
Mr. Ayo smiled. “Thank you, sir”
“Now, go and prepare them for the D-day.”
The boss urged elatedly.
“They are already ready, sir.”
“I know,” concurred Mr. Dare. “I was
referring to the finishing touches.”
“Okay sir.” Mr. Ayo said, stood up and
walked away.
In thirteen days time, the long awaited
D-day eventually arrived, thus the school embarked on a trip to Akure, Ondo
State – the venue for the event. Kola and Amanda, the prospective participants
were travelling in a separate car alongside the car’s driver who happened to be
Mr. T.A. Ayo. The car was moving ahead of a Busscar bus that contained the rest
of the staff and other participating pupils of the school.
On reaching the venue of the epochal
occasion, something very horrific occurred. Mr. Ayo’s car had a terrible
accident owing to the bad state of the road, and the two prospective
participants – Amanda and Kola gave up the ghost at the spot but Mr. Ayo
survived though he sustained severe injury.
What transpired consequently ought to be
a story for another day. Or, what’s your opinion? Think about it!
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