SEASON ONE
Season one
Who could ever have thought that such a little boy of 5 years could be such headstrong in insisting that he would never go back to his school? He was already on his school uniform but refused to enter his father’s car.
“Johnson, enter the car let’s leave, you are already late for school,” his father said. He shrugged drawing back a bit. His face had frowned so deeply that as young as his was, the depth of his insistence created deep lines of disgust in those furrows that showcased his anxiety. His father had never seen him in such moody and anxious state before.
Johnson was a little boy of 5 years but had this precocious jovial aura that graced him and made people to easily love his personality. His mother had died few weeks after giving birth to him due to childbirth complications. She was the love of his father David in a relationship that had lasted for over 20 years. David and his wife had difficulty in getting a baby. Johnson was the long awaited answer to their exhaustive prayers throughout their 12 years of marriage. And two weeks after she had put to bed, she developed a serious complication which took away her life. It so devastated David that he only found his consolation on the little boy.
Since the untimely death of his wife, he had found it difficult to consider marriage again even though several friends and relatives had advised him to do so. He had been exceptional in taking care of Johnson and he was everything to him. He had been paying a detailed attention to whatever he needed, but this time, he seemed to have been either missing something or neglecting something. He approached him, held his should and squatted before him.
“What’s the issue John? You don’t want to go to school today?” he asked in a soft voice.
“I don’t want to go back to that school,” Johnson responded in his childish voice.
“You will miss your class today. Why not go to school today, when I return we discuss the problem okay?” Johnson shrugged all the more, his countenance still grave, anxiety written all along. The uneasiness spelt all over his little face awakened the sensitivity in David which forced the desired engagement with his son’s concern. “Alright. You won’t go to school today, but you have to tell me the problem okay?” he requested.
Johnson’s countenance which bore those seemingly forceful furrows seemed to be brightening, and the lines dissipating. “What’s the problem son, say something?” his father insisted.
“They always beat me,” he said finally.
“Who beats you? Where?”
“In the school.”
“What? And you didn’t tell me. Now, we are going over to your school, and you will show me the person or persons involved in this. After dealing with them you will never see them again.”
Johnson began to sob deeply. That only showed how much – whomever the bullies were – had broken and hurt him. He opened the door for Johnson to enter. He was reluctant because obviously, that was not what he wanted. He didn’t want to go back to the school anymore, but then, he had little options.
David was one of those that the school Headmaster was fond of because of his usual awesome donations to the school. During Christmas and Easter seasons, he usually sent gifts to the headmaster and Johnson’s present teacher that year aside his usual donations to the school. He often pay the school fees of some of the indigent students and pupils and bought them text books. The headmaster was surprised to see him enter with his son. As is always in Nigerian schools, the children of benefactors are easily loved and cared for. The bigger surprise came when David reported that his son had been bullied in the school for long and that he had never seen his son so hurt this way. The headmaster promised to handle the case but David insisted that he must have to see the students involved. Johnson was requested to lead them and he led them to primary six. When Johnson entered accompanied by the principal and his father, the culprits knew it was the end of the road for them. Johnson had to point them, they were five. David was held in wonder. How could five boys from primary six team up together to bully a little boy in primary one?
Inasmuch as he would have loved to mal-handle them, they were still too timid for him. But he wanted to instil some fear in them. Even though it was against the school principles to allow an outsider to discipline students in the school, but the headmaster had no option because of the personality of Johnson’s father.
The five boys were knelt down in the headmaster’s office. David had brought out handcuffs and threatened to lock them to the police station and the boys were dead shivering. Johnson seeing how they were held with fear and almost all of them shedding tears made him wonder all the more. They had bullied him to such an extent that he never knew that they could cry at all. The boys started confessing all that could ever come out of their mouth and even those that happened behind pointing accusing fingers at themselves, especially on the one they considered their leader whose name was Chibuzor. Johnson’s father had brought out his phone and made a false call inviting the police to come and pick the boys to the stations with rounds of threats of what the police will do to them in the station. Having handcuffed Chibuzor their leader, all were seriously shedding tears. Chibuzor consistently was saying amidst frightened tone, tears and sobs “Uncle sorry, uncle sorry, I won’t touch him again. It was the devil”
And David would only retort back, “sorry for yourself. That devil has exposed you today. Your parents will take you from the police station.” His voice was too serious for the boys of their age. David wondered how boys in primary five could have formed such a dangerous clique, where they felt so comfortable in bullying a little like Johnson – something that never crossed his mind when he was their age.
From the boys’ story, he had gathered all that had been happening. Chibuzor was always the boy of the class, and in his little age, already had followers and he instructed them on what to do and what not to do. He was so mischievous that sometimes he would mandate other boys to find any reason at all not to attend school the next day and those boys would sheepishly obey such but he will be in school. How he was able to manipulate them in such a vile manner was what nobody could easily explain.
Johnson’s ordeal with Chibuzor and his clique began after he had noticed how the little boy was being loved by the teachers because of his smartness and neatness, and the utmost regard being given to the father. Since then, Chibuzor decided to take the little boy personal. He had been going after him for several times. He would instruct Johnson not to tell anyone unless he wanted to die. He also mandated him to be getting him both his break snacks and lunch. That was quite mischievous.
Chibuzor had initiated in his clique the idea to torment the little boy. At a time, the fair one called Chyboy, who had been the first to cry, became uncomfortable with what they were doing to the boy and had requested Chibuzor to allow the boy be, but Chibuzor wouldn’t heed. He would always assure them that the little boy would not dare report to anyone. Then it was happening before him. Other boys had exposed him and went to the extent of even telling other misdemeanours Chibuzor had made them do which included their occasional absence to school, pouring sand inside their classmates’ food flask, writing teachers name on the walls and so on. The headmaster himself was so shocked at the level of noxious activity that permeated his school under his nose.
David’s father took time in explaining to those boys the futility in those trivialities and that it would take them to nowhere other than self-destruction. He however threatened them that if they should ever get near his son again, they would never have the third chance.
That night, after much thought on what had happened earlier on that day, he made up his mind to change his son to another school. The headmaster had called promising all he could that such would not repeat itself, but David already made up his mind. He knew his son was already traumatized psychologically by the boys, and he wouldn’t like that to hinder his academic progress. The next week, he changed him to GATEWAY NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL, LEKKI, LAGOS STATE. The school fee was 250,000 per term for nursery school students and 350,000 for primary students.
The night before the day Johnson was going to begin in his new school, his father had gone to his room to tuck him goodnight. He came back late.
“Hey big boy,” David said as he always addressed him when they were in sober mood.
“Good evening dad,” Johnson greeted as he sat up from his bed. “You came back late again and I had to eat alone.”
“I’m sorry, nnam. I will make it up to you okay. Work has really been tough lately,” David explained.
“What happened dad?”
“They are having some maintenance construction at the Lekki Toll Gate, and you know how busy the place use to be. We had been there all day directing all vehicles. The maintenance would be completed this week as they promised, and I also promise to make it up to you.” Johnson smiled.
“So what are you going to use to make it up to me dad?” he asked waiting for an enchanting answer.
David raised his head in a thoughtful disposition. “Hmmmmm,” bringing down his head, “let it be a surprise.”
Johnson shrugged playfully, “No noo ooo dad, say it.” His father started tickling him and he laughed exuberantly. “Okay dad, I accept, I accept.” David released him.
“John, you know you are going to begin your new school tomorrow.”
“Yes dad.”
“Good. I want you to be courageous and strong. Do you know why they call me Tigre?
“No,” Johnson answered.
“Because when I was your age, I killed a baby Tiger.” This got Johnson amazed about his Dad but David continued. “The Tiger used to come around in the village and be killing all the animals, causing injury to people. One day, I and my friends went out to play. While we were playing the Tiger showed up again. Since I was the last person at the back, I didn’t see it on time. Everyone ran leaving me behind. I knew that there was no one to save me so I decided to face the Tiger myself. People were afraid it was going to kill me. At first, I was frightened, but I decided to gather the courage. I faced the Tiger and I fought it. It bit me on the leg. See it.” David raised up his trouser to the knee and Johnson saw the dark scar on the knee. He shuddered.
“You see, because there was no one to fight for me, I fought for myself and killed it.”
“Dad, how did you kill it?”
“With my bare hands. I strangled it with my bare hands. Because I had no other choice, I faced it and killed it. You know what happened next?”
“What happened dad?”
“People began to fear me. People started respecting me. That was when they starting calling me ‘the Tiger’ and nobody dared to stand my way. If you do not face your fear squarely, people will continue to intimidate you. But if you face it with courage, you will conquer. Do not always depend on anyone for your safety. You have to defend and save yourself first before any other thing. As you begin your new school tomorrow, be strong and courageous, and do not allow anyone to bully you okay?”
“Yes dad.”
“But if you have any issues with anyone, if anyone ever looks for your trouble, the first thing to do is to report to me right away. Do not ever hide it the way you did this last time. Do you get me?”
“Yes dad.” Johnson’s spirit became invigorated by his dad’s magical admonition and right there and then, he swore not to be intimidated by anyone again.
“Big boy, you have to sleep now okay, you have school tomorrow.”
“Alright dad. Good night dad.”
“Good night son.” He kissed him goodnight. “Should I put off the light?”
“No dad.”
David closed the door as he left only to bump into Jennifer, Johnson’s Nanny. She was a girl of 17 years whom David had gotten to look after Johnson while he was off for work.
“Good evening Sir,” she greeted.
“Jennifer, you’ve been standing here?”
“Yes sir. I wanted to tell you that your dinner is ready.”
“Awww, I should have told you. I already had something with my friend. Sorry, about that okay?”
“No problem sir, let me keep them in the freezer.”
“Better.” As David was walking over to his room she called him.
“Sir,” David turned. “What you said about the Tiger, is it true? Did you really kill a Tiger with your bare hands?”
David smirked. “Have you ever seen a Tiger in Nigeria not to talk of your village?” he responded and Jennifer held her mouth in laughter.
“What about the scar on your knee?” she asked again still resting the laughter on her cheeks.
“They were inflicted by accident. See don’t ever tell him my secrets before I strangle you personally with my hands. Maybe you will become the first Tiger I will kill with my hands,” David commented as he left for his room leaving Jennifer laughing to herself.
-----------------------------------------------
Johnson was giving a seat as the teacher welcomed him in the class. The class was quite awesome and elegant than that of his former school. The seats were constructed in such a way that they were to contain only two persons at a time. Every male pupil was meant to sit with a female partner. Johnson stared with bemused expression watching other pupils easily having chats with their partner and classmate, but he had not known anyone yet. He would have preferred it if it were his fellow boy that was made his seat partner. He observed the seriousness with which his little seat partner was making her drawing. She was bent to it.
“It’s beautiful,” Johnson commented but the little partner didn’t respond. He wanted to believe that she didn’t hear him the first time so he said it again and this time a little bit louder. “Your drawing is beautiful.”
“I heard you before,” the girl replied with her face still bent on her drawing.
“Can I see it?” Johnson requested. She stopped and looked at him.
“The rule here is, when our aunty is not around, the prefect writes the names of noise makers.”
“Nobody knows my name and nobody can spell my name right.”
“That is what you are thinking.”
Johnson knew the reason why he said that. His full name was Johnson Okwuanyinka. It was always difficult for people to pronounce not to talk of writing it down. Most times, any person who requested his name would end up asking him either to spell it or to write it himself. So coming to a new school, they would first of all master the act of pronouncing it before talking about spelling it.
However, Johnson still insisted. “Can I see what you are drawing please.” The girl stopped and whispered to Johnson’s hearing.
“Oh my God.” She then took her drawing paper and headed to another seat. When the little boy whom she was occupying his seat came back, she pointed to her seat and the boy went and sat there. Johnson knew it was not going to be an easy affair with her.
“Hey, you are new to this school?” the boy that came to the seat asked.
“Yes I am,” Johnson replied.
“My name is Stanley,” he introduced himself. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Johnson.”
“You are welcome to our class Johnson.”
“Thank you.”
“You mind if I call you John or Johnny?” Stanley asked and both chuckled. “You are free to call me Stan or yam if you like.”
Johnson arched his eyebrows in surprise. “Why yam?”
“Never mind, just call me Stan.”
“Okay Stan. What is wrong with her?” Johnson asked pointing at his supposed seat partner.
“Who? Your seat partner?”
“Yes.” Stanley laughed.
“Nothing is wrong with her. What did you do to her that made her to leave this seat for you?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to see what she is drawing.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“Okay oo. You, why not you sit here so that she sits there.”
“No oo. It is not done like that here. Is that how you do where you came from?”
“Yes. Anyone can sit anywhere he or she likes.”
“Okay. But we don’t do like that here,” Stanley explained.
“But why?” Johnson asked.
“Why what?”
“Why do they do it this way in this school?”
Stanley chuckled. “It’s for you not to be making noise. You know if you are sitting beside your fellow boy you will be making noise with the person, just as we are sitting now and are making noise.” Both laughed.
“So it is working, right?” Johnson asked.
“Yes it is working for the unlucky ones like us. You don’t know the reason why I came here. My seat partner Sandra will always report me when I talk. But you see that one Hilary,” he said motioning at the front role.
“Which one?” Johnson enquired.
“That brown one there,” he said still motioning with his head. He didn’t want to point him with his hand to avoid anybody’s attention.
“Yes.”
“Together with his seat partner, Amaka, they talk and make noise every time. But my seat partner is a reporter.” Both chuckled.
“Is mine a reporter?”
“I don’t think so. She doesn’t talk too much.”
“What’s her name?” Johnson enquired.
“Lynda. Lynda Nkemdirim. She is beautiful, isn’t she?” Johnson didn’t answer the question instead both laughed quietly. Just then, the bell for the break period went off. There was a shout within the block as pupils rushed out for their break.
“Come let me show you around our school,” Stanley offered. Johnson with his new friend left the class with others.
Johnson observed the school compound, even though it was a bit smaller than his old school, but it was more beautiful especially with the beautifully painted buildings. Stanley was doing a great job leading him around when nursery 3 teacher summoned him. Johnson had to wait for him.
Just as he was waiting for Stanley, he saw Lynda arguing with two boys from their class. When he went closer he heard her asking them to give her back her pencil. He heard the dark one asking her what she will do if he refused. Johnson wondered whether bullies existed in primary one also. He summoned the courage and went to them.
“Give back her pencil,” he demanded.
“Is it your pencil?” the taller one retorted.
“It’s not my pencil but it is not yours either. So give back her pencil,” he maintained. Those boys having looked at him, instead of giving her back the pencil, they dropped it on the ground. Johnson picked it and gave it back to her.
“Thank you,” she greeted.
“It’s okay,” he responded and made to go away.
“My name is Lynda,” she said.
“I know. My name is Johnson.”
“I know.”
“Why did they take your pencil?” he cared to ask.
“That’s what they used to do. They like looking for my trouble,” Lynda answered.
“Why haven’t you reported them?”
“I don’t want to report anyone. I just want to be on my own.”
“Well, you should report those boys because if you don’t, they will keep on looking for your trouble.”
“I know. How did you know my name?”
“You how did you know mine?” Johnson returned the question.
“Our aunty said your name in the class. So how did you know mine?”
“Emmmm, I just saw it on your face.”
“It’s a lie. You are lying.”
“No, I’m not lying. Your name is written on your face.”
“My name is not written on my face,” she said as she rubbed the back of her palm on her forehead. Johnson started laughing.
“You think you can clean, it’s still there.”
“You are lying. My name is not on my face. Tell me who told you my name?”
As they were having their little conversation, Stanley was released by the teacher who had summoned him. When he came out he saw both of them talking so he didn’t care to disturb them or join their discussion. He just went straight inside their class.
Johnson’s first day in school was so awesome to him that he loved the school already especially having his seat partner talking to him. When it was time for dismissal, many parents came with their cars to pick up their children. It wasn’t long before his father came and he went to meet him.
“Good evening dad,” he greeted as he approached him.
“Big boy, how was school today?”
“Its fine dad.”
“That’s good to hear.” Just then, Lynda came around.
“Is that your dad Johnson?” she asked aloud with boldness.
“Yes, he’s my dad.”
“Good evening sir,” she greeted.
“Good evening dear. How are you?” David asked.
“I’m good, and you?”
“Hmmm, I’m good too.” David marvelled at the volubility with which the girl spoke.
“Johnson,” she called out facing him. “I knew how you got to know my name.”
“How?” Johnson asked.
“Stanley told you, didn’t he?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Yes, he did. He told me himself. So stop lying.”
Johnson discovered that she had found out. “Haaa, he shouldn’t have told you nau,” Johnson commented.
“Anyway,” she continued, “Stanley didn’t tell me anything. You think you are the only one who is cunning. I have gotten you too.”
“I guess we are both liars,” Johnson said. The little girl laughed out and ran away. “Good bye Lynda” Johnson shouted.
“Goodbye Johnson, see you tomorrow,” she shouted back.
David still got marvelled at the short drama that took place in his very before. This was his son’s first day in the new school. As he drove home, David commented,
“I can see you have gotten a new friend.” Johnson didn’t reply. “You didn’t hear what I said?”
“What did you say dad?” Johnson asked.
“I said I can see you have gotten a new friend.”
“Dad I’m still not hearing you. What did you say again?”
“Stupid boy,” David commented at last as Johnson laughed.
Wait for season 2 …
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