It was midmorning on a Wednesday. Students were out and about playing, exercising, and having as much fun as they possibly could in the one hour and twenty minutes allocated for sports. As usual, I was out to join the guys play football in the field. There were different groups playing at different corners of the field, but mostly, the senior boys took the major portion of the grounds. Their games were more intense and far more thrilling. Lucky for me, I had proved myself enough and was lucky to be part of the only two junior students allowed to play with them.
That day, I wasn't part of the starters. I was more a substitute, so I sat outside and waited for when I would be called in.
By the second half, I was called upon. I took off my school trousers and shoes and kept them where I was sitting, the same place other players had kept theirs. We often played barefooted.
The game went on so well that I gave a goal and an assist. The only somewhat unfortunate occurrence was that I tackled a senior student in the opposing team, and he glared at me. It was merely a game, and although I knew I had done nothing wrong, I apologized. The last thing I wanted was to be in the bad books of a senior.
Game ended, and I hurried out of the field, got my stuff, and hurried to go get myself cleaned and ready for continuation of classes. We had until about twenty minutes before that.
Done with cleaning, I was heading to the school tuck shop to get myself snacks when senior Luke, the sane senior I had tackled on the field, walked menacingly towards me. He was still on his sporting wear, jersey, and matching tug.
"Pull my trousers!"he said as he walked right into me, making me halt.
"I don't understand," I said, really confused.
"Are you asking me questions? I said, pull my trousers," he repeated
"Your trousers? The trousers is mine," I said.
The next thing I felt was a heavy hit to my ears. For a second, I felt I had lost my sense of hearing. By this time, he had begun to unclasp my belt.
Students had started to gather at the scene, and I felt very embarrassed. I couldn't let him dehumanize me, so I struggled to let myself free. He was older than me but about the same body build as myself.
As I put up a resistance, I kept saying, "the trouser is mine. I did not take your trousers."
"Then who took it? I left my trousers beside you when I had gone in to play. Who else must have taken it, but you?"
"I did not take it. You're embarrassing me," I kept saying.
"Shut up! That's how boys like you are. You look innocent and harmless, but inside you're chameleons. I know your type, and I'll deal with you."
Students stood around watching, but none came to my aid. Most students were terrified of him, so none dared interfere.
"...but I did not take your trousers," I said in a voice weak from embarrassment.
As I said this, he was about to hit me when a teacher came by the scene and pulled him from me
"What's the matter? What's happening here?" Mr Daniel inquired, looking at Luke.
"Sir, he stole my trousers at the football field," Luke said matter-of-factly
The teacher looked from him to me. I could tell he was surprise, and I knew he did not believe.
"I could never do that. This trouser is mine. He is falsely accusing me," I said in my defense.
Turning to Luke,the teacher asked, "How do you know that the trousers are ...."
He had barely finished asking the question when Emma, my classmates, and Luke's younger brother ran up to us.
"Luke, take your trousers. I saw it in the field and picked it up cause I did not find you anywhere around. I even told your classmate, Wami, to tell you that I have it and you should come get it from me" he said as he stretched the wear to his brother who took it without a word.
I was livid, but more than that, I felt relieved and exonerated. Looking right at Luke, I could see that he was embarrassed of himself, guilt, and remorse written across his face.
In obvious anger, the teacher asked him, "How do you feel about what you've just done? One would think that being the older person, you'll have the better judgment, but see."
"I'm sorry, sir," Luke said slowly.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Mr Daniel asked.
He turned to me, "I'm sorry, Louis."
I said nothing but looked from him down to my hands.
"Louis, sorry. Go to your class," and turning to Luke, Mr Daniel said, "As for you, I'll make sure you get punished for this unruly behavior. In fact, see me in the staff room now."
Thanks for stopping by
SOKA 馃枻
