The promise alone brightened everyone’s mood. . A few of my classmates joked that they would skip breakfast and even dinner the night before, just to create space in their stomachs for the “HOD rice.” Every day that led up to the feast was filled with playful teasing and hopeful conversations. The guys in my class were already planning how they would hype the HOD on that day so he would “increase their portion.
But, as expected, not everyone believed him. Some people said, “This man is just using food to hold us in school.” Others felt he was only joking, or that maybe he had good intentions but would later change his mind. Still, even with all the doubts, deep down, most of us hoped he was serious. We all wanted to see if he would keep to his word. After all, it’s not every day that a whole HOD decides to cook for his students.
Finally, the day came.
At first, it felt just like a regular day on campus. We came to school as usual, dressed in our casual outfits, carrying our bags, but without the mindset of attending any lectures. There was no serious academic activity, so we all just hung around the premises, chatting in small groups, playing music, and making videos. Some people even brought out their phones to go live on Instagram, updating their followers: “HOD cooking day. Let’s see if the food go show.”
A few bold ones among us went to the HOD's office early in the day. They hyped him like mad! You’d hear things like, “Odogwu HOD!” or “Chef of the Year!” One guy even brought him a chef hat he had borrowed from the school’s catering department just for fun. The whole thing made the HOD laugh, and we could tell he was enjoying the attention.
But time kept passing… and there was no sign of food.
After a while, the mood started changing. Some students began complaining: “I knew it I said this man was just using this thing to hold us down,” one girl said. “This is why I don’t believe people,” another guy added, clearly irritated. Gradually, students started leaving. One by one, they packed their bags and went home, claiming they had more important things to do than wait for a feast that may never happen.
My friends and I, however, were not so quick to give up. Something told us that maybe just maybe the HOD wasn’t bluffing. So, we decided to wait a little longer. We found a shady spot behind the science lab and sat there, chatting, scrolling through our phones, and laughing over TikTok videos.
Then suddenly, we saw a student being called into the HOD’s office.
He came out a few minutes later, struggling to carry a very long bag it was foil. Extra long. Our eyes widened. “Could this be the rice??” someone whispered.then the next person went in for the drinks
The student, now clearly a school legend, carried the bag with pride as if he were carrying a royal offering. He headed straight to our department's common room and began to unwrap the foiled.
We sat down and the rice was shared with the two small ,That rice tasted like success.
Some of us went back to thank him. Others just hung around for a while longer, snapping pictures, posting on WhatsApp status, and talking about how “today sweet die.” Eventually, people started heading back to their various homes and hostels. But one thing was sure: that day would not be forgotten anytime soon.
It wasn’t just about the food it was about the experience, the waiting, the doubt, the laughter, and the final surprise
