EPISODE 3:
After getting through the stress of registration, I was given my kit and asked to go change to my white shirt on shorts. I was headed for hostel ‘Z’ as I saw Mahmud jugging towards me. He told me how he had met a former lesson teacher of his who now works for NYSC. That the mummy had helped him secure a room space at Hostel ‘B’ which I later came to realize was one of the best on camp. He was holding some documents of his registration he had finished filling and was on to submit. ‘One lucky lizard he was’.
After getting through the stress of registration, I was given my kit and asked to go change to my white shirt on shorts. I was headed for hostel ‘Z’ as I saw Mahmud jugging towards me. He told me how he had met a former lesson teacher of his who now works for NYSC. That the mummy had helped him secure a room space at Hostel ‘B’ which I later came to realize was one of the best on camp. He was holding some documents of his registration he had finished filling and was on to submit. ‘One lucky lizard he was’.
Reaching my hostel, I was greeted by some Yoruba boys who seemed to like me at once as they were all calling me ‘Aboki’ which means my friend in my language. Who says this country isn’t united. All the joy of the moment disappeared as I saw the interior of my assigned hostel ‘Z’. A big dormitory, filthy and noisy. This has to be a mistake. I headed back to the admin block to complain at once.
After twenty minutes of arguing with the receptionist, the hostel master arrived back to the office. I raised my voice at the receptionist to get the attention of the hostel master…ohh...I did get his attention but you see, I ended up sweeping the whole dormitory after a tough exercise of frog jump from the soldiers. My charges were insulting and harassing a staff of the federal government. I was excused from the assembly hall that night for I slumped and nearly lost my life from stress.
The bang of a soldier’s baton on my iron bunk bed got me up with a bolt as I dashed on without being pursued. The hall was in a frenzy as everyone laughed at my panic. I had reached the end of my row when I realized where I was. It was shameful. Most of the boys with their overdo, had already bathed probably since 3:00 am as this was just 4:30am. I was furious but ran to bath, the water was as cold as ice. This is a city surrounded by the ocean afterall.
After the prayers, announcement and formalities, I heard the biggle which signaled for breakfast, how welcoming. We had to queue to eat. I wasn’t enjoying any of these. Getting to the front, I was handed a tiny ugly looking loaf of bread and asked split it with another guy and to bring a cup for tea.
I gave away my potion of bread as I had a bag full of provision of my own. I can’t eat such rubbish. On getting to my bunk, I got the shock of my life…my bag was gone.
I was back to the admin office to report the stolen item. Instead of finding my bag, they were asking me what I had in it and just laughing at each item I mentioned. The whole process was becoming really irritating as they kept calling me ‘Aboki’ but still kept laughing…I had enough when a fat staff almost fell from her chair from laughter. I was on my way out in fury when I berged into Seun. “What are you doing here?” My anger faded away like it was wiped off with an handkerchief. She smiled back, pulled both my hands and told me that her aunt worked here as a staff. “You mean your sister is one of the mean women in this office?”. “I’ll see you around Joe” she said and moved off into the office. Just at the door step a hostel mate of mine passed me by and shouted ‘Aboki whatsup!” My anger resumed as I stormed off back to my dormitory.
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