PUNCTUALITY

I can still hear the voice of my former headmaster in my head reminding us of the essence of punctuality. It was always during the morning assembly when we prayed and said our pledges. The teachers would them yet y inspect the students, each teacher to his or her own class on the assembly ground.

"Punctuality is the soul of business; early to bed, early to rise"

That would be the one and only proprietor, the headmaster of the school. He never spares latecomers unless their health was the reason. In fact, once you see the assembly ground filled up and you are yet to join, you already know that you are in trouble.

Those days would never be complete without the mention of school fees.

"If you know you have not paid your fees, stand up!!"

That would still be the gallant proprietor going round the school, class by class till he fulfils the mission. He empties the school if need be especially when the middle of the term is at hand and some students are yet to pay; or when he has to pay his staff. The latter has always been his favourite.

I always love his style of sending people home for school fees. You would hear excited noise from the end of the block and upon peeping outside, excited students are already on their way home. We would always anticipate our turn although we barely get sent home. I remember the day I was sent home with my brothers. We hurried home to play video games only to be stopped by our father's car on the way. He was on his way out of town when he saw his children going home. Baba carried out back to school oh.

He went straight to the headmaster's office and settle the deal that must have slipped off his mind. That was how we were in regret that day. We wished he had passed our way earlier or we had gotten to that point later than we did. Our friends and gistmates had all been sent home, the school was very scanty and who doesn't love to be sent home for school fees those days? Where video games dey? Or where we get puppies to play with at home?

Well, such days will see school closing earlier than usual. Those were the days of our gradual exposure to the outside world. We were gate people, always in-gates; a style of living I would later come to appreciate.

God bless Lotus Nursery and Primary School, Ejule. God bless the good people of Ejule. God bless my family.

With love, Yusuf Sadiq