The Prize-Giving Day
The masquerades were coming faster towards him. Mezie tried to run, but his legs could not carry him. They were like logs of wood. It was as if they were rooted to the ground. The wicked-looking masquerades did not stop. They kept moving towards him. Mezie tried to shout for help, but no word came out of his mouth. Before long, the masquerades were all around him. They each had long canes.” Thwack! Thwack!” sounded the whips as they flogged him. He wept and begged them for mercy, but his pleas were like water off a duck's back. When they were through with flogging Mezie, they tied him up and carried him like a helpless chicken. Mezie found himself being thrown into a deep pit. The masquerades poured sand into the pit to cover him. "Gbim, gbim, gbim!" the sand fell inside the pit. Suddenly, Mezie jumped up to hear somebody knocking on his door. Covered in sweat, he shivered like a drenched rat when he remembered the nightmare he just had. With some effort, he got up and opened the door. It was his mother, Mrs. Nkiru Ogbuka. "Mum, good morning," Mezie said."Morning, my son. Are you alright? You look pale," said his mother, looking anxiously at Mezie."Mum, I had a terrible dream,” Mezie said, yawning."Eeh? No wonder you woke up late. Today is your Prize-giving Day. What happened in the dream? Mezie told his mother everything that happened in the dream. She consoled him and told him not to be afraid. Thereafter, Mezie rushed off to prepare for school. It was the term for promotion.Mezie was ten years old and in primary five. He had three siblings; two younger sisters, Chika and Udoka and a younger brother, Emeka. Chika, the second child, was eight years old and in primary three, while six-year-old Emeka was in primary one. Udoka, the second girl, was three years old and the baby of the house who stayed at home to play with other children. Mezie soon forgot about his nightmare when he sat down to his breakfast of fried plantain and pap. He was particularly excited about the prize-giving Day. He knew he would receive a prize. Not only that, but he hoped that he would come first in his class, as he often did. As he was putting on his shoes, his friend, Chima, speaking with his mother.”Good morning, Ma.”Good morning, my child. You are early today,” Mezie's mother replied. “Yes Ma. Today is our Prize-giving Day. I'm excited,” Chima replied.”Mezie!” Mezie's mother called.”Yes Mum,” Mezie answered. He finished buckling his shoes and looked around to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.”Hurry up and come out, your friend Chima is waiting for you,” His mother said.”Yes Mum,” replied Mezie, taking one last look at his uniform before he rushed out. Mezie was a very neat and well-behaved boy. His mother taught him to be obedient and respectful. She taught him and his siblings to be neat and hardworking. The two friends chatted excitedly, as they went to school.” I wonder who will come first this year,” said Chima excitedly.”I wonder too. Not only that, but I heard that the prize is one thousand Naira and some books,” replied Mezie.” Wonderful!” Chima exclaimed. “I bet that peacock, Unoma, thinks she will take the first position this year.” Don't mind her. Just because she beat me last year, she thinks she will win this time,” Mezie replied, Unoma was a ten-year-old girl in Mezie's class. Both of them had been struggling for the first position since they were in primary one. Sometimes, Unoma took first position, but most of the time Mezie was first. The previous year, Unoma had come first, while Mezie had come in second place. Mezie had cried all the way home, carrying with him the big rubber basin he had received. While Unoma went about like a queen, rejoicing, Mezie was green with envy and not a smile crossed his face.”Mezie, smile now. After all, your prize is big,” Chima had told him, trying In console him.Chima, I am not happy at all,”Mezie, sighing.”What about those who failed, have they killed themselves? What about me, didn't I come fifth? Am I going to kill myself?” Chima queried. Unoma had paraded her prize before their envious eyes. The only thing she did not do was to stick out her tongue and make ugly faces at them. Mezie had sworn there and then within his heart never to allow her beat to him again. When Mezie got home, his parents had welcomed him gladly. However, his father, Mr. Edwin Ogbuka advised him to do better next time.”My son,” his father said, clearing his throat. “You did very well, but we would like to see you receive the first prize. The girl who came first today doesn't have two heads, I'm sure. Always strive to be the best in whatever you do. Never accept defeat or failure in your life,” his father concluded. Mezie then determined to always come first in any exam he sat for. His parents were not wealthy, but they were happy and could afford to take care of their children. Mr. Ogbuka was a tailor who also did some farming and wine tapping. Mrs. Ogbuka was a petty trader. She farmed too. They had sworn to educate Mezie up to the university level, since he was very brilliant. That day, as he walked to school with Chima, Mezie's heart beat fast. He was anxious to know his fate. What if he did not come first and Unoma did? He wondered. He closed and opened his palms in worry. Noticing his anxiety, Chima decided to tell him stories to divert his attention. Chima was Mezie's best friend. He liked Mezie's neatness and intelligence. Chima was also intelligent, but not as intelligent as Mezie. Mezie helped Chima in subjects like English and Math. On the other hand, Chima taught Mezie how to fish and trap bush animals. They ate, read and played together. Their friendship even extended to their parents. They visited each other occasionally. Of Eziama Primary, The pupils School were very excited. The Prize - giving Day was always celebrated in grand style. Parents were invited to watch their children perform dramas, debates and so on. The people in attendance were treated to food, and drinks, after which the main event, the giving of prizes took place. Pupils felt very proud to be called upon out of hundreds of their mates to receive their prizes. Before the Prize-giving Day, the pupils, as usual had swept and kept the school compound clean. Then, they gathered for the dances, dramas, debates, and recitations. Mezie and Chima were among those who participated in the debate. Because of Mezie's anxiety, he nearly missed his lines in the debate. He however, quickly corrected himself. His team won the debate. After the merrymaking, the giving of prizes to outstanding students began. A hush fell over the Assembly Hall, as everybody waited expectantly for this great moment. In the silence, one could even hear a pin drop. Some pupils held their breath, as the names were called. It was time for Primary Five Soon, The winner of the third prize for Primary Five is Soludo Udoka.” There was a loud cheer. “The winner of the second prize is Unoma Obika.” An overwhelming cheer accorded her to where she would collect her prize. “The winner of the first is The headmaster, stopped in order to heighten the suspense.Mezie nearly collapsed. 'What if I make the fourth position?' he wondered. “The winner of the first prize for Primary Five is Meize Ogbuka,” the headmaster said, finally. A loud noise from the pupils. Arose Later that day, Mezie's parents celebrated their son's success. His mother prepared chicken soup for the family as part of the celebration. Everybody was happy, especially Mezie. Mezie was given the chicken head and a big thigh to eat. Chima was there to celebrate with him. As they ate,Mezie told Chika, Emeka and Udoka to always eat chicken head in order to be more intelligent.
“Are you sure it makes one intelligent?” Chika asked
“Yes, it does,” Chima supported Mezie.
Chika, Emeka and Udoka wondered.
'So, that is why Mezie has been coming first,' they thought.
Later on, Chika called her mother. “Mummy, is it true that a chicken head makes one to be intelligent?"
“Who told you that?” 🤣🤣🤣
The end
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