When I was in high school, I yearned
for freedom: freedom to move about, freedom to do what I want, when I want, and
how I want. High school was dreadful and lovely in equal measure. I detested
the bell, especially the one that rang at 4am. Not as much as the prefects who
stormed our dormitories to make sure no one remains in bed. They also
made sure we remained awake over the entire preps time.
A number of prefects will patrol our
classes till 6:30am and punish supposed sleepy heads. Punishments
ranged from several lashing on the rear end, slashing grass around the school
compound, washing the verandas, to washing clothes for the senior
prefects. If that's not all, some of them required us to put them in good tune
by buying them food stuffs such as bread and mandazi from the school
canteen.
Failure to do so would result to
consequences similar to disturbing a rattled snake. At the time, form ones and
twos were viewed as objects. In fact one of the senior prefects coined a saying, "form ones are here to be seen and not to be heard". This became the cardinal rule. It was
with difficulty for the presumed "objects" to meet face to face with a prefect. The objects were forced to go back where they were coming from or take another route
even if it means through the bushes. It was safer this way.
As is the case with all living
creatures, in every harsh condition, struggle for survival ensues.
We devised ways to survive these conditions; from hiding under our
beds to technically attending the morning preps. All these were discovered in no time. I had to come up with my own unique way of missing the
early morning preps. It worked for me for a while.
My high school bed was made from
springs which were not in good shape. So, I used to sink in whenever I sit or
lay down to sleep or relax. I know you now get a glimpse of what am about to
tell you. I used to dress my bed nicely when I go to sleep. Unlike now,
back then I never turned and tossed that much.
Immediately the bell rings at 4am, I
will straighten my tall, slender body to sink in nicely into my bed. Then I
will spread the bed straight to look as if there was no one in it. I held my
breath as soon as the prefects storm our dormitory. They squalled with a lot of
commotion. I could hear with terror the movements of sleepy heads like me
running towards the door on the other end of the dormitory.
The commotion was terrifying. At first
I wished I wouldn't have pulled the stunt. Especially when I heard one of my
house mates wreathing in pain after receiving some thrashing with several
leather belt. Tu tu tu tu.... I could hear my heart beat. It was with
difficulty to hold my breath till they pass over my cube. I survived but could
not get back to sleep mode again.
That was then. These days’
circumstances force me to stay up late and even rise up early with some sort of
"freedom". I have to look into my every step not to break certain
rules set by authorities and the society. How I wish I could go back to the
days when some people took it upon themselves to wake me up and made sure
I remained awake.
Right now I have responsibilities
to accomplish. There are so many rules to abide to that remind me there is no
ultimate freedom. Just like in every situation, I always find a way to adapt to
the condition for that is what every animal is designed to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment