Dominion Okon @grandmaster

There is the particular lecturer that loves giving class work, which is to be done in a 20 leaves exercise book and submitted right there in the class. The book is to be used for all the class works he will give, and will serve as the continuous assessment at the end of the semester. And for this reason, no one dared to miss his class, I have never missed the class, of course you don't want a mark to pass you by, and so seriousness is vital.

The class work the lecturer gave, I couldn't finish the work on time, because of the limited time that was given, I had to submit like that and the result was very poor. It was our first time, and we learnt we had to be fast while getting the classwork done. I had to read and study ahead of what will be taught in the next class, so that I won't waste much time when the class work is given. That's to show that I was willing to make a big difference this time.

The next class came, and as usual, the lecturer gave us class work, and since I went there prepared, I didn't waste must time doing it. I finished early, and compared my work with my coursemate that sat close to me, I was sure that I was correct, to the extent I was even making corrections for my coursemate. As usual, the lecturer told the course rep to go round and collect all the exercise book. I closed my book and was ready to submit it.

The course rep got to where I was seated, and collected from the people that sat close to me, he suddenly got distracted when he was about to get my book, he turned to look at something, and by the time he turned back to me, he refused to collect my book, saying he has passed my seat already. I was shocked, I have never had any problem with the guy before, so I wondered why he did what he did. I called out to him again, and he refused to answer me.

I walked up to the front where he was handing over the books to the lecturer, but the lecturer returned me to my seat, refusing to collect my classwork. I was very angry why the course rep did such a thing to me. Immediately after the class, I confronted the course rep and asked why he did what he did, he said I should not be angry, that he didn't see me. I didn't believe him, someone that replied me is now denying not to have seen me.

I was still pained by what he did, and so I avoided him. Classwork was given again in the next class, I did it and made sure I submitted it this time. Surprisingly, after it was marked, and the course rep brought the book back to us, the lecturer had marked the previous classwork that I didn't submit, and graded me the full mark, together with the current work, something I didn't expect. I was very happy. Since everything was now fixed, I decided to let my beef with the course rep go, hopefully he won't repeat such again.

Few days ago, I took a taxi to somewhere to buy some items I was in need of, when I entered into the hands of some 419s. I've been hearing of how they operate, but that was my first encounter, everything I heard about them played out exactly the same. Being fully aware of the tactics, I followed them up in a very calm manner, they were frustrated in the end. I know they were not expecting it, but, it is what it is.

I came out to the junction to meet a taxi waiting for passengers, the driver asked if I was gonna board the taxi and I replied with a nod. There was one young lady at the back, and a guy at the front. Immediately I entered, another passenger, a guy entered after me, and the taxi moved. On our way, this people sparked up a conversation, I maintain the mood I always maintain while boarding a vehicle, and that is to be silent.

They were talking and laughing, and even tried to initiate me into the conversation, I refused to let a single word out of me. It wasn't long when the guy in front, started talking about how he is looking for where to change dollars into naira. A very popular tactics by this fraudsters, I knew the situation I was in, and decided to be calm and let everything play out. I pretended not to even hear what they were saying, and very busy with my phone.

I noticed how the driver was looking at me through the mirror, I'm sure they were pissed off already. They are rumored to be with charms, that will only work on you, when you reply to whatever they are saying. If I never believed it before, the guy that was talking about dollars has proven it to be true. When they couldn't get me to talk, even concerning the dollar matter, the taxi stopped, and the driver said he's not going my way again, and that I should go down.

I went down jejely, the driver looked at me and cursed me while zooming off, I laughed. Such a very popular method has been casted, they should better go and find a legal work to do. I escaped in a majestic manner.

So I met someone today, who told me about how he escaped being slaughtered, not by his own power, but a clear intervention from God. It's been a while since I heard about incidents like this, but it's a proof that God still exists. I nearly shedded tears, he was the only one to make it out, the others couldn't. The incident itself has the power to traumatize anybody regardless, being that close to death, and even saying your last prayers and then you're set free.

According to this guy, he was traveling home last December for Christmas, when the driver diverted and took a road that no one in the bus had an idea of, and gave silly and petty excuses that didn't really make sense. The passengers didn't see it as a big deal, and kept cool. Until the driver stopped at a certain place where there was no house in sight, some armed thugs came out from the bush, and marched all of them to a shrine. The driver knew about this.

The guy said they met other people at the shrine, tied up mercilessly; ropes all round the body from head to toe, they were tied up too. The more touching part is that they were being slaughtered, one after the other, in front of all of them. The native doctor will say some incantation on a person before being slaughtered, the guy narrated how tears flowed in his eyes like a river, very hot tears. Watching someone being slaughtered, and helplessly waiting for your turn.

The guy said his phone was seized and used to video the incident, at this point, you are certain that it's your last moment on earth. This killers are obviously dealers of human part, because they made calls to tell the person on the other end that their order was ready. But when it was his turn, the native doctor after saying the incantation, said that the juju has rejected him, and so he should be freed and returned to where he was picked.

The native doctor asked which church he worships in, and told him to stick to his God very well. His belongings were returned to him, including his phone that was used to video the incident, and the native doctor told the thugs to make sure not to leave even a scratch on the guy's body. And that is how death that was staring at his face turned and left. The guy doesn't even know where the place is, he continued his journey to his home. He testified in church, it's a big testimony, it was God that saved him. He showed us the video in his phone, it looks like the end of the world is near.

For about two weeks now, I have been going through a very tough time in the hands of bean weevils, they were literally everywhere in my room; the floor, bed, table, chair, wall, ceiling, and will even rest on me at some point. The beans my parents bought for me last year October, as part of my provisions, was now a megacity for weevils. All along, I have been feeling too lazy to get rid of them permanently, and they capitalized on it, coupled with embarrassments.

Two of my classmates came to my house yesterday evening, around 5pm, we discussed about so many things, including school activities. Little did I know that this weevils will soon embarrass me big time. Things started turning around when it became dark, and there was power supply, the weevils flew around the bulb in numbers, resting everywhere in the house, including on our body. To my classmates, it was a funny thing, they laughed and took pictures of the whole stuff which they posted on our class's Whatsapp group.

The weevils even flew into our food and drinks, so uncomfortable that my classmates had to leave earlier than intended. I'm not exaggerating, it was such an embarrassment for me, the incident made the top headline in my class's Whatsapp group, they were laughed about it and narrated to my room as a haunted room, but it was a very sad thing for me. I caused it by allowing laziness to take over me, I made up my mind to do something about it this morning, and in the most tragic and brutal way possible.

I took the bag of beans outside, made sure that the fowls in the compound came close, then I used a sifter to separate the weevils from the bean, and you can imagine what followed. The fowls fed on the weevils till they were filled, believe me when I say that the weevils were much. The damage they did to my beans was heartbreaking, holes everywhere in my beans, that I allowed, but coming out to terrorize me in my own house was what I couldn't accept. I feel relieved that they are gone.

The laziness had cost me something, I still had to purchase an insecticide to be able to get rid of it completely, and now my classmates have started attaching weevil to my name as nickname, Kai! Such a pathetic way to kickstart this year/semester, I've learnt my lesson.

The festive period is over, now our regular lives continues, the decisions people took during the season is already taking a toll on some people, it's not going to be funny, January will have 70 days to some people. People spend and forget that they have a life after the season. Most people gather money from January till November, with the sole aim of lavishing it all in December, and start all over again the next year, how much more pathetic can it get.

Just the first day of a new year, somebody is already asking me to help him out with transportation fare, to travel from his village back to where he normally stays. This is the same person that was busy oppressing other people, with pictures of outings with girlfriend and friends, spending money as if Elon Musk is his father. I thought that he did really have more than enough to spare, but now it's clear that he was trying to impress people and feel among too.

Ever since I learnt to spend accords to my pocket, I have not had any problem that has to do with money. I spent money during this season, yes, but it was according to my capacity, not more than I have. The guy can't subject me to pressure now, I won't displease myself to please him, so I simply told him "No". I didn't lend him any money, I told him that I'm also traveling back to school, which is money draining, I won't face the penalty for his deeds.

Now if he successfully gets the money from somebody, and travels back to where he stays, has he thought about how he will feed? Certainly his own January will have up to 100 days, still he won't learn, he will repeat the same mistake again this year's December. If this January looks tough to anyone, the person should assess the way he spent during the festive period, he will agree with me that he spent too much. The guy now seems to be angry with me, for refusing to help him out with the transportation fare, hmm.

I told the guy many things; this is a new year, and if you don't have any big dream you have made up your mind to achieve, you're not going to get much out of this year. Write it down if possible, set targets for yourself or you will end up joining the general target; which is to work and save up to lavish all in December. There are people that their lives evolves round this cycle, not nice. Living under pressure is not my kind of thing anymore, that's the only way to have all round peace of mind. Have a wonderful year.

It's the season of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, celebrations of different forms is at play currently. This is the best Christmas celebration I have ever had, in the sense that I am not under any kind of tension, I'm celebrating according to my capacity, and above all, I am not pleasing anybody and displeasing myself. Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, and not going into depression to please people, but sadly this was my case.

My friends have always looked up to me, in seasons like this, to take them out, fund their Christmas celebration and buy gifts for them. I can not remember ever looking up to any of my friends during this season for any kind of benefit, I was always the one in the spotlight. And it was not as if I had more money than them, it was just that I loved putting smiles on people's faces. But I was doing all this at a high cost; displeasing myself and sending myself into depression.

Most times, nothing will be left for me after this season, as I would have spent everything to make my friends happy. What am awful life. I have promised not to pass my limits in spending, and this Christmas is evidence that I've kept my words. What I find funny is that as usual, my friends have contacted me and asked me if I'm take them out, good for me I learnt how to say 'NO' to people. More funny how about three of my friends have sent their bank account details to my WhatsApp.

I didn't tell any of them to send their bank account details, I've told them that they are the ones to host me this season, but unfortunately, no one has invited me to anywhere, not even to share a plate of rice. It's now as if I was always the one moving the motion, and nothing would be done without me. Well, it's not bad to be the only one giving out and making others happy, but that will only happy when I'm capable enough, not spending more than you have.

I have a lot of plans for next year, so I'm not going to spend more than I'm supposed to. I have still been able to split some amount and celebrate this season with my family members, and I'm not feeling depressed like other years, no kind of tension, I'm perfectly alright. My account has not been wounded. Moving forward, I'm never displeasing myself to please others again, it's Christmas, and we're even supposed to share with others, and show love and peace and care, not extorting from others

Enjoy the season!
Happy new year in advance!

Around this time last year, and on a very sunny afternoon, I was resting in my room when I heard commotions outside my compound, I stood up and went to find out what it was. On stepping outside, I discovered that it was a thief that was apprehended while trying to escape. He was caught loosening zinc, from the roof of somebody's house in a broad daylight. Then he was caught and beaten mercilessly before being handed over to the police.

Two days ago, in the evening, I was outside my room with my fellow tenants, gisting and having fun with words, when we heard disturbing noise of iron collision, coming from an uncompleted building. We decided to go close and find out what it was, after much inspection, we thought to ourselves that it must be a thief trying to pull out an iron frame from the window of the house. So we waited outside and kept cool, so the thief won't suspect anything.

It was long when we saw a guy coming out of the uncompleted building with an iron door frame in his hands, chiselled out from the wall. We asked him who he was and where he was going with the frame, the guy had a 100% comportment and kept cool as if he had just done something very good and cherish-able. He told us that the house owner paid him to remove and take it somewhere, good thing we knew the house owner and sent for him, while we told the guy to sit in the meantime.

It was at this moment that the guy started begging and confessing, that he was actually trying to steal the item. It wasn't long before the scene was crowded with people, and before the house owner arrived, people descended on the thief in a brutal manner. I recognized the thief as the same thief that removed somebody's roof last year, others confirmed and even added the thief was just released from the prison, and without wasting must time, he decided to go back to his old ways.

This time, the thief had hit the rock, the owner of the house was a retired military officer, the man complained of how thieves have frustrated his efforts in completing that house. The man placed a call for soldiers to come and pick the thief, the thief knew he was in hot soup now, and must pay for damages. Could it be because of the present economy that the guy steals uncontrollably? Where are the parents? Lots of questions in my mind, but honestly if you determine to live honestly, no matter the situation, you will succeed.