When my family moved to Warri from Odogbolu, I was left behind so I could take my Common Entrance exams at my then school. I later joined my family & was placed in Pri 6 at Nana Primary as we awaited my results. New school, new friends, new everything.
We had a class bully, big muscular girl we were all scared of. Big, dark, rough, formidable.
I can’t even remember what led to our confrontation, however I do remember what happened after. She challenged me to a fight to settle the matter after school that day. Everyone was there, I couldn’t back down, they were screaming, “June, show her, show her!”. I had to show her. Never mind that I was skinny, lenge-lenge, fragile, & weak-kneed scared.
All through the classes that followed, I thought of nothing else, but how to escape the fight with my pride intact. I prayed. Please God, let her forget. Please God, let Mr. Ade (our driver) come early today. Please God, let a teacher find out. Please God, save me.
School over came, & everyone heralded us to the back of some old school blocks, cheering and clapping. My heart was pounding, my brain was a dizzy cloud of white, I was so weak with fear, my life seemed over.
Before I could even wonder if begging was an option, the 1st few blows came, all delivered with swift accuracy to my head. Ah-Ah, all the places her fist landed on, I could feel those areas no more after the initial pain. It felt like those parts of my head were no longer on my body. In my confusion, I looked on the ground for them, then touched my head, thinking those parts were completely dented & caved in. I felt my head still there. My ears were ringing, my chest was tight, my arms were swinging at her, missing their marks as she danced skillfully out of their way, while landing more blows on my dented head.
When she was satisfied that she’d won the fight, she picked me up, carried me to the dustbin & placed me in it.
The cheers turned to laughter, and I could not have been more mortified, more embarrassed, and so so chest-pressed sad.
These days I choose my fights and have learnt the most effective fights/best wins don’t need fists & brawn, but strategy and brainwork.
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