A DREAM COME TRUE ( Student's inspiration to success in education, Chapter 2)
It's another week of the inspirational story that can lead to student's success in education.
Mr. Asibong Effiom was transferred to Primary School, Mkpetim, the village of Chief Atanguma Esenowo. He was the headmaster of the school. Mr Effiom was tall, elegant, neat, and ebony black with some silvery lines of grey hairs in the centre of his head, which many people believed was a sign of much learning and wisdom He always wore a pair of shorts with stocking and a pair of brown shoes to match. Mr. Asibong Effiom was a very intelligent gentleman. He had a fair knowledge of every subject in any discussion. He was equally a very good storyteller, motivator, and counsellor. Mr. Effiom had a son, Etetim, who was so dear to him and whom he had groomed to become his heir. He wanted his son to be a medical doctor. Etetim was a final year student in secondary school.
Mr Asibong Effiom, who hailed from Western- Calabar, was about 55 years old. He had four children. Three of his children were in secondary schools, while the last child was in primary school. Mr. Effiom always spent his leisure time either in his rich library or at a relaxation spot, drinking his favourite drink 'palm wine' while at his former station. But when he came to Mkpetim, he was quickly introduced to Chief Atanguma Esenowo by one of his teachers, Mr. Udodong, who happened to come from Mkpetim. Without wasting any time, Mr Effiom decided to pay a formal visit to Chief Atanguma in his house one evening.
Mr. Effioin met him, reclining on a locally made chair in front of his thatched house.
"Good evening, Chief. I am Mr Asibong Effiom, the new headmaster posted to the village. I'm so glad to meet with you for the first time. " Mr Effiom formally introduced himself to Chief Atanguma. He paused a while for a response before deciding on what to do next.
"Oh, you are welcome to our village 'Akamba tisa'. I am Chief Atanguma Esenowo..." he said. He stood up from his seat to have a hand-shake with Mr. Effiom.
"I am the chief of staff in palm wine business and the Son of the soil of Mkpetim village!"Chief Atanguma then finished up the introduction, with his characteristic infectious smile, using his coarse palm to wipe away sweats on his temple.
"As a general in palm wine business, that is why I have come to pay homage to you first, before visiting
the village head of Mkpetim, "Mr Effiom wittingly responded. The two men laughed and pumped their hands into each other, firmly, looking at each other affectionately, each man beaming with a smile.
Chief Atanguma was so elated for such a great honour from a person like Mr Effiom. He felt more honoured to be visited by him, just a few days after he had come to his new station. Without even asking his august visitor to sit down, Chief Atanguma dashed into the room and not long came out with a big calabash of fresh palm wine steaming like boiled water. In his left hand, there was a bunch of gourd fastened to a wooden hanger, and he hanged it on the thatched rafters.
When he came out of the room, he discovered. that Mr. Effioin had taken his seat and was looking around the compound.
"These things seem to grow well here. Indeed, they are really flourishing even in hinterland such as this, "Mr Effiom remarked. He was referring to the giant raftia palms that almost formed a forest in Chief Atanguma's compound.
"It is God's favour on us peasants. Our people say for a cow that has no tail, it is only God that would drive away flies from its eyes. Do we have any other trade if they do not flourish?" Chief Atanguuna answered, rhétorically with giggling, compelling his guest to also laugh.
Chief Atanguma removed the gourd (Iko or Ukpok - native tumblers used for drinking palm wine) blew it and filled it with palm wine. He took a long gulp first and then gave a long breath in ecstasy. He emptied the content and then poured away the dregs. He removed a clean new gourd from the hanger, filled it with palm wine, as a mark of honour, handed it over to his guest, who collected it happily and seeped it stylisely.
"This is delicious. You are truly the chief of staff of this business!"Mr. Effiom teased him, smiling.
Chief Atanguma then pushed the calabash containing the wine to Mr. Effiom to help himself as much as he could. When Atanguma lifted up his head, he saw his wife returning from the farm with Asuama and his other two brothers, Asanga and Okutama. They were carrying basins of cassava, and their necks sunk in. Obviously, they were tired. The farm was very far, and they had to trek the long distance.
"Oh, Ma-ma, you are back," Chief Atanguma greeted his wife. "Yes, Papa Akan, I salute you all!" Akon greeted back, as she fondly called her husband after their first son, Akaninyene.
"Ma-Ma, please, when you put down the load, come and greet our important visitor and my friend," Chief Atanguma instructed his wife. Atanguma had fallen in love with Mr Effiom, whom he continued to look at with awe, wondering why such a noble and well-informed man could condescend to visit him first among other prominent and educated people in the community. On his part, Mr Eftiom was also so delighted with the generous and friendly disposition of Chief Atanguma, who instead of selling his wine to enhance his family's fortune, preferred surrendering all to a stranger, like him.
Akon came out to greet Mr Effiom immediately she had put down her load. She wore a loin-cloth wrapper tied across her busts. She was accompanied by Asuama, her sixth son. Asuama was closer to his mother than his father. As Akon walked toward Mr Effiom, the headmaster with a grin stood up, introduced himself, and hugged her.
"Madam, I'm pleased to meet you. How are you and the children?" Mr Effiom said.
"We are fine, 'tisa'. Welcome to our house, and may the good Lord grant you a happy stay here, "she replied.
"Thank you madam", Mr Effiom said.
Mrs Atanguma did not waste any time after greeting Mr Effiom. She went back to her kitchen.
At this point, Asuama was leaning on one of the pillars of the thatched house, gazing at the clothes of Mr Effiom. He had never seen an elderly man dressed the way Mr. Effiom dressed in shorts and stockings. Asuama was lost in his thoughts. Mr. Effiom, who had by now returned to his drink, suddenly looked up and saw Asuama leaning on the pillar. Mr. Effiom beckoned him to come and greet him. staggered hesitatingly toward Mr Effiom. Asuama
"What is your name?"Mr Effiom asked.
"Asuama," he answered.
"How old are you?"Mr Effiom continued to probe, but Asuama did not know how old he was. He simply stood there gazing at the floor. The father immediately came to his rescue, "Seven years old Tisa," Chief Atanguma replied.
"Did you go to school today?" Mr Effiom enquired further.
Asuama was again silent. The father had to come to rescue him again.
"He has not started schooling yet. His hand has not reached his other ear yet, I believe by next year or so, the father tried to explain, but before Chief Atanguma could complete his statement, Mr Effiom who was listening to him with rapt attention interrupted:
"What! That is no longer practised these days. Chief. A child that is five or six years old must be in school whether his hand touches the other of his ear or not, "the headmaster retorted.
"Chief, I want to see you with this boy in the school tomorrow, please," Mr Effiom instructed.
"I will personally bring him 'Tisa', Chief Atanguma assured.
Chief Atanguma was a traditionalist who was still following the archaic admission procedure for children into primary schools. In those days, a child's hand had to cross over his head to touch the other ear before such a child was considered for admission in primary school. Such children were in the ages 10 to 12 years. As Mr Effiom bade farewell to Chief Atanguma, Akon was in the kitchen eardropping on the conversation between her husband and the headmaster. She was full of appreciation for Mr Effiom, whom she saw as God-send to open the eyes of her husband on the importance of Western education. She was a woman, and there was a limit she could go to influencing her husband in the discharge of his responsibility to his children, as far as her view on education was concerned.
At the end of chapter 2, see you in chapter 3
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