Thanks a lot

My friendship story

I stood glaring at the group that surrounded me. Anger and fear boiling through my tiny frame. I had recently been recently diagnosed with short sightedness and was handed my first pair of glasses, which I was trying to get used to before beginning Jss1. It was the post primary school holidays and I was returning from holiday tutorials when I was accosted by a group of six, fellow ten year olds, who somehow found my glasses very funny. They immediately surrounded me and began taunting me with shouts of "baba" and "alinco", all the while, delivering slaps to my clean shaven head. I was at a loss on how to fight this crowd and so I began to cry. This seemed to encourage them as they pushed me to the ground and began to dump sand on me. I fought the best I could and was about giving up when I heard a sharp cry from one of my attackers. I knew I hadn't delivered any substantial blow and so I looked up to glimpse at my defender.

"Leave him alone" shouted my defender. A boy about the same age as the rest of us. My attackers all rose up and proceeded to deal with him for daring to challenge them. I watched for a while in awe and admiration as this very dark skinned boy fought off six attackers before it occurred to me to help him. Together we harmoniously beat up the bullies in ways they would never forget. His name is Bolade and that was the beginning of a glorious friendship that has lasted for twelve years and counting.

Bolade and I later went on to the same secondary school, we were coincidentally placed in the same class. This marked the beginning of our eternal academic rivalry. Although our friendship grew stronger all through our secondary school days, I never once allowed him to overtake me academically. No matter how hard he read, the fear of him beating me always inspired me to read harder and so I always came first and he, second. We proceeded to the same university, but to study different courses in the same faculty. Our friendship and support continued, alongside the rivalry. Except on nights when one of us was sick, we would always find a way to drag each other to night class. To compensate for our struggles, we would relax every weekend with chilled bottles of our favourite 33 export lager beer.

Through out our friendship, Bolade has never failed to have my back, but two occasions stand out. The first was during our industrial training in our 400 level. I had had a very big fallout with my "wife to be" and I narrated the whole story to Bolade on phone. He immediately took her side, understanding the damage my stubbornness could cause. He vehemently charged me to go and make peace. I refused. I was undergoing my training in Akwaibom and he in Lagos. Knowing the devastated state I would be in following the fall out, Bolade (without informing me) took excuse from work the very next day, gathered what he had earned so far and undertook the harrowing 12-hour journey by road from Lagos to Akwaibom with a literal cane in his bag. I only became aware of his arrival when I woke up in my lodge that evening to find him seated in front of me. I was shocked to my bones. He calmly informed me that he had come to flog sense into me for breaking up with a gem. He then proceeded to show me the cans of chilled 33 export lager beer he had brought and which we would drink to symbolize our continuing friendship, after my deliverance. I realized he meant business. By the time he was on his way back to Lagos the next morning, I was reconciling with my "wife to be".

The other occasion which is more recent was during our degree exams. We both had our last papers on the same day, but at different venues. My paper started by 11:30am, while his was to start by 12:30pm. I realized 45 minutes into the exam that I hadn't come with any means of identification. The invigilator was particularly adamant and stopped me from writing, promising that, not only would I not write the examination, but he would ensure that I was to be withdrawn for impersonation, except I produce identification. The invigilator was known for his extreme strictness. To crown it all, I wasn't allowed to leave the hall as I had already seen the question papers. Expulsion! In my final year!? I had never been more anxious. I had but one option; Bolade, whose friendship I could always rely on. I immediately phoned him and explained the situation to him, jokingly promising him as much 33 export lager beer as he could enjoy. Bolade, knowing fully well the consequences of missing his last paper which was to start in 15 minutes, also being fully aware that it would take over 35 minutes to go to my lodge off campus, retrieve the needed document and bring it to my hall, started out on the errand. In the ultimate test of friendship, he ran the entire distance to my lodge (not finding any shuttle as a result of the exams), got the document and ran all the way back! He was panting profusely and drenched in sweat by the time he arrived. The entire hall broke into an unexpected round of applause as he handed me the document. I went on to complete the exam and he went on to take his. Despite almost missing his paper as a result of his very late arrival, he went on to pass in flying colours.

To conclude our friendship story, we both recently graduated with First Class degrees in engineering. This we celebrated with our usual 33 export lager beer. Cheers to everlasting friendship.