Standing Out in the Crowd...

Recently, I started seeing the face of Mr Ofoluyawo everywhere I go...especially when I'm watching indecent movies. I see his toothy but wicked smile.
I see his grey parted hair that slants to one side like the sixteenth century slave driver.
I also notice his sparkling starchy white shirt that usually takes Okon --his houseboy six grovelling hours to iron.

To meet Mr Ofoluyawo is to meet fear itself. He embodies all the characteristics of a man who must be revered. You either quake before him or you crumble--there is no other option.

Once a group of students decided to dare him-- by staring directly into his eyes... The next day, everyone spoke hushly--Mr Ofoluwayo's eyes emits fire like the fork tongue of a snake...and that, the more you dare to stare, the more you are drawn into his spell unwittingly...

In spite of these dreadful conception of Mr Ofoluwayo, he was loved by all for his morale and outstanding character.
Then, we learnt under misconceived duress--
Now, we appreciate the high standard set for us and we would like to (under pressumed maturity) assimilate these lessons again and again...

Mr Ofoluwayo taught us ..." that in the face of all impossibilties, you can NEVER use Light to look for Darkness "...both are arch- enemies. Wherever there is light, darkness must be repelled...Good must triumph over evil... even if evil tends to have the upper hand for a long time...don't be deceived!

I can still recall some of the hard truth he tried to impart into our thick skulls... truth that were meaningless then...but today, stand as the bedrock of our very existence...

There was a night a group students incuding yours sincerely tried to sneak out of school(at about 11.30pm --after lights-out) to a birthday bash in town--- standing at the other side of the fence was the 'life statue' (as it seems) of Mr Ofoluwayo...
He gathered us into his arm. It wasn't a warm embrace. It was either suspension or outright expulsion.

He took us to his house in the masters' quarters. In fact, he took us into his sparsely furnished living room and delivered this lecture:

"... I know without any doubt in my mind, that you are all well brought up children...but the values which we, as custodians are trying to inculcate into you will be lost if we allow you to continue the way you are going..."

"Life, is very tough...even though I know that some of you are privileged...but these 'privileges' won't amount to anything if each and everyone of you cannnot stand up for the values which we teachers and your parents have strived to inculcate over the years..."

After this collective lecture which brought tears rolling down my cheek, Mr Ofoluwayo further nailed my coffin as it were by pulling me aside... and he continued...

"...I know it is not easy standing up for your values in a large room where everything tends to be directionless; and majority of the people valueless.But remember whose son you are...and try to keep your identity even if surrounded by people who would rather bow to peer pressure..."
Holding your head up high when majority bows theirs low makes you stand out...It is the greatest of challenges!

These words have become more like a rudder blade to me and others in this journey call life...