Settling Scores Behind The Armory

Settling Scores Behind The Armory

GCI was a school with quite a large expanse of grounds with quite massive acreage. To us boys, it was huge. The school had this bifurcation whereby the boarding houses were distinct in terms of area of coverage from the school compound, the school compound had the lecture rooms, laboratories, assembly hall, principal, vice principals� offices and staff room.

In the school grounds, we had an armory which was slightly secluded though quite close to the Physics lab. GCI being a Boys School, there were bond to be disagreements in opinions and some aggressive behavior reflected by some of the boys.

There was an unwritten rule, if two boys had a disagreement and could not resolve through dialogue and bantering, fisticuffs sometimes were used to settle such budding conflicts. It was therefore not too unusual for a boy to challenge another to the precinct of the armory, where scores were settled, with �Privileged� spectators hailing the victor or consoling the vanquished.

Omoregie Eke of blessed memory and I were friendly being in the same �B�-arm from first form to third form. I can�t recollect what led to our going to the armory to settle scores. Omoregie was slim and tall and I was just small. We got to the armory with Akinola D (BJD) who was also in the B-arm; before I knew what was happening Omoregie used some wrestling moves on me and I was flying in the air only to land on my lovely bottom with a slightly dirty uniform that could not be worn the next-day.

Akinola D. (a.k.a. �Risky� or �Rebranded�) as we call him promptly declared Omoregie the obvious winner, consoled me and chastised Omoregie for throwing me up so high. That was GCI for you, in victory magnanimity without gloating. Omoregie, Akinola and I left the armory as friends and we remained so till Omoregie left us. For my part, I never more threw nor took the armory gauntlet ever thereafter.


Source: Ayo Mosuro (�69 � Field House)