LOVE AT FIRST SIP

“Cocoa”, that legendary cocoa-based beverage that accompanied our breakfast in GCI, must rank as one of our best loves in the school – probably second to rice and dodo. I am sure many of us fell in love with cocoa at first sip at our first breakfast. I never, in all my years in GCI, met anyone that didn’t like his cocoa, which was best taken hot, especially in the morning. Most seniors had their favourite junior (cocoa mule) for this task.
Many juniors resented being a “cocoa mule” as it was not easy getting extra cocoa and some of those seniors had huge cups that were difficult to fill. I remember “Porby” (Porbeni’s cup); it could hold a gallon of cocoa! It was also a thankless job as you are not rewarded for succeeding and you are more than likely to get knocked for failing.
So it would be on this sunny Sunday afternoon in the great Swanston House that the boys were on the lawn, passing time by lifting weights – heavy scrap metals. As you can imagine, this is a “sport” for the big boys, the Adesiyans, the “Odibos” (Adejobi) and the likes. The juniors were there mostly as spectators to admire the strengths of these “giants” and wonder at their glistering “yams” (muscles).
I was in Form 2 at the time; by my side was “Dodo” (Femi Dada) who was in Form 1, but loved hanging out with his seniors as he believed he was too “big” for his mates. Anyway, Dodo and I were among the spectators “ooghing” and “aaghing” at the feats of the seniors and the display of various “yams”. Some of these “yams” belonged to “Lanse” (Olaosebikan – of blessed memory) who was in Form 4, and was notorious for his short fuse. He was one of those seniors you tried to avoid because your sight might just upset him and you could find yourself filling a bucket – from the main tank – with a teaspoon shortly after.
Well, “Lanse” lifted this heavy contraption and drew much applause from the crowd, there were “ooghs”, “aaghs” and claps of approval from most of the spectators. Unfortunately, my friend Dodo wouldn’t choose any of these accolades, he chose instead to whisper his intention in my ear: “why wouldn’t he be able to lift that, with all the cocoa he takes”. You see, Dodo was “Lanse’s” “cocoa mule” and you can imagine how much “big man” Dodo hated that task.
Fate and the wind were not kind to Dodo on that day and his words were gently helped along by the wind into "Lanse's" restless ears. Damn! I watched with dread as "Lanse" looked in our direction as he gently dropped the iron weights and with the look of someone who had just seen his mother's assassin, took a determined step towards us. I looked at Dodo, he was frozen cold, petrified with fear, knowing the pain that was to come.

I, on the other hand, knew I had no time to feel sorry for Dodo, in fact before he would take his second step, I had to practice urgent "social distancing" - 50 years before it became fashionable and take a lesson from our ancestors, "k'oju ma r'ibi, gbogbo ara l'ogun e" (to avoid seeing evil, you better move your body).

Culled From: Our story (1972 Set Anniversary book)
Submitted By: DELE OLAOPA (SN 2477, Swanston House)