GCR WINNING ARTICLE: A VALENTINE LOVE STORY TO MY ELDER BROTHER CHUKWUEMEKA ALEXENDER OKECHUKWU A.K.A PAE

Written By U.D.Okechukwu

My brother, my love, my enchanter, the one who called me back from the land of the dead with his tears, this Valentine day article is dedicated specially to you to let you know how much love I've got for you. I can remember categorically and vividly one of the most touching days ever in my history. It was in the year 2003.

The time keeper Michael Ohale had just rung the bell to end the 'happiest time' in school known as long break and It was a bright sunny afternoon at exactly 12:30PM. Now, it was time for the dreaded compulsory business studies session where students never missed because the short fair skinned woman teacher never smiled at late coming not to mention absence. 

In retrospect, We had just returned from the mid-term break of the second term and I didn't do my business studies project which was to present a real life bank check slip. I forgot to obtain one from my father Godfrey Azunna Okechukwu.

The moment came when the teacher, Mrs. Chinwe made the call to those who didn't do their project to immediately differentiate and disassociate themselves from those who did. I had no choice than to obey the call just like everyone obeys the call of nature. 

I, along with other students who defaulted, were asked to kneel down in front of the class. We knelt down. The Black board was right behind us. We were all in anticipation of a wonderful ass whipping which she was professionally good at. 

"To my greatest surprise, I was shocked" - (now those are the exact intonation and words of Mr. Kennedy Eyeta aka Uncle K, the Senior Boarding House Master ) - when I found myself lying on the upper bonk space of the bed in the sick bay of the school.

With a weakened right turn of my small cute head, I could hear a voice crying and begging God to spare my life and bring me back. The cry was so loud that other students joined in one after the other. The voice sounded exactly like that of my elder brother. Of a sure it was him since students who consoled him in tears also mentioned his name. I tried to open my eyes but I couldn't, they were hot and glued to my eyelids.

I heard footsteps, my body began to move from one careful hand to another. Authoritative order from 'God knows who' asking people to clear the way and reduce panic and also go back to their classrooms. I know quite sure that one of the voices were from Mrs. Christie Ikwubiela Ekainu Ndukwe, the then Home Economics teacher and others not mentioned. (God Bless their sides and corners greatly).

In the year 1999/2000, I and Funmi Casley-Hayford were selected to join the Principal of one of the best schools in Nigeria situated in Igbesa, Ogun State, Loral International Schools for the Inter-house Sport Competition of a school owned by the the President of Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo, The Bells International Secondary School at Ota, Ogun State.

I and her were privileged to ride in the principals official car because we were both the shortest, cutest, loving and awesome set of male and female among students in the entire school, of-course, we were also competing in the event too as we were the best sprinters in the junior category.

However, Funmi never made it out of the 'shortest-cutest-loving-and-awesome-female-student category of our set until we graduated from High school but I handed over the baton to the 'shortest-male-student category of our set to Bolaji Soares (haha). Many would figure why "cutest-loving-and-awesome" wasn't added to the title? - Well, the answer is that I still retained them until I graduated from High school. THANK YOU!

Oh! what a Father figure, respected entity and lovely old man he was. His speech during the compulsory assembly period was always astonishing. Even at his age no one wanted to be flogged by his fat long whip. He taught us this song during a music class session where he had just hijacked from Mr Sunny Macauley titled, 'Old Black Joe'

Gone are the days, when my heart was young and gay

Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away

Gone from the earth to a better land I know

I hear the gentle voices calling old back Joe

I'm coming, I'm coming

For my head is bending low (2x)

I hear the gentle voices calling old back Joe... 

....and as young students I and Uzordinmma Oddie-Okeke would practically widen our nostrils to mimic the last stanza of the song. Well that thing we did was to just add some fun to the poem and also let our principal know that he had a big nose (Haha). But till his death, he never understood. 

Continue to Rest In Perfect Peace Late Mr. Okwuanaso from Ozubulu, Anambra State, Nigeria.

I had just Puked where I laid in the back seat of the most respected vehicle in the entire school (haha), in that same principals vehicle. The content of the puke was greenish-yellow and my intestine almost escorted it. 

The clean white crested Peugeot 505 was definitely engulfed with my stinking puke but who cared, a life was at stake.

After I regained consciousness, I opened my eyes to find myself in another bed with wires connected all over me (Drip) and behold my mother Mrs. Victoria Ijeoma Okechukwu was by my side. She held my hands and stared at me as she touched my neck to feel my body temperature. I was not dreaming. How did my Mum get here? I thought I was at home until a nurse walked in to check me out. She came to remove the wires that I guess was connected by Dr. Arigbagbuwo and his team of nurses. (haha)

"How are you feeling" My mum asked as she motherly glanced at me.

"Fine Ma" I replied.

She immediately brought out a flask filled with Noodles and egg. My favorite food! Oh My God! How did she know my actual medicine. Well, she is my mum, isn't she?

My brother never left my side, he was there all the while I was at the hospital. I guess he will be the best person to tell me how long I was there because I have never asked him? Now is the time.....

Brother Chukwumeka Alexander Okechukwu, how long was I at Ibijola Medical Centre owned by Dr. Arigbabuwo whose son, Babatunde Ade-Arigbabuwo was your classmate and whose daughter, Yewande Ade-Arigbabuwo was my classmate. 

Talking about Yewande, she was one young beautiful Yoruba girl I had an eye for while in Loral Secondary School although Queen Osora Nwachukwu was prettier and Nkiru Ezenwa Lizzy was lovely since she cleaned the dust Yewande poured on me. Which dust? my readers will definitely ask... Here is the dust outlined below.

I remember writing Yewande a love letter with the Ditto on it (haha) on this same Valentines day in 2004. Oh lord! this girl read the whole letter out to the class and laughed at me. Well, hmmmmm what more can I say. 

Now let me warn you guys reading this right now! this three women I mentioned are all married to the best men on earth. Their marriages are flourishing beyond reasonable doubt. They will surely see who I will get married to finally (Haha)

"Your brother truly really loves you oh" Faith Ogbannaya Ujah (Faith Ogburu) said as he and others narrated what happened that tragic day.

My classmates told me that immediately I collapsed, there was pandemonium in the entire class. My brother was informed. He dashed to the Business Studies Lab. When he saw me lifeless on the floor, he placed one hand beneath my head and the other on my waist and wailed loudly.

" Uche! Uche! please don't die please stay with me, I need You. What will I tell mummy and daddy, Uche!, Uche!, Uche!, Uche!, Uche! Oh God! Please don't take him away, Please God. Uche! Uche! Uche! Wake Up! Wake Up!"

Time passed by, students who loved me cried, teachers cried, I even heard that the cooks, gatemen and tuck-shop attendants, in fact everyone cried for me and God heard their cry and couldn't fold his hands. 

But hold on a minute, brother Emeka, was Chinedu Ugwu there?

Narrators also added that arrangements were made for First-aid at the schools sick bay and preparations to take me to the hospital. And the whole school gathered, lectures seized on hearing that a student had collapsed. Loral International School Igbesa shut down temporarily for the undeniable love shown by my able elder brother Chukwumeka Alexander Okechukwu towards his younger brother Uchechukwu Daniel Okechukwu.

This act of love was a lesson well taught and also well learnt to those who think that they are stone hearten. 

Let love prevail at any time!

With this piece, I hereby win the Valentine Give Away offer by Global Community Reporters. Thank you Global Community Reporters Team. More Grease. (HAHA)