Chapter 1 - I'm In!
At long last, I saw my name on the admission list.
I had already lost all hope because I was told that after the second list there could be no more names.
But the third list came out, the same week as the second one, this is important considering that the first list came out two weeks ago.
I was very lucky to be taken because my first and second choice was University of Lagos and my preferred course was Chemical Engineering for first choice and Computer science second choice. I was given the latter.
I was so happy that I immediately found a phone, called my Dad at his office and told him the good news.
He was not that surprised because he was already assured by Professor O. and Professor S.
Professor O. is in the Maths department while Professor S. is in Philosophy.
Dad told me to come down to his office and collect money to start my registration immediately.
I looked at my wrist watch it was noon. I told him it wasn't worth it, since I could do it the next day. Also, at this time, the cash office would be full.
I woke up early the next morning and was dropped on campus by my Dad. We got there at 8 am. The cash office was open and there were nothing less than hundred students already chilling there.
I started wondering how I was going to go about it when...... "Oyin, whatz up now?".
"Iro ni [translation: It's a lie], Bisola what are you doing here?"
I went to the same secondary school with Bisola, from S.S.1-3. We moved in the same clique but due to laziness on our part, we hadn't seen each other since we left school eighteen months ago.
Although, I had gotten gist that she was in Lag but to me I didn't hear it from the horses mouth.
"I did my diploma in Philosophy here,"
"Are you serious?, so you are going to year two?"
"No Joo, I don't want to read philosophy. I want to read Mass Com, so I did Jamb again.
"Okay now. have you paid?"
Yeah, I know some people. You know my Momsie works here now"
"That's true, but I have not paid, I am looking for how to do it".
Before I could say Jack Robinson, Bisola took me inside the cash office and I got to pay.
We both left the cash office catching up on old gist and enquiring about all friends.
"How is Tola, Bola, Sola" I asked"
"Tola is in Poly Ibadan, Bola at Ibadan University, while Sola is at Uniben".
"Na wah oh, come gist me about things they do here now. I hear say, na fashion they know and every thing I'm seeing here is baffs". I said.
"Don't mind them, you do what you want to do."
We went to her Momsie's office at senate building. I greeted her and she asked after my family. Bisola also advised me that accommodation list was coming out the next day. She told me that it was compulsory for year one but not every year one student gets on campus accomodation. She also told me how to go about mine by registering at the faculty. I decided to do that the next day.
The next day, dressed in blue jeans and top, I dashed to science to register at the faculty office, then department office.
Science quadrangle was something else, I felt dowdy compared to what everyone else left on.
The whole place was colourful with baffs and all sorts. I'd been to the faculty before then and saw nothing like that but may be it was because we hadn't resumed. Different girls and outfits.
I saw a girl that I was sure her breast were going to spill over because of the low neck bodysuit she wore. Another left on an extremely short skirt. Most of them had beads or silver chains on their ankle, I later found out that they were called anklets. I saw like two people that left on belly chain.
To me it looked like a colorful carnival and I made up my mind to collect my shopping allowance and get the kind of outfits I was looking at.
My elder sister Simisola just came back from America. She bought me some Aplic outfits, American tops and other outfits but I'd not launched them. I planned on launching them immediately and getting some new ones tomorrow. I will wear my handkerchief top with the blue jeans and tie a bandana tomorrow.
I'm the third child of a family of four.
All girls, the eldest is Simisola, followed by Bukky and the last born is Ladun. My father Mr. G.E. works at a popular bank while Momsie owns a shop on the Island. The first born works in an advertising company, while Buky is still at school, Ladun is in S.S.2.
I went to the Dean of Students Affairs Office to check the accommodation list, I saw my name but I did not see Bisola's name on the list. I decided to look for her at her momsie's office. I saw her there.
"Oyin, my name didn't come out, the lady in charge fucked up.
"I didn't work sisi, but my name came out, but don't worry, why don't you come and stay with me."
"Alright, I'll move in on Saturday"
"Bisola let me start going, I have already cleared the accommodation. I want to go and pack my things for school" I said.
I got home around 3.pm and started packing my things. My Mom wrote a list for me to make my packing easier. The next day which was Thursday, we went to Eko to do my shopping and I went to Yaba to do some other shopping.
Today is Friday, I'm moving to school. I have packed all my things.
"Oyinda, have you taken your vitamins?".
My parents call me Oyinda but my sisters call me oyin.
"Yes Mom"
"Oyinda, don't forget your stew" she said again.
Oyinda! Oyinda!
Gosh, I can't just wait to leave this house.
I never went to a boarding school, so I have been stuck with them all my life. They wouldn't have allowed me to stay on campus, but for my sisters who insisted that Ikeja was too far from Lag and I might have to do evening lectures and walking on the street at night wasn't safe.
I was also not allowed to stay more than two days at my friends house, my cousins inclusive.
I couldn't do any thing without being questioned. Now a whole new world is out there, waiting for me and I was ready to embrace it with my arms wide open.
I, Oyindamola E. is going to be free, free to take decisions on my own about my life the way I wanted. Boys, parties, here I come I .... Sis Oyin.
I was suddenly brought out of my reverie by my younger sister Ladun. She told me my Dad was downstairs and was becoming impatient. It took us some time to get all my things to the car, all thanks to my family.
We left for school, my parents, Ladun and of course me. My mind was in constant motion. Newest Hall I to me was a very lovely hall. Thanks to my sister Buky, I can take care of myself on campus and not feel like jambito. [A jambito (Jambite) means a fresher, a year one student.
Getting to the hall, my parents conversed with the hall mistress and also tipped her to give me a good room with good girls. Like she would know which girls were good or not.
I was told to sign some forms which included an agreement form and the rules I was supposed to keep or be booted out.
I was given a room on the first floor Rm 121, an eight man room. I also got a lower bunk, then was shown the toilet, bathroom, kitchenette and laundry room. And was told the room was already allocated to two girls.
My parents sat on my mattress and watched me and Ladun unpack. They left like an hour later but not before giving me lectures on good conducts, the final say was "Remember the child of whom you are".
After they left, I picked up the leaflet on the rules and regulations of the hall while listening to Celine Dion. Around 5.pm. another girl moved in, she had a fridge and also a deck (player).
"Hi, I'm Tope pam pam"
"I'm Oyin, Computer Science, what year are you in"
I'm in 200 Physical Education" she answered.
"Do you have a squatter?" she asked
Yes I do, her name is Bisola. We finished from the same secondary school. What about you, do you have one?".
"No, I stayed with someone in my year one and I don't want to do it again".
"Was it that bad?, weren't you friends".
"You're a real jambite, you won't really understand. Don't worry by the end of the semester you would. Anyway, ....
She was stopped short as "Two fair skinned girls burst into the room.
"Oh, we have new room mates" said one of them.
"I'm Angel and this is Vicky" she said while pointing at the other girl.
Angel is a pretty but thin girl, while Vicky is on the fleshier side with thick black hair," the hair looked dyed.
"I'm Oyinda, Oyin for short"
"I'm Tope".
"Tope, I'm your bunkie, I stay on the upper bunk" Vicky informed her.
Vicky sat on Tope's bed and started conversing. Tope being very talkative did most of the talking.
"I have a squatter" Vicky said
"I do too," what about you Angel"? I asked
"Omo bone, I don't oh. I want to experience life alone as a first timer"
"Jambite, you mean" Tope said
"That can be remedied in a year" I announced.
We all gisted till 11.p.m. when we all drifted to sleep.
The next day which was Saturday, I woke up around 8 am but didn't take my bath till 11 am.
After taking my bath, I lay down to read John Grisham's Testament while snacking on some biscuit.
Next Chapter
© NgEX 2001
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to anyone
living or deceased is purely coincidental
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