The Virgin Entrance
By: Badru Mulinsike
Published by WSIC EBooks Ltd.
Copyright November 8, 2011 by WSIC Ebooks Ltd.
Smashwords Edition
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“We shall not clap our hands when the day appears but we shall clap for the one who took the long dark night of nightmares away…”
Badru Mulinsike
Chapter One
“What is the purpose of life?”
Morens looked down and neither did he have the answer to the question. Prof. Mwebe sighed before he turned back to him.
“I have my dreams in you and I do not want them wasted. The aim of life is having a life of purpose. I know it will take you too long to understand but as you mature you will. Your father looks after you and has given you a gift of education. Divorcing with your mother doesn’t mean that you should run away from her. Everyone will love you when you are just a visitor in his home.”
Although Prof. Mwebe tried to advise, he would tell that instead Morens was getting angry. But he had always put a statement to his pupils, “I shall never spare the load and spoil the child.”
Morens was more than a pupil to him and then he had to let him know the characters of fathers.
“When you are with him, he is harsh and pretends that he doesn’t like you but he does. When you were among the best in the essay competition he showed me his happiness but when you came to join us he pretended that it had been nothing. He wants you to work harder.”
The statement made Morens to believe what His father had once told him that a human being has three hearts; A heart hidden in himself to keep the information that is not yet fit to be known to others. And then the second one, a heart you show to your beloved ones, it is always a hard heart that always involves pretence. Then the third heart is the one you show to the world. It is always a welcoming heart. Only that it is difficult to know what it means deeper. And when he joined senior one, Morens was determined to study. He had got a reason never to put the blame on his father. Then his mind kept to bring another thought in him. The reason why I suffer is because father never went to school and however much I try to explain the difficulties I encounter he shall never understand. Prof. Mwebe had promised to buy him his precious gift. A car. If only he never ran away from home but studied and got a degree. Later, he found Nejo his first friend who taught him secondary revising through summarizing. And by the time he got to senior two, Morens was used to the school. Senior two was a class he would never forget all his life. And one day when Mr. Mwiri the careers master entered in class they were all playing. And when Morens saw him he got delighted. He had loved the literature subject he taught. It was tricky and it made him imagine a world where he would never be. Mr. Mwiri too believed in Morens and when her students said that the subject was difficult Morens, had the hope of excelling. Always when he was to teach, he would write a statement and then turn to one of them to answer it. If they would all fail then he would turn it back to himself. Today he wrote a small sentence.
“The black one is squatting, the red one is licking its bottom. And before he would turn out to one of them they all would burst to laughter.
“What is wrong with the statement?” he asked anxiously.
“It is an abuse.” Beckie one of the brightest girls in class commented.
And when the statement came from Beckie there was no need of asking anybody else. They all depended on her for answers. He rubbed of the statement and turned to them.
You will never love literature if you think that is the way it is done. There is nothing wrong with the riddle it is only because you don’t understand it. If you go deeper in literature who of you will pass?” It is that he was annoyed.
“Who of you will read a novel and understand it if you do not think of understanding the riddles? “
They all looked apologetic, Nejo turned to Morens, his face was demanding it was that Morens had told Nejo of the riddle after reading it from a novel. Gently but not sure of whether he should say it, Morens put up his hand. Mr. Mwiri put his attention to him.
“And now what to say?” His voice was still unkind.
“A pot on fire” Morens answered.
But before Morens would take his seat the whole class burst to laughter once again.
“Why did you laugh,” it was Mr. Mwiri again.
“A pot on fire …”Beckie giggled.
“That is because you think you are clever yet you are stupid. What he has said is the answer to the riddle.
As He was continuing with the explanation He spotted a young girl seated in the corner with her head bent down .It was not that he only loved teaching the senior two class that made him happy but also if he spotted one who never took attention when he teaching was enough to make his stop the lesson . All the students’ eyes turned to him as he gently moved in the corner where she was seated.
“Young girl wake up. What is wrong with you?”
And as the girl got up a small note fell on the flour. He picked it and took a look and then moved back to the black board.
“I will love you until the sun falls on earth. What does the statement mean?”
Many of them tried answering the ‘riddle’ several times then finally Mr. Mwiri turned back to them.
“That is not a riddle. This young girl was deceived by someone who authored this letter and that is one of the statements that was written. Let me advise her that the sun always raises early in the morning, it is overhead by mid day and sunset falls by evening and then night will appear. That means that as it falls in the evening he finds some one else to love.”
Literature was very interesting when Morens and Mr. Mwiri broke down difficult statements to some thing that would become obvious. He picked up his pieces of chalk and then turned to the girl.
“Follow me.”
Mr. Mwiri always hated the distractions in his class and if there was any he would then turn off the lessons. As soon as he moved out of the class of empty tins started doing what was expected from them. And a few minutes after the bell for break was rung. Before Morens and Neja would leave Beckie interrupted them, she always hated being defeated,
“Congratulations.” She said as she shook hands with Morens. “I have a riddle. I will give you a month to research about it. If you bring a correct answer to me I will give you any thing you wish.”
Both Morens and Nejo were speechless as they waited to hear from her.
“I am a boss punished by my servant who am I?” she then left. Nejo turned to Morens.
“It is easy in only one day you can give her the answer. She said she would give you
“Anything. Make her life difficult, tell her you want her personally.”
They both laughed, it was a deal. Morens made his research but for a week he had not yet got the answer then a for night and finally a month the riddle had been challenging. And when he failed he went back to Beckie for the answer.
“If you had failed to know the riddle immediately you had to tell me that I do not know. But you failed to say it. Stay with the challenge i have given you endless years and as soon as you find the answer I will be waiting.”
Morens nodded, a small paper Beckie gave him had her address. It meant he had to read more scripts and then if he would find the riddle he would turn a failure in life.
By the beginning of senior three, Morens had not yet returned to school, his father was getting weaker. His father turned his arm and waved, he did it for the second time it was not that he was waving but he was calling him and quickly Morens got close and rested by his feet.
“I have helped many people ...” he paused. “Some have said thank you and most of them have said your help was nothing. And they have wished to see my wealth perish but it hasn’t. The day after tomorrow when am away never think of help from any one. I did help because I was blessed to but when I die a few will think of having you. This will teach you to work hard and you will get to know the difference between a friend and a foe.”
Morens only had to hear but for what it meant he never cared. He knew father was with him and would be present when the enemies showed .He then continued. “I never know whether you will go back to school but if you do not go and find your dream and the best advise you will ever hear from me is; Render to the kindred their due rights , as also to those in want and to the way farer. But waste not your wealth, time, health, talents, opportunities and the rest in the matter of a spend thrift.”
He looked at him with sorrow but Morens never understood him. “You can now go if you have understood my words.”
Morens turned and left. A few hours later he fainted and when he was back to his senses he turned to his son.
” I was just thinking but now I am sure. I must die!”
But to Morens again he would never even imagine this. After two days he was no more. Morens observed as once father was covered by the dusts of the earth and finally he was a non- member of the world .He would never hear his voice again; never hear him bark at him. It is then that he realized what Pro. Mwebe said that father liked him and he too liked father but he had never witnessed this until his death. Part of his last words would get back to him, “study if you get a chance again …” And when the clans man got to the meeting they all decided to offer back the foundation in the hands of the mother and then she had to bring them up.
Chapter Two
‘EVERYBODY IS IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF A REASON AND THE WORLD WILL NEVER ACCEPT THE ILLITERATE ANYMORE.YOUHAVE NOT GONE TO SCHOOLTO FOLLOW THE BAD PEER GROUPS.SACREDHEART IS A DIFFERENT SCHOOL FROM INTERGRIT SS.GO, DO WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IF ONLY YOU CARRY OUT WHAT YOU ARE MEANT TO DO GOD SHALL GUIDE YOU AND I TOO SHALL NEVER SAY THAT I HAVE NO MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL FEES.’THESE ARE THE GUIDING WORDS HER MOTHER HAD SPOKEN TO GUIDE HIM
Suddenly he turned to enter the main entrance with his mattress in the left arm and his suitcase in the other. He bumped into a strong built but a respectable young gentleman.
“It is six o’clock and you are just arriving to school. Who are you?
“I am Edrisa Moren’s”, replied the frustrated student.
“Did you clear the school fees in time?”
“Yes, mum did so?”
“But you are late for this term from which place do you come from?”
“Mukono……..district, sir.”
“No, I mean the area….”
“Wanton …..sir?
“Its alright I will lead you to dormitory its already time for supper.”
Morens looked at the nice dormitories and forgot his past life. This was nearly at the end of third term and he had only joined the school in form three as a semi candidate. This must be a friendly environment Morens thought. In fact it was the Headmaster himself who had welcomed him first. He picked up his plate and moved to the powerhouse he knew nobody but his heart was screaming with new joy of success. He had found no problem. Only the dark compound, there was no electricity that day and so there were no preps. There was no warmth in the compound at general coldness. This was the new environment at Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School. He finished his meal so fast that he started to examine the compound; to him it looked like a florist’s garden. He moved close to the dormitory verandah thinking of how school would change from one area to another but as he was still thinking his mind was destructed by a strange voice.
“Any one seated here?”
“It’s me! Morens.”
“Its dark, I wonder how you can sit here so silent like this….do you offer HELL/heaven?”
“Hell/Heaven….what does it mean?”
“You know most students who offer it are literal they either have good news from heaven or a message from hell?”
But I am only in senior three.”
“Oh….you still have a long way. I am Obbo and I after PEM/Ent. I think I should escort you to bed its late and may be you will be early for the morning preps?” Morens silently kept in his bed, he had many thoughts by him but to his surprise he fell a sleep while he was still in deep thoughts only to be woken up by shocking sounds.
Bruuuu….uu….bruuuu….bruuuuu….mmm…bruuu!
A night dancer? A night dancer…..a night dance?’ They all got up. Morens shivered he had never seen one. This was horror to him. All the students jumped out of their beds put on their clothes, picked up their books and ran out of the dormitory to the prep rooms. May be they had feared that the night dancer would find them in the dormitory and so they ran to class. Morens got up put on his clothes and ran out of the dormitory. A few days later Morens learnt that a night dancer meant prep master. Mr. Okwi, the prep master, his physical appearance never matched, with his heart. His face was always full of anger but his heart was so sympathetic. He was a well built brave young man. Many students used to say that he was an old boy of the school. He always looked critically in all the students’ face and would easily tell one who had committed a crime. The students said that he was a great athlete, they said that, he had managed to win Hussein Bolt in one of the championship races but hey never knew where exactly it had taken place. If Mr. Okwir chose to run after you, you had to surrender. The students trusted him he was more of a parent than a teacher he never caned any student but his laconic tongue a peace of advice, just like a parent’s words and they would easily follow you if you couldn’t abide by them. He always wanted his students to be capitalist this is because he needed everyone to have what belongs to him but not to be the ancient socialists. How would for instance one hundred students share over one book? All the new students feared him because of his approach but the students never cared of that and they always teased him. They always wanted to hear him speak like an English man. The big boys used to say that Mr. Okwir had learnt the White man’s language in the Second World War. They said that he had fought the war like that one in his own motherland and in the end he had managed to see at least the footsteps of Hitler and the White man rewarded him with a motorcycle. The motorcycle that shouted for them every morning. The students said that it was still tracing the marks of Hitler for this is the reason why he came to wake them up early every morning, he may have needed to see the one who resembled Hitler. They said that his motorcycle, had survived for more than a century and he never loved to sell it off it was his precious present that would remind him of the war. Morens looked at Mr. Okwir critically he never resembled someone who had fought a world war he looked to be a very young man. Who never even possessed a wife but the big boys kept on arguing about this and they exaggerated. “Do you know why he teaches Geography? He has been in these places in the Second World War. He even managed to cross the Rhine River at Base when he was going to Geneva for peace agreements?
To make their slender law more right they would lookup in the sky as if puzzled and they would conclude. ‘Have…haven’t you seen him when he walks into the prep room. That man is not easy… the way he holds the cane this is how people hold their guns in war? But how could a young man like him have gone to the Second World War and come out without any car? No….this was more of fun…they were jokes about him. The preps always used to last more than even the night to some students and it would be hard for them. From five…to six to seven and then cling...cling… cling...cling…the bell would go. This would remark the end of the morning preps. The prep master would then get up his role call list to see the members present for the day and then the absentees would study the preps the whole day at the Director of Studies Office this would teach them a lesson never to dodge preps the rest of their lives. The students would then match into their dormitories to pickup their cups to go for breakfast. A cup of black tea and get ready for classes. Yes the students looked smart in their uniforms. They were like businessmen. The white shirts, black trousers and a black tie with white strips for the ordinary level students while blue trousers with a blue tie with white strips would accompany the advanced level. The girls put on black skirts and blue ties respectively.
Chapter Three
Morens got used to the school’s daily programs, as early as eight in the morning every student had to be in class waiting for the lessons to begin but surprisingly today they waited, no teacher bypassed their block. They as usual started their conversations as they waited for the teacher. Then he came in, he made a small heading on the blackboard ‘waves.’ He had come in to teach physics he had finished the topic of waves and he waited for the students to ask him questions. This is how he taught. He never left a topic unless his students would sing it. He finally had to cough to attract the attention of his students.
‘Whenever we are going in for physics always try to discuss only about physics before I come in. This will help you pass. Right now your minds are disorganized. Some have talked of football. Others food, and maybe a few have talked about studies. Am a doctor I have to attend to my patients, please ask me any questions.’
Mr. Kyazze was a handsome young and elegant bright man. He always wore suits from Select Garments one of the best suit companies in Uganda. He had a majestic walk and his students said that he had grown up from the Kabaka’s palace. When one spoke to him, he first took care before he answered back in a soft voice and indeed one would not have doubted him to be from the Balangira family. Morens found Mr. Kyaze a bright man because of his soft speaking tongue. He would roll it as one of the businessmen who had bagged up sacks of money. He always said little most of his teaching was practically done. One funny thing about him, the students said that you would pass his subjects if you wished or not. He needed a summary from all students and he would force them to borrow the physics textbooks in the library. This was because his students never loved reading on their own. Many students said that he was among the founders of physics.
‘Yes, that man studied with Isaac, Newton and invented physics but it is said that he later joined the Criminal Investigation Department.’
‘Why?’
I think because he was a great friendly of Inspector Derrick. That man can move in class. Without any one of you seeing him.
‘Is that a reason why you call him the royal ghost?’
‘Yes, he is from the royal clan but he can move in at any time abruptly.’
The students argued about this fib. If he had been in the criminal investigations department working for the FBI why did he have to leave the job? Other students said that he wasn’t chased but his knowledge for physics after Isaac Newton’s death forced him to become a teacher. Although he was teaching physics, he was still a clever detective and if only you could tamper with someone’s suitcase he would know without being told. The girls referred to him as the black Bill Gates when his students went broke with no single coin he would offer breakfast to them at the canteen. He rode a new motorcycle and he always kept it clean by washing it daily and when his students asked him why he did this he said that he never loved it to grow old. May be he needed his offspring to ride it. Mr. Kyazze usually never wasted his time when he wanted to wakeup the students for the morning preps. He would simply ride it to each and every door of the dormitory making it to make all kinds of noise; the students would then jump out of their beds.
As Mr. Kyazze continued with the revision one student knocked at Morens and asked him, ‘have you ever observed this man?’
‘No, what is wrong with him.’
‘Ask me…Nakitende you will get to know?’
‘Nakitende is it a name of a boy?’
‘Yes, it’s a rank and now mind your own business.’
‘Okay tell me, what is wrong with him?’
‘Don’t you see he is humble and gentle?’ He never wastes the school resources. He often comes with one piece of chalk and uses it sparingly.’ Tung…..to…….tung…..to…to. when the bell to the end of the lesson came,
Mr. Kyazze picked up his books and walked out smartly.
‘Nice lunch to all of you.’ Most of the teachers had finished their form three syllabus and that is why Mr. Kyazze made revision from morning to lunch time. Morens moved out of class he waited for his friends but he never Saw him. When a gang of boys by passed him, he feared these boys but this did not stop them form standing near him.
‘This boy…. May be he thinks he is wise; remarked Nakitende.
‘And who is he? Asked Namayanja.
‘Maybe he is bright you never know….’ Exclaimed Konkome.
Morens never answered he moved down to the Advanced level dormitories. Muwenda dorm in particular where Obbo slept ‘Obbo,’ he called ‘its time for lunch.’
He said this as he pushed for his way inside the dormitory but finally he was stopped by a strange voice.
‘I need to talk to Obbo.’
‘Can’t you speak his name in the right English?’
‘He is Obbo…’
‘No…. no you are wrong and I will neither call him for you from today learn it from me that his name in proper English is ‘an Obbo.’
‘But how does it come Obbo is a name of a person!’
‘A name of a person but it begins with a vowel and so we must call him ‘an’ not ‘a’ alright. Then I will go and get him for you’
When Obbo appeared Morens looked at him with sympathy. How could his name turn to ‘an’. Was it because he was an entertainment prefect? Did they use his name to entertain themselves? Obbo at least seemed to understand school life better and this never angered him.
‘And do you love the way your friends call you?
‘No do not mind about that. It is what they call school life and we have to abide by it?’
‘But I think that is bullying….’
‘No… no… no life has to move on like that but all in all we have to reach the virgin entrance at last.
As they moved they came past the main entrance and then they finally reached the powerhouse. Obbo looked as if amazed a certain girl moved closer to him but he just kept silent and supervised the queue of students who were getting food and after they had all finished he picked up his plate and Moren to get the daily meal. Posh and beans it usually begun the week and students be licked that it kept them strong. All generations had eaten it. May be it was the wisdom food. They quietly moved down the long highway that led to the dining hall but in his heart Obbo remained silent he maybe felt guilty….
‘And who was the other girl who wanted to speak to you?’
Morens interrupted him.
‘Aaaah… its Sheilla.’ Swinging his hands in annoyance.