Onyemere Ugonna Ekene is a 10-year-old. He attended staff children Nursery Schoo, Shell R.A., Port Harcourt, between 2004 and 2007. He is currently a primary six pupil of Shiloh Hills School, Rumuibekwe, Port Harcourt and has gained admission to study at the prestigious Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja.
He loves reading and playing football. This is his first published book “THE SUCCESSFUL FELLOW”.
CHAPTER ONE
A CHILD IS BORN
Johnson was a handsome young man. His parents were not well to do, but through determination and hard-work, they managed to train him and his three siblings upto the university.
In the village of Uho, Mr. Sunday Okezie, Johnson’s father, was highly respected for his discipline and fear of God and because he also ensured that his family maintained that standard.
At the age of 24, Johnson graduated from the University of Port Harcourt as a Public Administrator. After five years of unemployment and hard times, Johnson finally got a job with Prominent Bank in Port Harcourt as Personal Assistant to the Area Manager. His parents were so happy and thanked God for his mercies. An elaborate church thanksgiving was organized in honour of God, the great provider.
When Johnson had worked for three years in the bank, his mother, Nwanyiogo, pleaded with him to take a wife and start his own family.
“My son, I know you just started work and since that time, you have been a big support to the family. But I think you need a wife to settle down; time does not wait for anybody.”
“Haba, mama. I know you are thinking about grand children,” Johnson teased his mother.
“Don’t I deserve them? But on a serious note, I am more concerned about your welfare. Remember it is said that a stitch in time saves nine,” she admonished.
“Ok, Mama. Now I will not keep it from you any longer. I have already found my missing rib. I think we better fix a date for introduction.”
“That is thoughtful of you,” she embraced Johnson. “1 know I can always count on you; thank you so much. I am delighted.”
The lucky girl was from a neighbouring village called Amampu. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ezike Chike were of a humble background and had five children. Adaola could not go to the university due to lack of money. However, she attended a computer college. Adaola was a very beautiful girl and was unusually tall for a girl; she was 5.7 feet tall. People used to say that she made up for Johnson’s shortness. She was then working at another branch of Prominent Bank as a secretary. Johnson and Adaola met at a conference organized by their bank and took to each other. Adaola’s good behaviour was so alluring that Johnson neglected her standard in education.
Two years after their wedding, Johnson and Adaola had a bouncing baby boy whom they named Paul. The Okezie and Chike families were so happy for this wonderful gift from the Almighty God. Indeed, Paul Chukwudi Okezie was the pride of Mr. Johnson Okezie’s family.
CHAPTER TWO
EARLY DAYS AT SCHOOL
When Paul was two years old, his parents enrolled him into Albright Early Childhood Centre. It was in his primary one that it became clear that Paul was dull and reserved; always keeping to himself. He never asked questions or answered questions correctly or audibly.
Paul had no help at home either His parents were too busy with their work: they left home early and came back late. As such, they could not assist Paul in his studies. Even their house help was illiterate and was no use to Paul in his learning problem.
By the time Paul was in Primary four, things got worse. In his first term examination, Paul took the last position and his parents were mad. After the third term examination, he had not improved. Out of frustration, they changed school for him. In a short time, Paul had attended three different schools. Still change was not in sight.
One day, Johnson complained to his friend in the office about Paul’s failure at school. His friend, Mr. Akanu, advised him to change Paul to Brilliant Stars Academy, where he would get personal attention. Johnson accepted and thanked him. In his new school, Paul managed to cross over to primary six, but he still had too much fear. Before any examination or class test, he would study his books, but fear of failure made him forget everything he read.
Paul’s parents continued to hope that he would change but did not do any practical thing to help him because they were hardly at home and rarely understood Paul’s burden.
CHAPTER THREE
THE CRITICISMS
Paul desired to excel in academics but he did not know how to achieve that. As if he did not have enough problems already, some of his classmates started mocking and insulting him because of his challenges. The mockery was more than he could contend with and it weighed him down; so he continued in his usual manner of failure. In every exercise he did, he performed very poorly. So one day, his class teacher called him to her office.
“Paul, this attitude of yours needs to change,” Mrs. Rose Roland said, soothingly. Paul was touched by her concern and confided in her his desire for excellence, his worries on how to change for the better and his fears of failure in achieving the desired result. Mrs. Roland advised that, they should study the situation critically to understand the root of the problem so as to produce the right solution. She prayed with Paul and told him to think deeply about his situation when he got home. He should try and identify his problem areas – why he could not make contributions in class discussions: ask questions or answer questions correctly during class exercises and examination.
At the end of School, Paul was walking home and as had become the tradition of some of his classmates, they started taunting him and making such statements as: “It looks like Mr. Dummy is on his way to his doll house.” “Hey! Mr. I know nothing, how was the day, very bad I guess?”
Some even threw small stones at him. But to their surprise, Paul did not take notice of them and their abusive words. He just walked home thoughtfully, remembering his discussion with Mrs. Rose earlier that day. On getting home, Johnson’s parents noticed that he was not in his usual mood and they could not imagine what had happened to their son. He was so disturbed that he could not eat his food. He barely managed to do his take-home assignment and went about the chores his mother sent him, mechanically. As he lay on his bed that night, he prayed God to help him out of his problem.
“Why am I such a failure? How can I improve on my grades? Why am I so afraid to contribute, in class exercises? Is it that I do not concentrate or am I not meant to understand what is being taught? Could it be that I do not study enough?” These questions went through his mind before he fell asleep.
