The old man and his student

After ten years as a teacher, a young Okija man decided to go and express his gratitude to the most important person who taught him in school. He travelled 47 kilometers to see his old teacher in Nnobi, where the 80-year-old man had retired.

When he got there that hot afternoon, he saw the man resting under a mango tree with a small local breed dog often called Bingo, keeping him company. Around him was a modest bungalow with rows and rows of hibiscus and white gardenia planted around it. Some of the glass window louvers were broken and replaced with pieces of wood. The scent of blooming Cashew Tree filled the air.

“Sir, you taught me in class four, do you remember me?” the young man said after introducing himself. He wore khaki trousers with a white shirt, an old school uniform his old teacher could quickly identify.

With his failing eyesight, the old man did not recall the young man’s face or name. After 30 years of teaching over 4,000 students across the old Eastern Nigeria, most men at his age would not remember unless for exceptional cases.

The young man was not surprised, considering it was over 20 years ago since he was in the old man’s class. He, however, thought his case was exceptional.

“What do you do now?” the old man asked him, shifting the wrapper around his waist to fully cover…