EVERYBODY DE MENT

My luck was that our registration numbers do not usually carry our names.
If not, the entire department would be aware of my consistent low grades.

Results were just released on the notice board and I did not even bother to check because I knew what I wrote.
Scrolling through the registration numbers, I saw mine and it was the usual grade.

"Let my people go" kind of grade. An E in Family Law.

It was 7:37am and my first lecture was to begin my 8am.
The class was so important as it was my major course.

Constitutional Law.
The lecturer in charge was Mr. Imo Udofa.
He is quite brutal and usually adds PhD to his name.


My black and white outfit was hanging roughly in my hostel locker and everything was set for lectures.
But I couldn't just go like that.

Though cooking was prohibited, I was steaming beans and nothing can make me leave this half-way.
Food before education.

Juggling the responsibilities of life and being an average law student wasn't easy at all.
I was broke and trying my best to survive with all the oppression around me.

Law students are known to be rich, influential and intelligible.
But in my case, it was way different.


There are several types of law students.
I divide them into five:


1. The serious ones who loved the profession and want to have an impact on it. They want to be prospective lawyers and take law to the next level.

2. The Zealous ones who have aspirations and inspirations whether they are intelligent or not. They literally just want to deliver and hold positions.

3. The Semi Serious ones who have goals on other aspects of life, but just want to add Law to their achievements.

4. The Semi Zealous who are not willing to be serious but really fantasized holding positions and trying to handle leadership and other aspects in law that does not require seriousness.

They like the whole ceremonial functions of law rather than the practical aspect because they found it uninteresting.

5. Then we have the Comrades.




To this category, the entire Education system is a huge burden.
And for various reasons they lack interest, zeal or pleasure in the course of study.

I belonged to this category and was surviving by the Grace of God.

I found every single thing funny and would joke at the slightest opportunity I had.

Everyone in the department knew me for my level of cruise.

Leaving the hostel and getting to the school compound, I already missed Mr. Udofa's class.

It was now time for Law of Contract. I got into the lecture hall and all the lecturer was blabbing was falling on deaf ears.

I could not wait to leave the class and go have fun with the rest of my insane law students.
My thoughts were halted when Mr. Udofa walked in, interrupting the lecture to make an announcement concerning the strike.
The news spread like wild fire to every nook and cranny in school.

All universities are embarking on strike.
So everything lectures would be on halt.


The announcement included that every academical activities would be placed on hold for a month and all students residing in the hostel would be requested to exit the school premises.

Now, that would be a challenge because I was based in Lagos and schooling in Uyo.

That is quite far and since I did not have enough funds for the trip back home; I decided I would need to stick around for a while.


I remembered my friend; Dan who was undergoing training.
The strike does not affect those under Industrial attachment.

As we all know, the industrial attachment simply means you get to work in a company for six months to get experience instead of receiving lectures in school.

And the company must be related to your course of study.
Dan is a student of Human Anatomy and was thereby designated to the Teaching hospital.

The Department of Histopathology to be precise.
Study of diseases and stuff.

My plan was to hang around with Dan until I have enough money to return.

For two months, Dan was always performing the same routine.
Arrive early, observe samples of different diseases.
Then go home.


I was here to bring a change to that.

It was a cool Tuesday morning, the skies were blue.
Everywhere seemed calm.
Who knew hospitals could be this peaceful?


It was my last day with him before I would return to Lagos.
Reaching there, I sat with Dan but today was unusually boring.
We needed to make an adjustment to this situation.


So I suggested we moved round and discover different wards. Dan was always scared of leaving his duty post but today was exceptional.
We have heard a lot about the Mental Ward and how different caliber of crazy people are being kept there.

So it was high time we got to see things with our own eyes.


Approaching the ward, it was labelled; DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

We got in and everything was so strange. Everyone inside there was just unhappy.
No one smiled or responded to our greetings.

Our aim was to discover where the mental patients are kept so we walked towards the reception to make inquires.

Dan was scared and refused to follow me down there so I went on my own.

Reaching the reception, there was no receptionist or staff to attend to me.

But there was one man sitting down reading a newspaper; and this was strange.

Because the newspaper was upside down and he was laughing out loud.

I approached him, about to ask for directions.

I called him several titles; like Sir, Mr., Uncle, and he did not respond to any of them.

So I was left with no other option than to approach him.

Getting close to him so I could tap his shoulder; he revolted and slapped me.

Nearly removing my teeth in the process.

It was not once or twice, but it was continuous.

He was powerful and I could not get him off me. Dan spotted me from afar and began to run.

He didn't run towards me but he fled the scene.

I assumed he went to get help or something.

This brought about commotion and staff came out from their respective locations.

At this point, it occurred to me I encountered a mentally unstable patient.

The beatings became extravagant and when the slightest chance of escape from the man's grasp came, I zoomed off into the nearest room to escape this wild mental beast.

 

Getting into the room, I locked the door and gave out a sigh of relief.

Then I looked up and realized I was in for a treat.

I entered into the room where people that are more than insane were kept.

The real mental gang.

Some were locked in handcuffs and chains.

Some were on injections.

Some were unconscious and the rest roaming free.

I had to quickly escape this room before hell gets loose.

If I attempted to panic, it would cause them to rush towards me.

All of them inside the room were staring towards me.

Waiting for me to make my next move.

Silently, I opened the door and went outside slamming the door behind those mental unstable people.

Then the unexpected happened.

The staff concluded handling the man that attacked me and restrained him so he could be sent back to the room.

Immediately they sighted me.

One of them pointed and screamed, "Another one don comot".

He assumed I was among the mental patients.

Me?

A whole student of the Law.

I began my explanation but these men were not listening.

One even asked why I ran out and that he was here to help me return to my room.

"I don't have a room here for God's sake" I shouted.

I insisted that I wasn't mad and I can prove it.

Another staff that exhibited a bit of maturity told others to calm down and hear me out.

His name tag was golden, and it read; "Thomas Sam" while others were silver.

So it was obvious he was their Superior.

I begged him in the name of whom or whatever he worshipped that I was not mad.

I further explained that I came here with a friend like an hour ago.

He asked, "Where's your friend?"

Then I pointed to the counter and behold Dan was not there.

That guy really ran away.

The first staff then responded, "Oga, I been tell you; this one don mad go far".

I went on my knees straight and told him I needed to travel to Lagos tomorrow.

I told them I was a Law student that followed a friend to inspect the facility.

Now there was confusion between them.

They could not determine the state of my sanity.

For the PART 2, READ HERE

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