COLOURLESS YACHT

Mr Archibong was a man to reckon with. He was well groomed in the English language and he made no mistake in showcasing his prowess when he stood before the students to teach. This man knew his onions and we enjoyed him to the fullest. Being such a good teacher had its odds too and it was difficult to even ask a simple question in Mr Archibong’s class. We constantly felt like we didn’t know anything and needed to know. He was like a demi god to us all and despite the respect we had for him, we could still perceive fear lurking somewhere in our hearts and heads.

On a certain day, we had a combined class and I, in company of my friends had moved from SS3D to the next classroom to attend the class. As usual we sat down anticipating that the class would be an interesting one and sure it was until something happened.

Mr Archibong had been displaying his skill and we were well soaked in the context of his tutelage when he wrote a word that didn’t exist in the English dictionary. For a moment I was stunned. I looked at the word and I caught my breath. Was this an error or was it me who didn’t know the correct spelling of the word? I had to call myself to order because I knew that Mr Archibong cannot be wrong. This must be the correct spelling of the word. I copied exactly what was on the board.

Just then a bell rang somewhere in my head as I kept writing in my notebook and I revisited the word. All this while, Emecheta, the most brilliant boy in the class was sitting by my side and he kept mute as he wrote into his notebook. Since Emecheta hadn’t noticed the supposed error, then the teacher had to be right.

I continued writing until I couldn’t stand the nudge in my mind. I flipped out the Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary and sought the word. Alas! It was wrong. I began to shudder as I tapped Emecheta and showed him the word, instantly his face brightened up. So Mr Archibong also makes mistakes or he didn’t know ALL, contrary to what we took him to be. Emecheta asked me to speak up and I knew that nothing in the world would have given me courage but then I thought of what it took me to learn the right spelling of the word “YACHT”. My teacher had spelt “YATCH”.

I stood to my feet daring all odd.

“Excuse me sir”, I blurted out. The class stood still

“Yes, what is it?”, Mr Archibong responded without turning back.

“The spelling of /yot/ on the board is wrong”, I stammered.

The whole class stopped writing and stood still. I could see anger etched deep in some people’s frown. Some others had this quizzical look of “what da hell did he just say?”. I waited for the unknown.

The English teacher stopped, took a look at the board and asked me the correct spelling and I spelt it. He calmly wrote it on the board and thanked me. It was like a strange dream. I wasn’t cautioned, I wasn’t rebuked or chastised for challenging him. Nothing. That day I learnt a lesson; that right can challenge wrong and still remain right irrespective of the existing level of differences. I immediately moved from a nobody to an English guru in the eyes of my colleagues.

As I sat down Emecheta smiled but I couldn’t comprehend all that was going on because my heart was still beating rapidly. i don’t know how I survived that day but ever since, I have learnt to challenge what needs to be challenged because in the end you can only lose, you will not die.

I also learnt that before you challenge, be double sure of what you know and what you want to promote. Challenges provoke challenges and only the superior party claims victory in the end. Know your worth, then pick a challenge when need be. Selah