Mara's Classics

 " Say that I'm crazy or call me a fool..."🎷🎷 Miguel was a young boy with a dream; a dream to sing! " But last night, it seemed I dreamed of you."🪗🎺 Like all dreamers, he must overcome difficulties and dangers. How does his story, Coco turn out? Set in the beautiful city of Mexico, Coco brings to life the value of family and music in the character of a young, black haired, one-dimpled Mexican boy, Miguel. 🙂 Miguel Rivera lives under the cohesive and protective shadow of his family, the Riveras. This shadow is dark in some places, like the unchanged, unquestioned and unbroken loyalty of the Riveras to the shoe making trade which was introduced to them by their first matron, Mama Imelda. (Her photo on the ofrenda is really stern 🙁)Added to that, the Riveras, under Abuela, are strong opponents of music! 😦 These are not exactly favourable for a young boy dreaming of being a musician.😩 Miguel keeps his dream a secret and any move he makes to get even near an ...

I remember sitting in my classroom sometime in 2018 listening to my classmates who were Marvel fans talking about Marvel's latest enterprise. That wasn't surprising. Everyone was buzzing about Black Panther. Except me. 😒 As if the curiosity of what this movie was about wasn't enough, my family starts talking about it 😫 Then I grabbed an opportunity that would change my life forever... I watched Black Panther. 😌 What words are there to express the excitement of seeing Marvel's logo? What curiosity on witnessing T'Chaka's first scene! Then the fight scene in Sambisa forest with T'Chala and Okoye? Legendary! As the reels turn, we get exposed to an imaginary African race (I thought they were real 😩) that is about to crown its newest king, our king, T'Chala. From the beginning to the end, you'll agree with me that Chadwick Boseman's role as T'Chala was well picked. The interesting thing about it is that Chad never had to audition for the role....

   It's Valentine's day!  💖💝💓💓💝💖 "Are you ready for your presentation tomorrow?" Chenka asked me as we strolled down the street leading to the faculty of art. "I was born ready," I said with a bold gesture. Chenka smiled. "Really? Was that what your super alarm clock motivated you with this morning?" "Not really," I said with a shrug. I added, "Thanks for agreeing to stroll with me." "No p. You'll buy me meshai after this," she said and I laughed. "No p as well. You know, I can buy you more than meshai," I said digging my hands in my pocket. She looked at me sternly and said, "Rich kid, you've started again." I chuckled. Cries of "Awwwn" and "God when?" rented the air suddenly. "Hmm. Someone is doing 'parara' for his girlfriend," Chenka commented. "Let's go and see," I suggested. "Since when did you become an amebo?" she ask...

  Valentine's eve..❤‍🩹  Four years ago "Hey, Jenka!" Noah called. "It's Chenka," Chenka said as she looked back. Noah approached her. "Whatever. Why did you tell Jannie that I was the one who took her term paper?" demanded Noah. "Didn't you take her term paper?" "That's not the question," Noah cut in. "You had no business there." "What was I supposed to do, keep silent and let you harass the poor girl?" Noah chuckled, then he said, "You have a lot of guts, for a girl." "I thank God I do, so I can stand up to bullies like you," Chenka replied bodaciously. Noah eyed her for a while. He smiled when she stared back at him without flinching. "Your right," he said, "I'm sorry for my actions." "You shouldn't be apologizing to me," replied Chenka who was surprised at Noah's reaction. Unfortunately, she didn't catch the hint of malice in his ey...

  Two days more..🥺 "Concerning yesterday's incident, sir, I'm very sorry. It was unintentional. I was thoughtless at the moment." "It's alright." After a pause, he asked, "Is there something you want to talk to me about?" "Sir?" "Concerning Miss Chenka?" I looked at Dr Griffin in a puzzled manner. "I don't understand, sir." "You don't think that I have been your lecturer for a while now and I have not seen the way you look at her like fresh shawarma, do you?" I chuckled nervously. He had removed his glasses and was staring straight at me. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat. He noticed and gave a friendly chuckle that reminded me of who he was, good old Dr Griffin. "She's a lovely girl. She's dutiful, polite, kind. She's very serious at times," Dr Griffin said emphatically and I chuckled. "You really know how to pick 'em," he complimented. "Thank you, sir,...

  Three days more...😣  Our paths have crossed It's the last time I'll have with you When we're old We'll o'er come this golden love I pulled off my headphone and sat on a bench at Love Garden. My head was cloudy with thoughts of today's events. Earlier, I had been so scared for Chenka that I had run up the podium thinking she would fall. In the process, I had pushed Dr Griffin. 🤦‍♂️ "Rich kid, I'm okay. It's just a stumble," Chenka had protested. "But you almost fell," I had responded. "Mr Ekrong, is anything the matter?" Dr Griffin had asked. Only then did I realize that I had brushed him slightly in my effort to save Chenka who wasn't even in danger. "Oh. I'm sorry, sir. I'm terribly sorry. I thought..." I began despite the laughter of my course mates. "Is that what you have to say for interrupting Miss Chenka's presentation and nearly running me over?" he said angrily. His glasses wer...

  Four days more...😔 "A three hundred level student of the department of technological innovation was found dead yesterday. Okon Lazarus was declared missing last year December by his parents who said that he did not return home for the Christmas holiday. His whereabouts were a mystery until Wednesday morning when a student found his corpse at the plot of land beside Fidelity bank. The student who wishes to remain anonymous had just come out of the bank when she discovered the half buried corpse of the student." I switched off my television. School news, I thought. They always published news after it had become a past event. The student who wished to remain anonymous wasn't even anonymous anymore. "Chenka," I sighed as I stared out my window into the dark night. Earlier today, I had gone to visit her. She was feeling much better. She even talked to me about the incident. "I was about leaving when I saw a pregnant lady. She was calling her son who had gone ...

  Five days more..😱 How are you, my friend? How do you do, my friend? I know sometimes e be like say Nobody send you That one na lie  I dey for you, my friend! I jogged down the peaceful streets of UNN on Wednesday morning, with my earbuds plugged to my ears. The streets were scanty of people, until seven o' clock when students would emerge from their hostels for morning lectures. I stopped to wipe the beads of sweat on my forehead. Then I stretched my arms and made way for a beautiful lady to pass. "Good morning," I greeted. "Hi. Good morning," she said with an angelic smile. I'm sure she was thinking, "What a gentleman." Not to brag but, I am a gentleman 😉 I braced myself to continue my exercise when I felt an urge to cross the road. I hesitated; I would miss the spot I had immortalized as my first meeting place with Chenka. However, I crossed the road and strolled slowly beside the library wall. Ahead of me was a girl in black leggings and a l...

  Six days more..🧡 "Alright class..." "You made a big mistake, Noah." "Who can recall the formula for kinetic energy?" "You'll be sorry for this!" "How is this essential to our topic for today?" "You and your stupid doll will suffer for this!" "Now, we must calculate the density of..." "If I don't have my revenge, make I bend!" "Mr Ekrong!" I woke up from my bed of thoughts and saw Dr Griffin's angry countenance. I stood up at once with a, "Sir." Slowly, he took off his glasses. Then he asked the last question I wanted to hear, "What was the last thing I said?" I struggled to recall but Mikaila's evil laughter was all that came to my mind. With a dejected sigh, I said, "I'm sorry, sir." I felt the weight of everyone's eyes, especially Chenka's. Dr Griffin put his glasses back on and said those five devastating words, "See me in my of...