STING OPERATION

Sting: to affect with sharp quick pain. To overcharge, cheat.
Covert: not openly shown, secret.
Operation: something to be done, an activity. A military action, mission, or manoeuvre and its planning.

Okay, let’s ‘manoeuvre’ our minds to those CIA movies, where agents are sent into enemy zones mostly as undercover. The enemies are hit before they knew what hit them. Sting operation perfect, quick operation.

It should be surprising therefore, when teenagers exude such military finesse. Just like a friend narrating a story you told him of how you met and wooed your ex-girlfriend, what you did… but funny enough you can’t remember telling your friend such a story… and when did she become my ex? But he sounds so convincing, when did all this happen?

You feel dumb and stupid. You’ve been playeSS1 Second Term

Two senior students (SS3) came into the boarding house, my house in particular; for obvious reasons, they came to prepare well for their final examinations. I think one of them came to retake some papers. Dapo Okuyiga and Chude. The only reason a senior would like you as a junior is if you are always ready to run his errands. Dapo Okuyiga liked me; Chude was his friend, they both like me.

Their uniforms were always neat, thanks to me. An average day went this way:

I get back from school, head straight into the senior dormitory. Dapo is already there waiting. He sees me, throws his uniform at me, without saying a word. That was the daily ritual. Or on other days, if I’m nowhere around, he makes sure he gives the uniform to no one else until he finds me.

But since Chude was his close friend, he uses his friends’ laundry man. Me.

As time passed by; they raised the bar, they moved from uniforms to checks, then mufti (especially trousers). I was a great laundry man. Till I struck gold. Literally.

Third Term SS1

Our seniors are always busy this time of the session with their final examinations. Laundry business wasn’t moving. But once in a while ‘customers’ still bring their laundry. Chude brought his. He gave me his trouser, told me to wash. I loved my job, so I washed it immediately. But I don’t take washed clothes to customers, they come for their clothes.

He did not come for his trouser, so I just wrapped it and kept it in my locker. A day turned into two days. Then a week. One month. Till I forgot I had a foreign trouser in my locker. Why Chude forgot the trousers, I can’t say. Maybe exam pressure.

They left school

I STRUCK GOLD
A friend of mine, Demola who had his locker close to mine, and I, were doing the once in a while locker cleanup. And I struck gold. I saw a trouser in my locker and I could not remember how it got there. Searched the pockets, I found a nylon. Inside the nylon. Lo and behold, jewelries. Earrings, neck chain…How did I get this? Then I remembered. My laundry job had paid off after all.

STING OPERATION
Demola was by my side, I didn’t show him he saw it Two is a crowd, they say. But I had no choice; I would have showed him anyway. What are we to do? We could make good money, we agreed. We have to go to Sabo; Demola could not help with that, but a mate of ours could help he suggested. Godwin. Godwin is always ready. He confirmed he’s got contacts at Sabo. It was agreed that we would set a date aside to go to Sabo. Godwin and Demola. So I wrapped the jewelries and kept them safely in my locker.

That was the last time I would see those jewelries.

**now before I proceed, I personally did not indict these two then, neither do I now**
That was the last time I would be seeing those jewelries.

Few days later I got back from school, felt like once again beholding the jewelries. They were no where to be found. Now I don’t really know what to write about this incident. I guess I should have called the CSI crew. This is what I know.

There was no sign of forced entry (into my locker). Demola and Godwin both appeared surprised on discovering this theft. But what was more surprising was how some of my seniors got wind of the theft. Who told them? Seniors Tayo, Ayo, Michael, Bimbo (maybe) called us for questioning.

It was obvious they suspected Godwin and Demola, but I also discovered they knew more than we did. Ayo and Tayo particularly appeared to know where the jewelries were.
The incident was so serious, they intimidated Demola. I guess it contributed to his decision to leave the hostel. Ayo and Tayo were my close friends of, though they were my seniors. They told me who stole (took) the ‘goods’. A senior (in Griffin) did the Italian job.

But who was I to confront him.
I guess he is now rich from the money he got from those jewelries.