Introduction
The demands of that particular time weighed heavily upon my mind. It was in the eleventh grade of my schooling when the urge to protect a friend from the arm of the school administration turned out to be another menace so unexpected. It was only about a fortnight and our friendship had developed into more of brotherly affection. Our union with Ken having grown stronger owing to the fact that we shared the basketball team and both of us had begun as novices. We were equally interested to make it to the school team and make it big in terms of prowess and skill. Suffice to say the driving spirit was so common and would tie us with so intertwined cord of interest.
Main body
Our interest in the game, cemented by the incentive of the school, having set the different sets of games as compulsory for us all could only augment our passion. Hence, we were more eager and taciturn to devote our time to practice. The game was what drove our instincts and formed our stories. And needless to say, our stay at the institution was all the bliss. However, inasmuch as we would find access to the facilities, particularly the courts at the numerous free times the curriculum could avail, we faced one major bane.
As it rose to our conscious state that indeed the ball was a necessity to have if at all we had to achieve our goals, we saw it fit to acquire one. It was then that for the first time I recalled that I still had my newly bought ball which by reason of chance or something, escaped the sports department. Being in possession of the same in my closet, Ken and I would only need to inflate it when the need arose and keep the practice going. The plan worked out well and a few times we would go out of the schedule to satisfy our insatiable appetites of play. A few weeks into the game and someone else saw it pleasant to be the alternative possessor of our dear property. It silently got into another student’s docket without our knowledge.
With the prevailing issue at hand, our progress was imbibed and that was just what we never wanted at the moment. The pressure that rose then, made Ken seek alternative sources. Little did I know that he had thought beyond the scope of acceptable moral standards. It didn’t take long before Ken made the bold move and statement that indeed the lost ball was found by none other than him. It was a moment that would only form a grin on my face, being sure that we would soon resume our training program.
Then the turn of the event began turning sour. A week later as Ken was on a private training was busted by John who claimed that it was his. After his long defensive mechanism, for he was also a talented orator, Ken realized that he was losing ground and before it all spilled over on his side, ken had the audacity to include my name in the circus that was forming. Prior to his confrontation, it’s worth noting that he had actually asked me to stand by him in the quest that the ball was originally mine and to avoid also putting him in the limelight of what appeared to be a theft crime.
Then hell broke loose when John decided to make an appointment and so we arranged for a rendezvous. It was a Friday evening. When I met John that day he didn’t seem to be in a party mood. With the stern look on his face, I could certainly understand the rage that was deep boiling within his inner chambers. After a few formal legalities and attempted niceties, we went straight to the issue, the session was rather brief. He asked me if I had the knowledge of the ball. Without bashing an eyelash, I gave him a positive making the debate ensued until he revealed a mark he had placed on the ball. Being my senior at the institution, I didn’t want to get entangled in more trash.
Then in embarrassment, Ken took me on the side. In some unwelcoming gesture whispered that he had actually picked the ball arbitrarily on the course of training. Nevertheless, I could not consent to the idea of illegally possessing the ball as that would render me a lawbreaker. Besides, John had threatened to take the issue to the administration and whatever explanation ken was making just looked like a string of inane words to him. Then I stood my ground to acknowledge the ball was mine and that indeed it had lost before being found, but with the uncertainty of the marks of ownership, the same could be his. After all, I wanted also to clear the name of ken whose conduct had been compromised.
Ken slipped away and John took mastery of the situation. He demanded an immediate refund of the full price of the ball besides retaining the item. But of course not without giving the second option of exposing the issue to the school administration of which the repercussion we were all aware of. And whereas ken would utilize his power of speech to get himself off the hook, poor me was left at the mercies of John, who seemed then to enjoy the uneasy tension that was already having the better part on me. Sad to say that I had to bend to his terms so as to make amends. Further, I would only concede, John, having threatened to taint the reputation I had built, and being an aspirant of one of the organization’s leadership that ran around the school, such kind of blackmail was the last thing I would withstand at that moment.
Conclusion
And John sank deep into my pockets, as a way of finding leverage in the case. Finally, the spontaneous effects of the action made manifest, as I had to call dad also to augment my fiscal status that had taken a nosedive. Further, a cold relationship ensued, having come to terms that John was also a member of the organization I was eyeing later in the year. Ahem! Ken and I had to part ways, as the initial trust I had built, quickly gave way. The experience also influences the life after my schooling, having resolved to be less of a public figure, with the fear of one day the story, spilling into the public domain and ravish the little reputation I was so keen to protect.