Best In...

    He had been standing there for what seemed like hours, unable to make up his mind, and with each passing second, the award plaque grew heavier in his hands. He could hear his father’s voice echoing from the past as clearly as though he was present in the room with him. Which was not surprising after all, as he was standing in his father’s study. He remembered how he would stand with his elder brother Seyi as they helped his father set up more space on the Wall of Achievements as a child. He could remember how their father would tell them with pride in his voice, the stories of each award as he added more and more every year. He stared again at the wall, which told the story of his father, Dr Obafemi Michaels, his outstanding career as a surgeon, researcher, and even as an upstanding citizen of his country. The wall was covered with award plaques and souvenirs. There was even a medal of honour from the former president. 

    The Wall of Achievements had been extended to the wall on the right when Seyi brought home his first award: Best Graduating Student in Primary School. Others quickly followed sports trophies, best in this, best in that. He had even sent home the woollen scarf he had been given at MIT. It had Valedictorian of 2016 stitched on it. Their father liked that one especially. Every time he talked about it at gatherings, he would say: “Seyi beat those White tech geniuses at their own game. Now tell me who is the real genius.” He would then laugh at his own joke. His friends would then say: “Like father, like son.” Then one of his father’s old friends would then launch into a story of how his father was unrivalled during his Cambridge days.

    The wall on the left was bare. His father had set up a single shelf on it when he was admitted into primary school four years after his brother. There was no award on the shelf. While Seyi’s wall filled up, his own gathered dust. He was a good student, but there was always someone whose achievements always eclipsed his. In primary school, it was Joshua, then in secondary school, Jumoke. He had asthma and was not allowed to participate in sports. Chess made his headache, and Scrabble gave him amnesia. He won every Ludo game he played, but there was no competition or prize for that. The wall stayed empty.

    Earlier today, he had attended the student award ceremony organised by the Student Union Government of the Lagos State University. He had been awarded the Sexiest Man on Campus. He remembered the cheers from female students and how his guys clapped his back as he walked up to receive the award plaque. Afterwards, he thought about calling his father. Then he remembered that his father was receiving medical treatment after experiencing a stroke. He wondered what his father would think. ‘Sexiest man.’ He could already see the downturn of his lips. He wondered if his father would think better of him if he told him that winning meant he had had to canvass for voters; that it showed he had charismatic appeal. He wondered if his father would smile if he told him that the award was sponsored by Nivea and came with an ambassadorship for the international brand. All of this passed through his mind as he stared at the empty shelf where the plaque should go.