Find Me A Box of Crayons

Mummy, I won't go to school today without my crayon box. I am about the only student who doesn't have a crayon box in our entire class.

Adedibu complained as he packed his books into his haversack. The fine art teacher had engaged them the previous week in a class session where all learners were made and painted a still-life object. Only poor Adedibu could not paint his work at the end of the lesson because he did not have a box of crayons and other students refused to share theirs with him.

A box of crayons cost little or nothing around Emiloju municipality but none of the provision stores had one for sale. It would take anyone who desired to get a box of crayons a journey of a whole day to travel to the main city to get the crayons.

On this particular Thursday, Adedibu refused to go to school. His eyes were rubicund out of the long hour of crying.

My son. You know I can do anything for you. None of the provision and stationery stores in Emiloju have crayon boxes for sale. I promise to get a carton for you when I go to the main city during the weekend.

Still unhappy, Adedibu reluctantly carried his haversack and a long drawing book in his right hand and his drawing board in the left and walked out from home toward his school.

All students of Mary Mount Academy, especially those that are taking fine arts, whenever they are to have the class session. This Thursday isn't an exception.

Steve Johnson

Mr Jeffrey, the fine art teacher had asked all the learners to carry their donkey chairs and face the school poultry farm. They were to draw the farm from the direction of their sitting position. Hence, no two drawings must be the same.

All the students swung into action almost immediately as they started to sketch what they saw from their sitting positions. Mr Jeffrey went around making corrections from one student to the other.

When he got to Adedibu, he was stunned at what he saw. The little teary boy was as good as a professional artist. He patted Adedibu on the back and moved away. But all along, because he doesn't have a box of crayons, Adedibu was so unhappy, more so that his classmates were not ready to share, they simply guarded their crayons jealously because of the scarcity of crayons around Emiloju.

The class session ended on a good note for Adedibu. Despite that he doesn't have a box of crayons, he still gets a pat on his back for a job well done.

Mummy! Mummy!! See the drawing I made.

Adedibu presented his artwork to his mother. It was a beautiful place of artwork. She was so elated. No one ever knew that Adedibu could draw so perfectly. It took Mary Mount three years to get a replacement for Mrs Bayero who was the former art teacher in the school.

This is quite a professional work. Are you sure you drew this by yourself?

His mummy wanted to be sure that it was Adedibu who did it.

Mummy, all I need to make it more perfect is to paint it. I bet you, it will be worth a lot.

The boy who seemed happy stressed the need for a box of crayons to make the piece more beautiful.

That weekend, Adedibu's mother went to the main town to purchase some groceries. She did not forget to buy the carton of crayons.

Some weeks later, the school called for a stakeholder meeting. All parents were invited. The meeting was organized to discuss the forthcoming inter-house sports. It was during that time that Mr Jeffery thought that the students should stage their artworks so that parents who came to attend could see and admire the works.

Fortunately, Adedibu's work was one of the few selected works on display. There were so many beautiful artworks and they were quite artistic.

During the meeting, a UNESCO envoy who was paying an official visit to the school bumped in and found all the good artworks. Luckily, Adedibu's work was chosen.

The leader of the envoy in the company of Mr. Jeffery walked into the stakeholders' meeting to announce their presence in the school and to announce that the organization would be responsible for Adedibu's school fees until he graduated from the university. They further encouraged the school authorities to support their teachers in all subject areas to bring out the best in the students.

It was indeed a great day for Adedibu. He went home shoulder-high. When he announced the occurrence and how he had been offered a scholarship to that level, she started to shed tears of joy and hugged her son tightly.