Its almost the end of senior study hall. Paulinus and most of the other staff are managing the dorms, where the juniors are already asleep… or should be. The seniors have free reign, and they’ve been using it for quite a while. The other senior classes are making as much noise as they can, but it is a silent night in SS3D.
The atmosphere in the room is tense. Two individuals stare each other down in a high stakes match the likes of which have never been seen. Many have already fallen in their attempt to make it this far, and their antes shall become the spoils the victor shall claim. As of now, two remain, but there can be only one. Uche Ekeledon and Kene Nweze face each other as Gladiators in a death match. Neither intends to have any mercy. Each intends to strip his opponent bare, leaving him with nothing. It is a winner takes all final game of Whot.
The cards have been dealt, each finalist getting eight starting cards to make sure the game lasts longer. The starting card is displayed; a four of Cross. Uche having won an earlier coin toss, will begin the match. he plays a Three of Cross. Kene throws down a three of Circle. Uche goes to the market. Kene also goes to the market. Uche plays a six of triangle. And then, the action starts:
“pick three!” Kene slams a five of triangle on the desk. Uche picks the three. Kene then follows with playing a nine of triangle. Its Uche’s turn to go on the offence. He trows down a two of triangle.
“pick two, my friend!”
“Abeg pick four”. Kene retaliates with another two, this one of square
Kene hesistates, and begins to reach for the market. Uche uses this split second to add two additional twos to the stack.
“in fact, pick eight!”
The crowd goes silent. This may be a crushing blow for Kene. However, he has a knowing smirk on his face.
“Dis guy you tink ya smart. I block am!” Kene throws down the seven of stars and stops Uche’s assault in its tracks.
Uche is visibly disappointed: He could have been in a good position if he had gotten Kene to pick. Kene, on the other hand, knows he’s in a good position. He knows uche doesn’t have more than one picking card. That’s because Kene has two fives and a seven alongside a six of stars. As long as he can get rid of the six of Stars, nothing can stop him from blasting uche and winning the game. If, perchance, Uche has another five, all he can do is send back the assault, leaving Kene to check-up by blocking with the seven. If Uche blocks with a seven, he’ll still check up with the seven. It all depends on uche’s next card, and as ii an answer to kene’s prayers, uche throws down a four of stars, not changing the suit. Kene immediately plays his six. The stage is set. Now all he needs to do is wait for his next turn to come. But it never will.
A resounding noise breaks the silence as Uche’s hand slams the pile of cards..
“I don Knack am!”
(for you who don’t remember, once you tap the deck a card can’t be withdrawn). The following words seal Kene’s doomed fate:
“Suspenshunsuspenshungeneralmakethol-onlaskatchekup!” (“Suspension, suspension, general market , hold-on last card checkup!”.. for all of you who were confused by the actual pronunciation, which is way more fun to write out)
In a flash it ends. Kene, still bewildered, needs a few seconds to regain his motor functions before rummaging through Uche’s game winning play, with hopes of finding an error. But alas, there is none. The Igbo man has played a perfect hand. His job done, the Edo native rises from the table:
Uche Ekeledon gives himself a mental pat on the back for a job well done. He will have 5 buns tonight. Tomorrow will bring two extra pieces of fish to his table. The losers have the responsibility of traversing the heavily patrolled borders between the different houses (the most unfortunate will be the poor sod who has to deliver fish from connely to Regis. It’s a long trip and fish cannot be as easily concealed as biscuit, (by far the most portable/smugglable nightcap), two of which will be taken from the aforementioned sod if he fails to deliver the fish. If he brings a nice tail maybe Uche will let him off the hook for the half Wednesday bread he still owes from a previous deal… just maybe. After all, one could always make a deal with half Wednesday bread: half fried rice on Saturday sounds like a good exchange. God help any juniors who try to dupe him. After all, it was LJC: the local jail for children. You could run far and wide (Run to the sick bay if you must) but you cannot hide. With that reassurance, Uche begins to head towards the dining hall, but not before turning around to his fellow gamblers and cracking a cocky grin.
“Same time tomorrow guys?”
Amidst swears and jocular chants of “waka” “shege” “dan boroba” and “ya fada...” Uche steps out into the moonlight. It is a good night to gamble. Maybe he’d get one more game in before lights out. After all, seniors got extended time, he’d gotten a junior to do his ironing for one bunz (only because he was feeling generous), and NEPA was being good for once. With a chuckle, he walks on. Life had never been better for a jailed gambler.
The atmosphere in the room is tense. Two individuals stare each other down in a high stakes match the likes of which have never been seen. Many have already fallen in their attempt to make it this far, and their antes shall become the spoils the victor shall claim. As of now, two remain, but there can be only one. Uche Ekeledon and Kene Nweze face each other as Gladiators in a death match. Neither intends to have any mercy. Each intends to strip his opponent bare, leaving him with nothing. It is a winner takes all final game of Whot.
The cards have been dealt, each finalist getting eight starting cards to make sure the game lasts longer. The starting card is displayed; a four of Cross. Uche having won an earlier coin toss, will begin the match. he plays a Three of Cross. Kene throws down a three of Circle. Uche goes to the market. Kene also goes to the market. Uche plays a six of triangle. And then, the action starts:
“pick three!” Kene slams a five of triangle on the desk. Uche picks the three. Kene then follows with playing a nine of triangle. Its Uche’s turn to go on the offence. He trows down a two of triangle.
“pick two, my friend!”
“Abeg pick four”. Kene retaliates with another two, this one of square
Kene hesistates, and begins to reach for the market. Uche uses this split second to add two additional twos to the stack.
“in fact, pick eight!”
The crowd goes silent. This may be a crushing blow for Kene. However, he has a knowing smirk on his face.
“Dis guy you tink ya smart. I block am!” Kene throws down the seven of stars and stops Uche’s assault in its tracks.
Uche is visibly disappointed: He could have been in a good position if he had gotten Kene to pick. Kene, on the other hand, knows he’s in a good position. He knows uche doesn’t have more than one picking card. That’s because Kene has two fives and a seven alongside a six of stars. As long as he can get rid of the six of Stars, nothing can stop him from blasting uche and winning the game. If, perchance, Uche has another five, all he can do is send back the assault, leaving Kene to check-up by blocking with the seven. If Uche blocks with a seven, he’ll still check up with the seven. It all depends on uche’s next card, and as ii an answer to kene’s prayers, uche throws down a four of stars, not changing the suit. Kene immediately plays his six. The stage is set. Now all he needs to do is wait for his next turn to come. But it never will.
A resounding noise breaks the silence as Uche’s hand slams the pile of cards..
“I don Knack am!”
(for you who don’t remember, once you tap the deck a card can’t be withdrawn). The following words seal Kene’s doomed fate:
“Suspenshunsuspenshungener
In a flash it ends. Kene, still bewildered, needs a few seconds to regain his motor functions before rummaging through Uche’s game winning play, with hopes of finding an error. But alas, there is none. The Igbo man has played a perfect hand. His job done, the Edo native rises from the table:
Uche Ekeledon gives himself a mental pat on the back for a job well done. He will have 5 buns tonight. Tomorrow will bring two extra pieces of fish to his table. The losers have the responsibility of traversing the heavily patrolled borders between the different houses (the most unfortunate will be the poor sod who has to deliver fish from connely to Regis. It’s a long trip and fish cannot be as easily concealed as biscuit, (by far the most portable/smugglable nightcap), two of which will be taken from the aforementioned sod if he fails to deliver the fish. If he brings a nice tail maybe Uche will let him off the hook for the half Wednesday bread he still owes from a previous deal… just maybe. After all, one could always make a deal with half Wednesday bread: half fried rice on Saturday sounds like a good exchange. God help any juniors who try to dupe him. After all, it was LJC: the local jail for children. You could run far and wide (Run to the sick bay if you must) but you cannot hide. With that reassurance, Uche begins to head towards the dining hall, but not before turning around to his fellow gamblers and cracking a cocky grin.
“Same time tomorrow guys?”
Amidst swears and jocular chants of “waka” “shege” “dan boroba” and “ya fada...” Uche steps out into the moonlight. It is a good night to gamble. Maybe he’d get one more game in before lights out. After all, seniors got extended time, he’d gotten a junior to do his ironing for one bunz (only because he was feeling generous), and NEPA was being good for once. With a chuckle, he walks on. Life had never been better for a jailed gambler.
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