The spinning game: A test of courage

Growing up in the typical rural village where we were totally free to mingle with age mates as kids, go out to play, and return very late and get punished by our parents. During those moments, we dared the unbearable, engaged in practical experiments just to determine who was the bravest among us.

On one of those days when we left home to play in the field, one thing led to another. Henry, who was the oldest among us( three teenagers), suggested we do world spinning game and see who could make the sweetest spin.

"No, I'm not doing it. My mom warned me never to get involved in that game again," Mark said, his face pitiful and his eyes on the verge of tears.

"Hahahahah!" Henry and I burst into laughter as soon as Mark spoke, his expression so full of misery.

"It's simple. If you're not going to do it, that means you're the weakling among us," Mark said as he stepped forward, using a stick to draw a small circle on the ground.

Mark knew what it meant to be named the weakling among the three of us, and instantly, he gave in to join the game. We applauded him for defying his mom's warning and joining the big boys' game.

Mark and I sat on a log while Henry folded a piece of paper into three faces, writing the initials of our first names on each side. He then approached us, saying, "I'm going to throw this up. The side that faces the ground bearing anyone's name means that person will go first."

"Okay," Mark and I responded in unison.

Henry threw the paper up, and we watched as it landed on the ground. He picked it up and pointed at me, saying, "It's you, Kingsley. You're the first to play."

I didn't hesitate. I went to the drawn circle on the ground, stood at its center, and spread my arms out on a shoulder level like a bird's wings. I began to rotate around the circle with legs spinning at a normal speed, gradually increasing it as my friends cheered me on, "Kings ooh! Kings ooh! Kings ooh!"

I needed to make the most of my turn and come out as the ultimate winner. My rotation sped up, and soon, I felt dizzy, the earth was turning upside down already, but I pushed myself to go faster. Suddenly, I found myself on the ground, panting heavily. My friends stood beside me with their heads standing on the ground instead of their legs...yes that was what I saw.

After a while, I regained myself. My head had stopped spinning, and I saw my friends sitting unconcerned on the log under the cashew tree, waiting for me to recover before Mark took his turn.

"Guys, I almost died. Didn't you see how I was lying lifeless?" I asked them as I walked to where they were, but none of them said a word. Instead, Henry tapped Mark on the shoulder, saying, "Mark, it's your turn." I didn't feel the snub because I was used to them already.

Mark stood up, his face beaming with a smile as he walked and entered the circle and spread his arms wide.

"Go!" Henry commanded.

Mark began to rotate at a relatively low speed, not enticing to our view. I shouted at him, "Mark, you're joking oo!"

My shout motivated him, and we saw him increase his tempo.

"Mark! Mark! Mark!" We cheered with our hands clapping for him. Within just a minute of increasing his tempo, we saw Mark slump off.

"Mtchwww," we hissed out of disappointment and returned to the log, waiting for Mark to recover from his dizziness.

Henry and I stayed, cracking jokes and laughing, forgetting that we were waiting for Mark to recover so we could continue our game. After about five minutes, I realized Mark was still lying on the ground.

"Jesus! Mark is still there!" I exclaimed and rushed to where Mark was. On reaching him, I found him half-dead, still breathing but with all his muscles unresponsive. My body shivered, my heart pounding hard because it felt as though we had just killed a friend.

"Henry, bring water!" I screamed as I forcibly lifted Mark and carried him to the shade of the cashew tree.

Henry brought water, and we sprinkled it on him, watching as he gradually revived, his mouth opening to collect the water splashes and some of it entering his eyes. Henry kept sprinkling water while I kept opening Mark's eyes and mouth to allow more water in. Within five minutes of our first aid application, Mark became conscious, his hands and legs responding to muscle movements, giving us a big relief.

After he fully recovered, we sat for a while and begged him not to tell anyone, especially his mom, about what happened, or we would be in big trouble.

Thanks for reading.

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