Dear mums and dads

Yes, you denied yourselves life's luxuries so that we could join high school

Yes, you borrowed loans payable at usurious interest rates and you took time off from work to buy suitcases, books, uniforms, shoes and other requirements

One afternoon after paying first-term school fees you bid us farewell saying, "Study hard my son and be a good boy"

Afterwards senior students escorted us to our dormitories

They asked us too many questions about us and said nothing about themselves

When we reached our beds they demanded payments for 'services' rendered

We parted with some chapattis our dear mothers had cooked

That was just the beginning

Tea contains more tea leaves and water than milk and sugar

We are entitled to only one slice of bread daily, no margarine spread, thank you very much

Weevils abundantly swim in 'murram' soup during lunch and supper daily

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

Now most senior students force us to wash their clothes

Now most senior students force us to polish their shoes

Now most senior students force us to be their messengers

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

We are forbidden from unofficial contact with girls

We are forbidden from wearing civilian clothes even during weekends

We are forbidden from speaking our mother tongues even after lessons

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

The prefects wear trousers while we wear shorts

They demand portions of the mandazis, chapattis, biscuits, etc that you bring when you visit us

They possess the power to punish us for any 'offence' anywhere, anytime

They force to play sports we dislike

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

Sometimes we wake up and alas, there's no water, so we have to bath and wash our uniforms in a nearby river   

Sometimes we come back to the dormitories after afternoon classes to find either our shirts missing or our suitcases broken into

Sometimes during night preps electricity vanishes

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

Often we misuse the pocket money you give us on opening day and remain broke until closing day

We can't watch TV, movies, play music or surf the net whenever and however we like

The bell unfairly limits our sleeping hours

Dear mums, dads, we request for transfers to day schools

Copyright 2007. festus mbuimwe aka wamoronjia