2023 Young Heroes Award

 The phone lines had been ringing off the hook since NTV broadcasted the news.

About winning the 2023 Young Heroes Award.

And the prize attached to it.

They made it a feature story.

Everyone was calling at the same time.

I was anxious for the first time. What do I say to these people?

"Pim pim pim." My phone seemed to chime every other second. A text message. It had to be the 100th text I've received this morning.

My neighbor, Ola, knocked once and eased himself into the room.

"Guy!!!" He looked incredulous as if he would swallow me up. A worship-like look. "Guy. You don blow. Laidis laidis you don make am."

I couldn't match his enthusiasm no matter how I tried. "Ol boy leave matter."

"So, where is it happening?"

I kept mute. If only he knew what was at stake. My phones were still ringing nonstop. I looked. Mom calling.

I didn't pick up the phone. What will I say to her? That it wasn't me? That I wasn't the one being celebrated despite the work I've put into Helping Hands Foundation?

That it was someone else.

That it was Chukwuemeka C. Okeke and not Chukwuemeka O. Okeke that the world was celebrating.

I tried to explain the situation to Ola but he wasn't having it.

"But it's your picture there naa."

"Yes. But it's not my name."

"It could be a mistake."

"Maybe, the award organizers did not call me..."

"Wetin dey occur gan gan? Everyone know say na you dey carry that foundation for head nau."

I signed, "My reward is in heaven."

"Everybody's reward dey for heaven nau. But your own gats start here naa. Wetin be this."

Ola has turned sober. He looked deep in thought with his brows furrowed. "Explanation go dey for this matter nau."

I got up from the sofa that had sunken so low with my weight and the weight of my problems.

My phone chimed again — another message.

"Guy, this una story no bam sha but try dey pick your call."

I asked him what I would tell the hordes of people calling to congratulate me. It wasn't me. I could swear it wasn't.

I had resigned from the foundation two weeks ago. There was no way they would nominate me for that award.

And yes, there is another Chukwuemeka Okeke at the Edo state branch. So... no, it couldn't be me.

Accepting that it wasn't me was easy enough but how do I explain to these hundreds of people calling?

I got up to go to the bathroom. I needed to take a shower. Life must go on, innit?

Even though someone was knocking at the front door, I made to ignore them. I didn't want to see anyone. I was in a foul mood. I would tell the person off if I open the door.

Ola beat me to it. He was signing something and beaming. The man was leaving. And he extended an envelope to me.

"The award.”

“Yes?”

“It's yours... Na you get am!" He screamed like a madman hallucinating.

"How?" It was hard to fathom the depth of questions running through my mind.

I was elated. But I was sad too. What about the other Chukwuemeka? How was he going to return the congratulations he has received so far?

I wondered if I could share the prize with him as I scrubbed my body in the bathroom

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