The Stars of Bright Future
Published on HivePostify by @thereeyorfamily · Sat Sep 05 2026
Stephen was invited by Cowbell Paedia to represent his school, Bright Future Private School. He soon became the face of the school when he won the competition.
His mathematics teacher, Mr. Kolawole, was over the moon when his own student came first.
Everyone was surprised because Stephen was a quiet child whom the school bullies taunted around. Femi, a tall, huge boy, always tried to mock Stephen at every of his downfalls. However, Stephen was not pained but motivated by it.
Every night, Stephen would burn the midnight candle. He didn't let the bullies pull him down.
When the results of his hard work paid off after a class test, he hid his scores from everyone. No one even noticed him.
One day, when he went to the village in Osun State, he was puzzled when he saw big trees growing from the rocks. He said to himself, "How did these big trees get nutrients as well as anchorage?" He asked his mom, who gave a non-tangible reply.
Curiosity led him to read about the growth of trees from rock. It was then he learned about succession—ecological succession and climax community.
Learning continued for Stephen outside the four walls of the classroom. He decided to learn more about photosynthesis. His curiosity led him to know more about weathering and how the algae and mosses add a little to the organic content on the rocks after they die and decay.
He also learned a bit about our local geography.
One day, in an English class, phonetics was being discussed.
The words that were to be transcribed included: - Fissure - Vision - Ensure - Unsure - Feature - Crase
People thought that he wouldn't be able to pick out the right sound.
He gave the transcriptions and the sounds:
- Fissure --> /ʃ/ ("sh" sound) - Vision -->/ʒ/ ("zh" sound) - Ensure --> /ʃ/ - Unsure --> /ʃ/ - Feature --> /tʃ/ ("ch" sound) - Crase -->/z/ at the end - Pleasure --> /ʒ/ ("zh" sound)
Initially, the English teacher tried to see if it was by luck; however, with the correct transcription, he proved her wrong.
No one had been able to achieve such accuracy, especially during the English class for his level.
That day, he totally shut the mouths of his bullies.
His English teacher, Mrs. Egbin, told him to see her after class.
After the class, she encouraged him and became his personal post-class tutor.
Many of his friends embraced him; they knew how he had indirectly conquered the bullies.
One girl, Priscilla, who had always encouraged him, grew closer to him than ever. They soon began to solve beyond their current capacity. They conquered the normal limit for their class and soon began to focus on higher classes.
With Priscilla, every obstacle became a load of crap. Any time the bullies saw him studying, they said all he was doing was a load of crap. However, Priscilla considered them as a spoke in his wheel.
Soon, the Global African Competition was to take place. Priscilla, Stephen, and Ayomide were to represent the school in Math, English, and Integrated Science.
Of course, they were given access to teachers and past questions.
The principal, Mr. Johnson, was a slave driver. He gave them a lot of daily tasks, some of which they were unable to complete.
He took them out of the classroom for exercise. He pushed them to run, play volleyball, and many more. He made sure that it wasn't only the competition that their focus was on.
Two months passed, and they had completed every past question. They were told to solve them again in such a way that it became a quiz competition.
Speed and accuracy was their motto, as this was given to them by the mathematics teacher.
Hmm! They soon caught up with the speed and accuracy target.
They soon represented their school at the local, state, and national levels.
At the national level, a question on ecological succession was asked.
Priscilla didn't remember, and the two bargained on the final answer.
"The climax community is the final answer," he told Priscilla. Priscilla wasn't sure of the answer, but with courage, she said it out.
"Miss Priscilla, is that your final answer?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, sir!"
Immediately, the commentator said, "You are absolutelyyyyyy right!" He dragged the "ly" in "absolutely" so much that you would think they had missed.
The principal, Mr. Kolawole, and Mrs. Egbin stood up, clapping for them as they qualified to represent their country in the International Science Quiz Competition in Egypt.
The three scholars were showered with gifts, awards, and money.
Bright Future's name became the name all over the cities and towns. At last, the stars won.
The stars of Bright Future Private School.
In one of his speeches, he said that there was more work behind the scene and he delivered.
Kudos to Bright Future, kudos to Mum and Dad, as well as my teacher and friends, and most importantly, kudos to the great God of all mankind.
Thanks for reading.
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Tags: #hive-170798#theinkwellprompt#fiction#writing#creative#creativewriting