Perfectly Imperfect

60

                               

Dedicated to Favourra, your comments always fill me with so much happiness, keep them coming, they always make my day ♥️♥️♥️

                                ~KUNMI~

Man is his own star and the only soul that can render a honest and a perfect man, commands all souls, all influences, all lights.

"How do you interpret the above excerpt?" Our petite literature teacher, Miss Bolanle asked, turning back from the board where she just wrote the excerpt. It was during one of the tutorials for the upcoming Olympia competition. It was just the three of us, Adam, Tolase and I. We were in the department of Arts, in one of the mini classrooms that were used for special coaching.

"Does that mean that man is in control of his own actions and that his actions ain't predestined?" Tolase asked, a thoughtful tone to her voice. She was tapping the lid of her covered pen to her mouth as she gazed at the words on the board. I looked away from her face to the words on the board again and I reread them, enunciating them.

"I think it means that man is in control of his own destiny and nothing can influence his destiny except the direct and indirect consequences of his actions." I said slowly, choosing my words carefully and when a flicker of smile touched Mrs lips, my insides swelled.

Adam remained quiet, he just kept staring at the board, that unusual far away look in his eyes.

"Adam, what do you think? Do you agree with Kunmi's analysis?"

Those words jolted him out of his thoughts and he stared at the teacher blankly for a split second before he spoke again.

"Well, I think so. The excerpt means that Man is in control of his own destiny and he's in control of everything that's happening to him, right?" His reply was curt and clip.

"Yeah, you're right but what do you guys think of the excerpt? Do you believe it's true?"

"I'm not sure," Tolase was quick to reply again. "But I think to an extent, it's right. When we believe there are other factors controlling our lives, I think they makes us to relax and not give things our best shot. In conclusion, I think the excerpt just means your life is in your hand, you get to decide how to live it."

Hmmm. I repeated her words in my brain and without knowing it, I started to shake my head.

"Kunmi, it seems like you're against that belief. Do you have a contrasting opinion?"

I stilled at her question and I forced my eyes away from the opened notebook on the desk to Miss Bolanle's face. She was looking at me skeptically, yet expectantly.

"Well, not exactly. I just... I just don't..." I trailed off, tore my eyes away from her to my notebook again.

"Yes, dear, go on."

"I don't exactly agree with it. I don't think humans get to live lives the way they want. There are lots of underlying factors that control man's destiny. I think... I just think it depends on the context the poet used it for. Man's action can influence his life to a great extent but he can't control the entirety of his destiny. That's... That's..." My right hand swayed questioningly. "That's just not possible."

Miss Bolanle paused for a minute before she started nodding, slowly, thoughtfully.

"Okay. Adam?"