THE LAST DAYS AT FORCADOS HIGH SCHOOL

 GENERAL SUMMARY

The Last Days at Forcados High School is a simple novel that portrays a secondary school life and the experience of a school boy, Jimi Solade during his final year as a student of Forcados High School. It started with the introduction of the family life of Jimi, the son of Kola Solade also known as Mr Solade and his brother Wole who was the black sheep of the family. Wole was an irresponsible brother of Jimi, a smoker, an alcoholic and a drug addict who had been expelled from different schools for his mischievous deeds. Wole had falsified his father’s signature and made away with a huge sum of money that almost rendered his father financially insolvent. Something that Mr Solade could never forgive him. This had made Jimi’s family not to be a peaceful one as Wole would always cause one trouble or the other which would provoke their father.

On the other hand, Jimi, the youngest son Mr Solade was a hero and a rare gem at Forcados High School. He was a paradigm of versatility- academically sound, sociable and sporty. Jimi had a likeable personality and enjoyed the admiration of his contemporaries, especially the girls of his school. He also served as the health prefect. Jimi had two friends and schoolmates who lived in the same street with him namely: Ansa and Nene. Ansa was a nerdy art genius while Nene was a devoted Christian. The three friends had known one another since their primary school days, having attended the same primary school. They were now in their final year at Forcados High School. There was a new female student, a friend of Nene called Efua from St Catherine’s school, Abuja who came to join them in their final year. She had a delicate mysterious beauty that commanded the attention of the boys but unfortunately she seemed not to have time for the boys, an attitude that provoked an art student by the name Jolly Stephen and he was determined to humiliate her. Jimi had tried times without number to win her friendship, but all to no avail; despite Nene’s influence to make her love Jimi. However, a turning point came on a fateful day after school, having been told by Nene about Jimi’s mother’s illness, she felt an unusual sympathy and tenderness towards Jimi over his mother’s ailment. That day marked the beginning of Efua and Jimi’s friendship as they walked home together. The three friends and classmates: Nene, Ansa and Efua had been with Jimi throughout the period of his mother’s illness, death and burial.

Later on, there arose a malicious allegation at Forcados High School against Efua and a new female youth corper, Miss Agbenenovi. This accusation was masterminded by a senior student, Jolly Stephen who had earlier made up his mind to disgrace Efua.  The allegation had it that Efua and Mrs Novi were lesbians. This was sequel to the letter Efua had written to her which was full of romantic expressions. Consequent upon this, Efua was treated like an outcast by her classmates and none of her friends spoke in her favour or defence. Jimi had rubbed salt into the wound by accepting the allegation to be true and accused Efua of hiding herself under a façade. When Efua was sick and was admitted to a hospital, she was visited by all her friends except Jimi.

Towards the end of the school year, Jimi was beset by a misfortune as his brother; Wole, surreptitiously took the Chemistry laboratory key from Jimi’s school bag, went to their school and made away with the new microscope and other equipments. However, he was caught alongside his gang by the police when they were about to sell them. This untoward occurrence nearly tarnished Jimi’s image because he had claimed to be responsible for the stolen items in order to lessen the severity of the punishment meant for his brother; because according to Wole’s suggestion, Jimi could be easily forgiven by the principal who had held him in high esteem while himself- Wole might be sentenced to many years imprisonment.

 Jimi had been ordered by the principal, Mr Mallum to tender an apology before the entire staff and students of Forcados High School. When all had gathered and Jimi was through with his apology, Efua appeared on the stage and began to speak in Jimi’s defence. She also blamed the principal for not showing adequate care and concern for his students by believing any information about his students without appropriate investigation. Jimi was overwhelmed by the undeserved magnanimous favour Efua had exhibited towards him contrary to the callousness he displayed against her during her moment of misery. This incident triggered an irresistible outburst of emotion as Jimi began to cry in the public. The novel ended with the release of their final year results in which the four friends had made their papers. Jimi had won a scholarship to study electrical engineering in the university. Nene was hoping to study accountancy while Ansa wanted to be an architect. Efua had written to Jimi that she would like to study Medicine. Though, Efua had travelled abroad but the memory of her was ever green in Jimi’s mind.