I am Bowling Sir

In Powell house, the toilets/bathrooms with water cistern (WC) were modern as opposed to the Pit Latrine (aka Bushy) we were hitherto exposed to. We also had dormitories with fans and terrazzo floors all in pristine condition. We had close access to the vendors who serviced the now-out-gone construction workers who built the complex and did not leave until the building was completed. One of them was nicknamed Iya Ibeji (the one selling Rice, Beans and Dodo) and Agataratta the Night watch who also sold other illegal wares to the boys. This made Powell House very exciting and full of opportunities as it was a melting pot of about 30 students from each of the other four Houses. The few of us from Grier House were now referred to as Grier Powell Elite of GCI after the most prestigious name in sports at that time, the Grier Powell Cup. Today there are not more than 50 students in this category of Grier Powell Elite in our entire GCIOBA Membership.
One of the notable privileges in Powell House is that the Higher School Certificate (HSC) students were housed in the first floor, two-per-room apartments and with their private conveniences. This at one point encouraged some of the HSC students to camp babes (aka Eles) and one night, Banks (1968) was caught by our House Master (HM), Mr. Emordi. Banks quickly smuggled the Ele into his private toilet and when asked to open the toilet door by the HM, he repeatedly retorted that, "I am bowling sir" (GCI slang for defecating). After about 30 minutes of awaiting and persistently knocking, the HM threatened to break down the door. Banks then hesitantly opened the door sweating profusely and alas the 'Ele' had disappeared. How she managed to escape nobody knows till today.


Culled from: Metamorphoses, 50th Anniversary Yearbook(1970 Set)
Submitted by: Adegboyega Akin-Deko(2124,Grier).