FROM BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TO MILITARY TERRITORY

My first experience with military force was humiliating and horrible, one I won't forget in a hurry. It was 23rd April 2021, it was my friend's birthday and we decided to celebrate it with her in one of the biggest malls in town, Tropicana. We boarded a bus to the mall, got there and had all the fun we could. He left Tropicana around 4PM, and as we were leaving, we bought fruit juice.

(Image by Freepik)

We decided to use "Boat" for convenience. Since I have had enough to eat in the mall, I push in my fruit juice inside the bag that contained all the goodies I bought. Same with Lina but Emerald decided to open hers. She began drinking, we were so happy, conversing and recounting the fun he had.

In the line of the conversation, I was sitting at the side of the door while Emerald was in the middle, she pleaded I should help her throw the juice can. Without checking where I was throwing it, I dropped it outside from the window. With no knowledge that we were close to the military checkpoint.

Immediately we got to the checkpoint,
One of the military officers demanded Who threw out something from the car and why I had dumped the can where I did.
With an apologetic and remorseful face, I replied. "I am the one sir."

"Because you are enjoying luxury, you don't know what it means to keep the environment clean," One of them said.

"No sir, I'm sorry sir."

The one that stopped us instructed the driver to go with my friends while I wait to face the consequences of my action. First was that I should walk back to the place I threw the can, pick it and return. After I returned, I was instructed to pick all the leaves around the premises. Very tedious thing to do, I began picking as the courage to request for a broom was not there.

After hours of wasted effort, they gave me a broom to sweep the premises round, which I did. The only punishment I escaped was beating. After doing all these, the weather was already getting dark and they allowed me to go. Checking the time, it was already a few minutes to 6pm. The moment our vehicle was stopped, passerbys began to stare immediately they noticed we were stopped, I felt so ashamed but happy the environment was a place I go often on foot.

After the act, a hefty man walked out from the tent, with a badge which boldly displayed his rank. From his rank,I knew he was the most senior among all the other officers. He emphasized on the importance of keeping the state clean and military territory neat. He was understanding with a calm attitude unlike the other soldiers. I thanked him and went home.

The experience taught me a great lesson I would never forget. I learnt that I should be cautious in unfamiliar territories and also learnt how to promote cleanliness wherever I find myself. From that day, I never tried to drop even a leaf on the road or a public place. Once I finish eating something and there is no public waste, I will put the waste in a black nylon and put it in my hand bag when I get home or I see any waste bin, then I dispose of it.

The experience taught how to inculcate this habit of cleanliness to others. Sometimes, if I'm walkng on the way and someone drops a sachet of water on neatly trimmed grass or clean environment, I will politely instruct the person to keep the environment clean by not littering it with waste materials. The number of persons I have had such encounters with have complied with me.

The next day, my friends came to my house. I narrated everything to them and Emerald apologized for causing me such a humiliating experience. We laughed over it as I narrated everything to them from how I started picking leaves one after the other for hours and after that, I began sweeping for almost an hour because of how big the environment was and how the sergeant stepped in after the whole thing had finished to drop some words of advice.