The Watermelon Question at the University of TwoCents

It was another bright morning at the University of TwoCents Primary Annex, where curious children came in daily to begin their learning journey. The respected Head Teacher, Samuel Ibok, stood at the entrance with his trademark calm smile. Unlike many schools, Mr. Ibok had a peculiar rule: “Every new child that enters this school must first answer one question from me,” he always said. His fellow teachers — Oluseyi Vandy, Innocent Benedict, and Blessing Joseph — often stood by, amused. They already knew what was coming. Parents, however, never stopped being surprised. That day, five children stood in line with their parents: Emmanuel Owoeye, Favour Amiakhor, Esther Alo, Victoria Isaiah, and Israel Oyedeji. Each one had no idea what awaited them. Head Teacher Samuel leaned forward, adjusted his glasses, and asked the question he had asked for years: “What is the color of a watermelon?” The room went silent. The children glanced at each other, then back at him. The test had begun. <ul><li>Emmanuel Owoeye quickly answered, “It is red.” Samuel smiled knowingly. Emmanuel’s parents often served him slices already prepared. A boy well cared for, but perhaps too dependent.</li><li>Favour Amiakhor proudly said, “It is green.” That told Samuel she was the type who accompanied her parents to the market, familiar with the heavy, round fruit before it was ever cut.</li><li>Esther Alo tilted her head and asked, “Do you mean the outside or the inside?” Samuel’s eyes sparkled. “Here is a curious and observant child,” he thought. “One who will ask questions others are afraid to ask.”</li><li>Victoria Isaiah replied with confidence: “The outside is green and the inside is red.” A balance of knowledge and calmness. She saw clearly but chose not to argue.</li><li>Then came Israel Oyedeji. With a wide grin, he shouted, “It is yellow!” The teachers chuckled, while Samuel nodded. “Here is one who may struggle with colors,” he thought, “but with the right guidance, even a mistaken answer can become a path to growth.”</li></ul> Finally, Samuel looked at the children who had answered and at the parents still trying to guess the reason behind such a strange question. He raised his hand and explained: “This question looks simple, but it reveals more than you think. Some children show dependence, some responsibility, some curiosity, some balance, and some reveal challenges we must help them overcome. Even shyness speaks to us about their hearts. What matters is not whether they say red or green, but what their answers teach us about how they see the world.” The teachers nodded in agreement. Oluseyi Vandy whispered to Blessing Joseph, “Every September, this question feels new again.” And as the parents left smiling, the children’s different answers already painted a picture of their journey ahead. <blockquote>At the University of TwoCents, lessons didn’t always begin with books. Sometimes, all it took was a watermelon. 🍉</blockquote> So, if someone asked you today, “What is the color of a watermelon?” — what would your answer reveal about you?

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