a pond less travelled

Behind the lecture rooms of the science complex exists a pond whose story is worth a few bytes. It began a year ago when concerned members of the student body saw that the pond was unnaturally unclean. its bottom was littered with decaying leaves that got submerged periodically in water during heavy rains. For the lucky critters that lived and died, their bodies made up the brownish muck that so aggravated many passing students. And plastics - plastics completed the sore sight. Every day, students occupied the very strategic gutter of the empty pond, making chika about the latest kissing couple sightings on campus. They carelessly throw their junk food wrappers into the unsightly depression believing that their trash wouldn't be significant, looking at all the garbage already in it. Overhead, groupies perform their ritualistic catching-up with friends, all the while throwing peanut shells to the pond. Sometimes, resident toads that were born in the pond during frequent rains jump for joy when crispy treats rain from above. For a toad that has never been out of the pond, peanut shells are like manna from heaven, helping the thin and pale, fragile and temporary toads sustain their poor health.

Last year, the concerned members of the student body planned an overhaul of the pond's status. They wanted it completely revived. They wanted to give its dignity back. And they began the tedious work of scrubbing it clean, relocating its residents,and throwing the garbage properly. It all went well. It did, until classes began and the vicious cycle of making the pond a giant trash bin started all over again.

The clean state of the pond lasted only for a few weeks (I pity those who gave much effort in scrubbing). Trash soon aggregated again at the bottom. The pond bore witness to the human irony. It was just their in hindsight, looking, observing.

For almost a year, the pond looked exactly like how it was - dirty, mucky, innocent. But this year, a fresh batch of concerned students saw the dire need for a radical move to raise the pond to where it belongs. They envisioned a grand functioning pond, where beautiful fishes cruise along its length, captivating even the most stubborn of passersby. They planned out stunning strategies even Hitler couldn't fault. They took out there best weapons, pen and paper. Soon, the pond's direction was clear. The only thing left to do was to take action.

6 was the number of students who took the rehab into their own hands. They did the same thing - scrub, brush, splash, scoop. Over and over until the pond gleamed and shimmered. But they didn't stop there. They immediately filled the clean pond with water, took some lilies and placed them around the pond. added juvie carps and voila! a grand functioning pond! What remains to be seen is how the students will treat the new ornament. Hoping for the best for this pond's journey, i thank the other 5 who helped me give the pond a chance. If the pond could, it'd be heaving right now, overwhelmed at were it is now.