Quite a big number of people admit that high school moments are the sweetest memories that will never get rubbed off the walls of their hearts.

That's why they would arrogantly conclude that no one has ever enjoyed teenage days except those who were at school by then. It is an adventure story in which your quest to unwrap the hidden world brings unprecedented happiness at every step. You cannot imagine how sweet life can be without responsibilities but merry making.

High school days still have one remarkable thing: writing love letters. I do not think you went through a secondary school if you didn't write and send a love letter to a girl or a boy. And if you didn't, you must have read one written by or sent to a friend.

Like a nun will never forget the day she was raped, memories of letter writing will never fade. Some of us still recall the exact phrasing of the letters we sent to girls in Namagunga, Nabbingo, Gayaza, Nabisunsa and other similar schools. Those of us who were gifted with the dexterity in writing letters were in serious business.

God trained women to be selective when deciding on whom to take up for a boyfriend or fiancée.

You have to find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep…wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on.

One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you…The one who turns to his friends and says, that's her…

While the toilet papers are the most selling items in the European supermarkets, writing pads and envelopes are the most selling items in secondary schools.

I personally know one student who would contribute half of his school fees by selling writing pads and envelopes in the dormitory. It must have been a lucrative business since there were no rent fees and taxes.

Writing a letter to that Chic in Gungas or Sunsas involved setting aside two days meditating on the choice of words to use plus consulting the so called love professions for tips.

A dictionary was an indispensable tool that had to be demanded from the parents not to pass English but to provide pompous word to disorganise that elusive girl. After making a rough draft you had to pass it around to about five people to check for errors and make approvals before drawing the final copy.

A good writing pad with romantic lies inscribed on it had to be chosen. Boys with good handwritings were selling like hot cakes and if they were not friends you had to pay them to transfer information from the final copy paper to the writing pad.   

We were also careful at choosing envelopes because colour mattered a lot. A yellow envelop meant that you were suggesting to quit or terminate a relationship; sorry for the NRM guys.

White was for relatives and official purposes while blue meant love; the FDCs are smiling. Green was a suitable alternative whenever blue ran out of stock. The boys in the entertainment club would be paid for providing sentimental love songs for use as dedications in your love letter.

Posting that golden letter never meant the end of it all, for you had to visit the notice board at least twice a day to find out if you have got the replay. In fact you would rather fail a mathematics exam than receiving no letter for a week.

Those who received letters were heroes and would be praised in the dormitory. Whoever received a letter would gather at least thirty boys in his cubical and read the content. A letter with a beautiful girl's photograph enclosed was always wonderful since it attracted a big audience. Your enemies would be put down.

I admit having made money and friends through writing all sorts of love letters. Students used to call me the love dictionary and in A level I was baptized with the name Shakespeare.

Writing a letter to a girl required to select words and phrases that would lift her off the ground to heaven. Phrases like 'You're the most beautiful rose of womanhood and the only days I think about you are those days that end with letter y', ' I love you because there is a jewel in your name and if this world collapsed you would hold onto me for support', '

You are the sweetest sun that gives me morning strength and my guiding star that takes me through the night' and 'God must have spent a little more time in his workshop  designing your beautiful face and figure…Just how much did your parents bribe Him with?' were among the many phrases that would set the girls knees tremble and melt with excitement.     

If your daughter is one of those who got pregnant during those days she may have received a letter drafted by me… Joke. Ours was teenage love restricted to only letter writing and visiting on school trips; nothing more than that. I dedicate this piece to the fellow Namilyango College Old boys.

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