The New Teacher

She was enraged when she got her posting letter, and to her disgust, she was posted to one of the remote parts of Lagos. She was only there to spend the night or few days, she was determined to pay her way to be reposted to another place.

Tolu did not care if she didn’t get paid if reposted, she would rather die than spend her one year of service in the school. When she got to the office, she knocked and entered. The principal was a boisterous one, he shouted at the top of his voice:

“Ah! Otondo! Government property! You are welcome. Have a seat, please.”

Read Also:The tyranny of private schools in Nigeria.

Tolu could not believe him, she refused to sit, but took her time to survey his stuffy office. The man went on with his noise:

“I am Pastor Ben, you are welcome. Please, you must bear with us, because we don’t have any accommodation for you.”

Tolu nearly jumped up, because she likely would sleep outside till she was ready to leave their forsaken village.

“But not to worry, a parent offered to take you in for the year. She is a widow, and would come for you when school dismisses for the day. Meanwhile, you can leave your bag while I give you a tour.”

He got up, and made for the door, but Tolu didn’t budge. She looked at him as though he wore his cloth the other way.

“Come, come, come.”

As she followed him out, the school bell rang, and the students rushed back to their various classes; and as soon as they saw them, they all ran to take their seats. The man ushered her into the classes, one after the other, and as he talked, she could read the look in their eyes, especially the female students.

Read Also:Snowflakes in Easter.

“Good day class!”

“Good day, sir!”

They all chorused.

“Here is your new teacher, Miss Tolu, and she will take you on maths. What do you say to her?”

“Welcome, ma.”

It was a continuous routine till the last bell for the day.   She waited for her savior in the principal’s office. An old woman came with one of the faces she saw in one of the classes; she knelt to greet:

“Pastor. Good day, sir.”

Immediately he saw them, his expression changed, he got up, turned to her, and said:

“Madam, this is Miss Tolu, our new copa. She will be with us for the year.”

“Copa, this is Madam Adegbola, she is the angel we have all been waiting for. And by her side is her daughter, Kemi, our very brilliant girl. She will be representing the school in a maths competition.”

The woman turned to her, and said:

“My daughter, welcome. Where is your bag? Kemi, get Sisi’s bag.”

The little girl who hid behind her mother all these while crept forward, but Tolu said:

“No, I can manage.”

She made for her bag, but the principal was faster, his cold palm brushed against her arm, and she withdrew. The principal was good enough to drop them off at home.

Read Also: Whiffs of happiness.

The Decision

Tolu busily packed her things; she wanted to leave before Kemi and her mother got back from the farm. It was Saturday, and they both went to take care of their plantain plantation –the only inheritance the widow forcefully secured from her husband’s brothers with the help of the church. Tolu secured a new posting –in the heart of Lagos-- with the help of her parents in Abuja.

Tolu didn’t see herself spending one more month in the dungeon. She could remember her first night; she was seriously pressed; Kemi took her to the rest room, and she nearly threw up, it was the first time to get in contact with a pit toilet. She was forced to get accustomed to bathing very early in the bush, and doing her serious business while squatting –it was a month of nightmare. Her only happiness was preparing kemi for the maths competition.

Tolu picked up her bag, looked around the dark airless room for the last time, opened the door, and left. She flagged down the next keke, dropped her bag, and sat down. But when the Keke was about to move, a tiny voice stopped them:

“Sisi Tolu! Sisi Tolu!”

She knew who it was. Kemi had seen her from afar. When she got to them, her eyes asked the question on seeing her bag. It was Tolu that found her voice, first:

“Kemi, I have to go.”

Tolu could not get herself to look at the little girl who had been her shadow for the past one month. With tears in her eyes, she asked:

“What of the competition? Who would wake me at night to read? Who would take me to Abuja?”

Tolu could not help it; she knew she was her light house.

Read Also:The Doctor's appointment.

The competition

Tolu brought some water for Kemi, but when she turned to go back to bed, she noticed that the little girl winced. She came close, and what she found out watered down her spirit, because the competition was the following morning.

The judges busily collated their figures, while the students busily made new friends. Tolu could not get her eyes away from the principal who smiled from ear to ear. When it was time to make the announcement, the students went back to their seats.

Suddenly, the door opened, and four men in black walked into the hall. One walked straight to the judges’ table while three made straight for the principal. The hall grew cold and quiet. One brought out a pair of cuffs, and as he put it on the principal’s wrists, the other said:

“Mr Agbaje, you are under arrest for….”

The hall was thrown into confusion, a student had fainted. The door was thrown open, and Tolu ran down the lobby with little Kemi nestled in her arms.

Written by Oluoma Udemezue.