In The Dark Of The Night✓

3. The School

"Good morning class."

"Good morning Ma! We're happy to see you Ma! God bless you Ma! Amen Ma! And your family Ma!" The students chorused.

I chuckled at the very long reply they gave. I used to be in their shoes once. The very long reply wasn't necessary yet they made us say it anyway.

"I'm Miss Rebecca James and I'll be your English teacher all through my time here in this village," I explained.

My hair was tied up in a bun as always and I was dressed in my NYSC uniform; which was made up of a white crested T-shirt -NYSC was written in green letters- a dirty green khaki pair of pants and burnt orange jungle boots. The t-shirt I had on was well tucked into my high waist pants.

The paints on the walls were long worn out and were begging for a renovation, just like the outer part of the school. The class was quite big and was occupied with students of ages ranging from fifteen to eighteen.

"Ma! What does that NYSC mean?" A young boy with glasses asked. He had on a white long sleeve shirt and a strong purple pair of pants. On his breast pocket had his school batch. All the boys were dressed the same, it was their uniform.

"Oversabi! I too know! Must you know everything?" A girl scolded him. She had on similar clothing. The only difference was that where he had a pair of pants on, she had a knee-length flair skirt. This was the female uniform.

"It's okay, it's a question after all and it needs to be answered. There's no harm in wanting to know more," I encouraged him. I came to stand before the boy and began, "NYSC is an abbreviation I'm sure you've figured out. NYSC is actually National Youth Service Corp in full. It's a program set up by the Nigerian government to involve graduates in nation building and the development of our country."

As I spoke, the boy nodded while taking in the information. The others who seemed interested either nodded their head in understanding or raised their brows.

"It's primary purpose is to encourage the spirit of selfless service to the community. Also, inculcate oneness and togetherness amongst one another, irrespective of your culture or social background," I explained.

I noticed two girls at the back of the class hot in conversation and giggling to themselves. It was distracting and very annoying.

"Excuse me madams, I believe you realise that you're not in the market and that I'm holding a class in here. You have all the time to discuss once my class is over," I scolded.

They both stopped and stared at me as if acknowledging my presence for the first time. One of them was chewing gum in a very annoying way that I wished I could just pull her tongue out of her mouth.

"Sorry ma," the other one apologized but I knew it didn't get to her heart. She rolled her eyes around as if she was bored with just my existence.

The rest of the class just stared from me to the girls in silence, making sure to keep whatever comments they had to themselves.

Don't let them get to you. Focus Becky. . .

"Where were we before we got interrupted?" I asked the rest of the class.

The girl who scolded the boy for asking questions answered, "you were talking about NYSC."

I raised my brows in surprise.

Look who found interest in NYSC.

"The program lasts for a year. Each of us graduates get posted to any one of the Nigerian states. We first spend three weeks in the camp, training like soldiers. Then the next eleven months are spent working for the government, in any organization that you're posted to. Those in the program are known as Corp members. We like to call ourselves Corpers. Do we all understand what NYSC is?" I asked.