Notebook

Chapter 2

Enjoy your read!
 
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Jin was sleeping on his bed, he was asleep all through the early evening of the previous day till the next morning. He woke up to the early sunrays hitting his face. He got down from his bed, walked rubbing his eyes in half-sleep not realizing that he had reached the edge of the loft. And it was too late when he realised it, he lost his footing and fell straight on the living room floor from the loft.

He fell on his right side and that side absorbed all the shock of the fall. He moaned loudly and rolled on his back. After catching his breath, he then tried to get up while leaning on his right hand. He felt a sudden jolt of pain surge through his hand and he fell back again, groaning in pain with eyes shut tightly, thrashing on the floor holding his right arm with his left.

He now had an injured right arm or may be a fracture? To avoid any further movement until he visits the hospital, he secured his arm with a scarf tying it around his neck like a brace He was grimacing all the while due to the excess pain he was in. He then took a mild analgesic for the time being.
 
He walked out out of his cabin through the side door, brushed his teeth, washed his face and stood by the wooden railings waiting for the school children to arrive.

He then saw a canoe far away and he immediately stood on the bench nearby. He started shouting "Hellooo!!" while waving his left arm high in the air to get the attention of the person in that canoe. When the person saw Jin waving at him, he rowed towards the school.

The canoe came close by and Jin noticed that the canoe was filled with various vegetables and realized that the person was a vegetable vendor. Jin spoke “Hello sir, I am the new teacher appointed for the Paradise school” and smiled at the vendor. The vendor gladly acknowledged him by smiling and saying "Hello, nice to meet you".

Jin smiled and bowed a little. He then asked “Do you know why the children are not here yet? It is almost school time”. Then the vendor asked him in return “Do the children know that the school has a new teacher now?”.

He admitted to the truth at the logical reasoning and requested the vendor “You are right sir. If it’s not a trouble for you, can you help me with a ride to let the children know of my presence so that they can reach the school in an hour?”.
 
The vendor warmly agreed to his request and started rowing around the area where the children lived. As they reached the neighbourhood, the vendor announced loudly "One plus one is two and the paradise school now has a teacher who is new”. Jin was stunned hearing this and gaped at the vendor in astonishment. He asked the vendor “Sir, why are you announcing my arrival as if you are selling vegetables?”.

The vendor looked at him and grinned. He then told him “This way people will be interested in listening. You don’t bother about it. It’s all sales strategy”. Jin nodded his head and forced a smile at him.

He suddenly felt embarrassed when people started coming out of their houses at the announcement and stared at him. Then the vendor announced again “Children, you all are asked to attend the school today in an hour. Hurry up!!". A boy with round rimmed glasses came running towards them on his dock and looked at Jin. He asked "Are you the new teacher?". "Yes, I am. Do attend the school on time, ok?" replied Jin to which the boy responded with an ok hand gesture and ran away.

Jin was bewildered at his response being only a gesture but shrugged it off. One thing Jin noticed in that place was that everyone knew everyone- they were all friendly, kind, funny and happy people. The vendor then helped Jin reach a floating café on his request. Jin thanked him and but the vendor waved him off with a smile and left him asking him to enjoy his stay there. After satiating his hunger, he reached back school using a canoe taxi.

Jin started setting up the classroom ready for the children.  It took him 20 minutes to do so. Standing on the dock, he was waiting for the children's arrival.