Ordinary

Schadenfreude

As the visiting day approached, Joe was thrilled and eagerly awaited the event. This was his first term in secondary school, his first experience in a boarding house, and his first time away from his parents. He could barely remember what they looked like.

Little did Joe know that his parents wouldn't be the only ones visiting him on that day.

___

Saturday – The Visiting Day

On Saturdays, students rose early to clean up in preparation for inspections, a process Joe detested – though that's a story for another time.

That morning, Joe awoke with an unusual enthusiasm that persisted throughout the cleaning session.

9:00 AM

Once the inspection ended, the hostels buzzed back to life. Joe clutching his uniforms, headed to his school father's apartment to press his garments – something he had never done before.

Joe could still remember the words of advice his school father had given them during their orientation. His school father – who was a Prefect - emphasized the issue of cleanliness; both personal and environmental hygiene. He also pointed out that in as much as it was important to press one's uniforms, it was possible to look neat even without pressing – even neater than others who'd pressed. Although his school father said many other things, this was the only piece that stuck with Joe, and ever since then, he took sides with the ones who would be neat even without pressing their uniforms. Joe was lazy; washing only was enough straw on his back, and ironing would be the last straw that would break the camel's back.

Joe would often use his school father's words to justify his reluctance to iron his clothes. But on this day, he decided to switch sides.

___

After handing over his uniforms, Joe returned to his room to tidy up and prepare for the day. Following breakfast, he trailed to school with friends who were also eager to see their parents. His uniform, freshly pressed, gleamed in the sunlight, and Joe couldn't help but admire himself.

The school was bustling with visitors and activity. Joe hadn't seen the place so lively before. He was surrounded with laughter and joy, yet he didn't recognize anyone or anyone who recognized him. What was more infuriating? The BM turned him into a courier; delivering the good news – he was personally yet to receive – to boys who were either waiting hopelessly or indifferently.

It was the only moment you would want to hear the statement: "The BM is calling you;" trust me, you wouldn't want to hear that man's name on any other fateful day but this one – the visiting day!

Joe had several ordeals with the BM most of his stay in the boarding house until much later when he was made a prefect – that would be tales for another time.

It was while returning from lunch that Joe spotted his mom. His heart raced, and he ran toward her, tears streaming as he hugged her tightly. At that moment, nothing else mattered but his mom and her comforting presence. It didn't even matter if he'd caught God's attention; the crowd also didn't faze him.

___

Joe, now in the car with his mom and aunty was helping himself with a piece of home-made meat his mom brought with her; and at the same time, one of Joe's school fathers was conversing with the mom.

Although the BM was unreasonable to some extent, he wasn't the only problematic staff at Joe's school. In fact, there was a certain man who was outstanding in this field. Joe had never encountered him before – or rather, he was yet to.

The school had a strict policy against bringing home-cooked food, a rule Joe was aware of but chose to overlook. After all, rules were meant to be broken, and besides, who could refuse a meal from their parents?

Joe was wallowing in his ecstasy when this man came around. He'd been lurking around like some predator since the visit commenced. Now, rumors had it that this man never hired anyone to do a job for him – he was a builder, a carpenter, an electrician, a ... you name it ... and finally a teacher at Joe's school. His students complained that he taught a single topic for a whole session, and also, his notes for the whole session didn't exceed half the pages of the exercise book.

This man was also a self-styled disciplinarian: a strict, idealistic, and down-to-earth individual. Joe found these qualities repulsive. He often wondered how children ended up like this when he reflected on people's character. These individuals seemed to fail to understand that discipline doesn't adhere to strict rules. Perhaps this was where the school management, starting with the Principal, got it all wrong!

They were the kind of Christians who only quoted, "... spare the rod andspoil the child," and "... foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; onlythe rod of discipline can correct it," among others. They never spoke offorgiveness and love, but rather judgment and discipline. Thus, they believedthemselves justified in their actions—to some extent, or so they thought.

The teacher saw Joe and did something that baffled Joe to this day; avoiding Joe, his mom, and aunty – it was as though their presence completely eluded him – and finding his way around the car, called the attention of Joe's school father (though at this time he'd finished talking with Joe's mom). He told the boy to see him together with Joe on Monday and then vanished. Joe remained unfazed, continuing to enjoy his meat.

Joe was never really a serious Christian boy, though he occasionally went to FCS, Fellowship Of Christian Students (and that was because of his school fathers, who were both FCS officials). But he still couldn't understand why God loved him unconditionally.

____

Monday, 9:00 AM

During the junior students' break, Joe walked with his school father to the staff room. It was not a usual thing for a father  to fall into trouble together with his son. They stood before the man's table, who, with the usual demeanor of people in authority – in an organization where students were at their mercy – asked Joe, "Young man, who gave you the meat you were eating?"

Joe, resisting the urge to ask when, replied, "My mom." A wave of fear suddenly washed over him, though his school father had earlier assured him that nothing would go amiss.

"And you, prefect, you stood there and was guarding him as he ate?" He turned to Joe's school father.

"No, sir."

"Follow me," he said as he stood up.

Joe wondered what malicious plan this man had in store for them – these people were so full of schemes that it was hard to tell what they were plotting next.

To Joe's dismay, they were headed to the Principal's office.

Joe's heart skipped a beat. Must everything in this school involve the Principal?

The Principal's office was the last place any student would want to end up. Joe wanted to start pleading with the man, but something reminded him that these were the things people like him wanted – pleading and kneeling. So, Joe resorted to face anything – come what may!

His school father remained calm all the while – well, who could tell the state of his mind? Somehow, there was something in his calmness that soothed Joe.

Upon reaching the door, they discovered it was locked – the Principal wasn't in. A wave of relief washed over Joe – albeit temporarily. The trio retreated away from the huge gray metal door.

"See me tomorrow," the man instructed.

____

Tuesday.

Joe and his school father met the teacher's table empty – he was not in school. The same thing the following day.

Joe later learned that the man had been involved in a road accident. For the first time in a long while—since the week had begun—he smiled. Hearing the news brought him so much joy; it was indeed good news. It felt as though a millstone had been lifted from his heart—he felt so light. What a significant impact this situation must have had on him!

And for two weeks, the teacher was absent from school. Notwithstanding, Joe's knees were relentlessly bent in prayers for the teacher's delayed recovery.

One fateful day, while Joe was on his way to the school toilet, he spotted this teacher; he made a sharp turn and hurried back to his class with renewed enthusiasm. He was disappointed to see the teacher hale and hearty, back in action.

Joe had thought the teacher would eventually send for him, but the man remained oblivious. And so, the sleeping dog was left undisturbed.