Before I can respond to the message, the 'prefect' knocks at my door. "The Madam wants to see all ESL Teachers at the Central Office," He informs me.
In the school, there is the unspoken rule that if the madam calls, you go. She has this way of making you think that in addition to holding your passport, she also owns your life. A colleague who had left for a weekend away pays almost 8,000 cab fare, to avoid being marked absent at the meeting.My housemates and I get a taxi, and we all head to Bole-where the central office is located.
Outside the office, Eric and other teachers from other campuses have also arrived for the meeting. Everyone seems shaken, but somehow, they our guesthouse is the source of the shit.
"Dead men walking!" One of them threatens us. We scoff.Eric draws me aside and whispers."Whatever happens in here, remember to just wear shock absorbers, and not to take the threats too seriously."We go in, and Queen Jezebel, sorry...Madam boss, is seated, waiting for us."Sit the fuck down, we don't have all year!" she yells.
I watch in fascination as all my male colleagues curl their tails between their legs, and sit. Outside, they were proclaiming how a woman cannot sit on their heads. The insult fest begins, she tells us how the previous year, she had kicked out her entire male ESL staff for sleeping with girls, and then gotten them deported.
She turns on The Mekanisa 5, that's me and my housemates.She calls us lesbians, and idiots, and everything else she can think of. I have a hot temper, so I sit back and start laughing, not haha because it's funny, but haha because I am wondering who the fuck this broad thinks she is.
She finishes her tirade, and I speak."When are we getting our passports back?" I ask. The room is shook...No one has challenges Jezebel before.She eyes me again, to try and scare me into backing down. A guy from the lakeside, the only man with balls among the entire ESL crowd, speaks up."The contract didn't state you are allowed to hold our passports. We have been in talks with the embassy."
To everyone's shock, Jezebel cools off. Now she wants to negotiate."Three weeks guys, we are processing your work permits," she states.
Then, our colleague who'd travelled out of town, interrupts, and Jezebel is mad all over again. I refrain from riling her up because now I am starting to think she is Bipolar, or has some other psychosocial problem. By now, I am having period cramps (2 weeks ahead of time).The meeting ends at 8pm. We all file out, looking like we just took the ALS ice bucket challenge. 😲😲😲😲😲
I call Mummy and just cry. I tell her I want to come back home. She gives me the best advice, which I carry with me to date.'I understand your fear, but I pray for you every day. Do not run off without your passport. If the contract is one year, be patient, and come back to me safe and sound.'We go home. This day I really wish I can reach out to Bae, and tell him how rough my new work place is...but he has long since moved on😓😓
.....
When I get home, it's 9.30 pm. Luke texts me.
"I waited for you. Goodnight, I hope I'll see you soon,"
🙂Shit, in the commotion, I forgot to tell him I couldn't make it to the date. I think about texting back, but decide not to.
In my mind, I am waiting to get my passport back, take my ticket, and fly home. There's no use starting romantic affairs that won't last beyond three week
