My New Home

Chapter Twenty

The next morning was not any different from the previous day. I drove with Alhaji and Iya ewe to school as usual. I greeted my colleagues at the staff room and settled to study for my first class but it was not time for class yet, we had assembly to conduct first.

Once the bell rang, I jumped to move down to the hall but realized that I was the only one eager for the activity while the rest of the staff moved calmly without rush at all. I imitated them, pretending to be cool and collected just like they were. At that moment, Hadeeza arrived, it was like a load has been lifted off my shoulders and when she moved to me to give me a hug, the tension in me slowly ebbed and I also reciprocated. She acknowledged her other colleagues and together we left to join the students.

The students started with the morning devotion, every one of them was able to recite the Duas except the new students on mofty. After reciting the National anthem and school anthem, the headmistress, Iya ewe, introduced me to them and continued addressing them. She flowed with the students like a natural, asking questions and answering some herself. After the assembly was concluded, the students were released to move to their various classes.

I noticed that she waited behind to speak with some students, laughing with them but not in a creepy way, she also knows almost all the students by name, she knows their standard of living, the number of siblings they have, and so many personal information about them which showed that she really do care about their welfare. I understand now how she earned her title. She might be one of those people that loved children but when they start growing up and she couldn't directly manipulate them as she pleases, then she turned a bit different towards them. This is because we've never been close and if she could treat me, her daughter-in-law with such indifference; then, it was obvious that she exhausted all her affections on the kids.

I'm not taking this personal but I've noticed how the staff members were uncomfortable in her presence. That's far from just professional behaviour but just like the behaviour of a tyrant.

If only they could get to know her better or likely on a personal level like me. She might not be the most friendly person out there but she sometimes tried to be nice and she's reasonable most of the time, not all the time. The whole world can't be homogenous otherwise it would make the world boring. If everyone in the world were good natured and nice, there won't be the need for forgiveness or further kindness since we already possess the same character.

I picked up my lesson note and moved to my class for the day. I was a bit nervous as if I were going for a job interview. It might as well have been an interview because children are stubborn nut to crack. They'll judge you right off the bat and if you started on a wrong footing, you might be dubbed a nickname that you'll carry about through out your career and this is quite unencouraging because you tend to meet at least one of them outside the school, once they notice you, they look once towards you and break out into a laugh with whosoever they're moving with at that point in time.

I put my nervousness aside and wore a brave face, then moved quickly to the classroom. I was neither frowning nor laughing but have a mix between the two. They all stood in greeting immediately they saw me.

"Asalam Alaykum warahmotullah wabarakaatuhu, we're happy to see you ma, God bless you ma, and your family. Aameen". They chorused.

"Wa Alaykum salam warahmotullah wabarakaatuhu. I'm happy to see you too". I replied. "May Allah bless you and your family" . I know i wasn't supposed to reply to all their greetings like other teachers does but I don't care, I play by my own rules and i f I wanted to reply to all their greetings, then that's what I will do. "Get seated". I commanded and they did almost robotically.

"Ma'am what's your name?" A student raised her hand to ask for permission; though she didn't wait for my approval before asking her questions but I took it in stride.