The notes Godwin collected from Peter weren’t much. He completed one within the interval of thirty minutes. However there was nothing to distract him in as much as the class have not stopped making noise since morning, The noise doesn’t really affect him because he ignored them and had all his attention on his notes.
Until that time no teacher have come in for their lesson. This was another thing that makes him choose his former school over this one. In his former school they would have been on the second lesson with bulky notes secured for preps.
“Mr. Stones! Mr. Stones!! Mr. Stones!!!” some students on the window side alerted the coming of a staff so that those making noise and those who are not on their usual seats will compose. That was what brought Peter back to his seat, but at first he wanted to inconvenience someone on his seat by sitting with him but the person refused then he had no choice than to rush back to his seat.
Shortly a teacher walked in with wide flat books and a stick in his hand, as the class was as quiet as a burial ground. They stood up at once and collectively greeted
“Good morning sir”
He did not say a word, he stood in the center of the front board and observed them before gesturing them to sit.
“Some of you have formed the habit of not resuming to school on time. You normally skip the first week saying they won’t be doing anything helpful because you are avoiding to take part in cleaning and tidying up the school. Who do you expect to do that, the staffs?
Talking about staffs doing nothing at first week of resumption, what do you expect of them when there’s no student in school? Anyway, I don’t have much to say, I have come and my coming is for us see to that”
He slipped out a register and started calling their names. Whoever is in the class responded ‘present’ and ‘absent’ for those who are not.
“Do you have new students in your midst?”
“Yes”
“Come over”
Godwin surprised seeing that he was not the only one that was standing. There were about seven other guys coming out. As they walk the class focused on them like they were aliens.
As they were giving their names Godwin noticed a girl, she was good looking and calm. But Godwin tried to avoid looking at her so that the class won’t notice it and use it against him. He waited for her to give her name before him so that he will hear it. She said Loveth Ede, Godwin caught it.
“If you know you missed school last week kindly come out” Mr. Stones commanded after taking the names. Half of the class moved out.
“If you allow me fish you out myself you will not like it therefore save yourself the trouble”
Peter stood up slowly with his face Moody and his hand raised like he sought permission as he walked towards Me. Stones.
“What is it? Are you one of them?” Mr. Stones asked but Peter did not answer.
“I am not ready to listen to complaint, if you are among them join them quietly”
“Sir, I have a reason. A reasonable one”
“Did you not hear me?”
“I did but..”
“There is no BUT and do not let me repeat my words”
Peter did not say more and for that reason he wasn’t comfortable. He wanted the teacher to hear what he had to say so as to escape the punishment. His heart palpitated as he watched the teacher flog mercilessly. The fewer the victims become the more Peter withdraws himself. He moved back until him alone was left.
Their form master took his register and called names but nobody came out. It was assumed and believed that some were yet to resume.
“Do I have to beg you?” Mr. Stones asked Peter who refused to draw close for his punishment.
“Sir, you don’t expect me to take the punishment before you can hear me”
“I know you must have excuses that’s why I stopped it initially and as you can see nobody said a word, yours can’t be different. If I allow you talk then I’ve become bias”
“Sir, assuming you were me will you come to school if your house got burnt up?”
“How do I believe you? I know you students to be liars. You can lie with anything. Someone told me this morning that his mother is sick and was admitted in a hospital till present which was the reason for his absence in school not knowing that his mother was in the cashier’s office to pay his school fees. The other one said he travelled and returned last night, the other said her mother gave birth and she’s the only close family member. others said they are sick and currently on drugs. Others said they went for burial and marriage ceremonies of their relatives. They said many things and none matches with another as if they planned it. Whereby I ended up beating no one. That’s why I refused that when I came in. So your case remains pending until I find the truth. But I still have to punish you for disobeying my orders which says I don’t want to listen to any complaints”
“Sir, sorry about that”
“I hear you, but that doesn’t stop me from beating you”
“Sir, I have not eaten since last night”
“Because your house burnt up right?”
“Yes. With everything in it”
“What about this uniform? Does it resist fire?”
“No, I forgot them outside that night. I washed them and spread on the rope”
“But it’s not your size. Are you sure you didn’t steal them?”
“We don’t steal in our family, sir”
“I am not talking about your family. I want to know why you should sew an over sized uniform. Was it your father’s measurement you gave the tailor?”
“No, it was mine”
“Then why this bugus?”
“I was pressuring him to finish it on time so that I can resume to school on time that’s why he did all these”
“Because you were rushing him that he forgot your size and sew this for you?”
“Me too I never believed it was for me the day I went to get them. The mistake is too terrible”
“You are just like water. You are difficult to pin down. But first I will beat you like I told you”
“Sir, people are not alive this days o. I may collapse”
“I don’t care if you are a ghost or a dying human. If you die you will be buried like every other dead person. The ground is never filled”
“Sir consider my condition. Pity me at least for all I said to you”
“See, don’t waste my time. This is not the only thing I have to do today”
Peter saw now that there was nothing more to do. He may cause more troubles for himself if he doesn’t obey and as it was Mr. Stones’ tone have already changed. Peter stood and took four strokes.
“And about what you said about your house I will confirm it” Mr. Stones said gathering his books. Peter was still rubbing his buttocks.
“Who knows where he lives?” He asked. It was like nobody wanted to talk until a girl called Rose raised her hand. She was permitted to speak.
“We have packed out of that place” Peter said. “When last did you pass there?” He rushed to ask Rose before Mr. Stones would ask him since when. For his answer May differ from when Rose would claim she saw him last.
“Last term. That’s about two months ago” Rise replied.
“We packed during the holidays”
“Who knows his new house?” Mr. Stones asked but now nobody seem to know the answer to his question.
“So, What is the name of your street and your house number?”
“Its not on a street. Houses there are scattered and I’m yet to know the name of the area”
“Assuming you got sick in school and the school paid a bike to ride you home. Where will you tell the rider you are going?”
“Sir, it’s not possible”
“How do you mean?”
“First, I don’t fall sick in the middle of the day. It starts in the morning and when I notice it I stay at home completely. Secondly, I don’t go home on bike, I use my Lexus, I mean my legs. So I have nothing to do with bike riders. Thirdly, this school can not pay a bike man to take me home. Who will accept giving his money?”
“God! What a child. It’s an assumption, I didn’t mean it’s really going to happen. Okay, forget it. When you are going home from school how do you walk?”
“Short cut”
“Direction. All the roads you pass”
“Sir, I pass people’s backyards not streets”
“You should know some of the houses you pass”
“If I don’t know the name of the area I live should knowing people’s house interest me that much? In fact sir, don’t worry about names of any street, houses or anything. I can direct you by description. Like now, take it that the school have closed. From the gate, take the right and walk straight. Count about three poles or take any street on your right. If it’s the third one definitely you will see an old battered car packed in front of someone’s house. Enter the compound and ask them if there’s a road through their backyard definitely they will show you, then you will follow it straight. As you take that narrow footpath you will see a three story building, pass it and keep going. In front there’s a very big tree, pass the tree and take the next street on your left. There’s a big gutter in front of a church. A loud noise making church, I don’t even know the name. So when you go down you will see a street where children always play football, call one of them and ask him where to find a bakery..”
“My friend will you shut up!” Mr. Stones was angry. “You think I am here to joke? Hey, you Rose, you will follow him to his house when the school dismiss, tomorrow you will tell me what you discovered”