Chapter 7: Goodbye to Unity High

I vex sotay I no sleep for night.

Sleep waka for my eye. I just dey look ceiling, dey think.

School act fast. Next day, new homeroom teacher land—just as parents want am:

The woman fresh, fine, young. You go know say she never marry. People dey say she gentle, no dey raise voice, she dey stay for teacher lodge, so anytime you call, she go answer.

Single, never marry, gentle, dey stay for teacher lodge—correct 24/7 availability.

Na so, parents dey hail school, dey post for group.

Class group come dey buzz:

Chinonso mama: “Parents, Teacher Maryam still young, but I don talk to her, she promise to take care of our children.”

As if na she employ am.

“This time, na Chinonso mama try for us.”

Dem dey hail her like hero.

“No need thank me, we dey do am for the children.”

Na so parent dey do for group, forming committee of progress.

“True talk.”

All of dem dey reply each other, dey encourage themselves.

I no even wan stay for that group one more second. After I handover, first thing I do na to commot from group.

I remove myself sharp, delete group, block notifications.

Then I submit my resignation for school.

As I drop letter, my heart calm small. I no regret.

Department head no happy: “Teacher Yetunde, you no be small pikin. Even if you no do anything, you suppose no dey use resignation threaten school. Which teacher no dey chop insult? To talk true, even if parent slap you, you suppose just bear am.”

For my mind, I dey ask, “Na so teacher life be?”

Nothing to talk again.

I just bow head. For Nigeria, who dey fight system?

I no explain, I just stand by my resignation.

I pack my small load, greet my colleagues. Some hug me, some just dey look.

When I dey go, not even one student come see me off.

No single goodbye, nothing. My heart just freeze small.

Make I just say my two years of work na waste.

If na my village, dem for cook jollof, sing song, even give me wrapper. Here, na only silence.

During my break, I do small operation, sleep well, chop three times a day, dey read book, dey watch film. All my small sickness disappear, I even add weight join.

My face dey shine, I dey glow. My husband happy, my pikin dey laugh. My skin begin glow, even Mama Nkechi for junction notice say I dey fresh. I dey thank God.

Few days after I resign, na time for first big exam of final year.

As I dey chop breakfast, I just dey pray for dem.

Class Six still carry first for grade.

Result come out, dem still dey top. Everybody dey hail children for group.

Some parents wey forget to remove me from their contact post for their status:

I just dey scroll WhatsApp, see shade everywhere.

“Fact don show say the children excellence na their own, e no get anything to do with anybody.”

“To some people wey dey feel important: For this world, nobody be must.”

Na me dem dey talk. I just smile.

Dem for just call my name direct.

No wahala. God dey.