Chapter 9: A New Beginning

The talk of changing Class 3 class teacher

Scatter for the whole school.

From gate to staff room, even school driver dey talk am. Principal just announce say Mr. Femi go take over as Class 3 class teacher, when next thing, Class 10 class teacher, Mrs. Halima—eight months pregnant—enter my office.

Her face dey sweat, but she still carry smile. "Teacher Musa."

She talk gently, "Before, nobody dey to help me, so I just dey manage, but now, my belle fit burst any time. My husband dey fear every day, say my water fit break for class if I vex. I dey almost get depression before born—I no fit do again. Abeg, help me, before e go too late, take over Class 10 for me."

Me: "......"

I remember when she first get belle, na so we dey joke say she go born for school compound. Mrs. Halima continue, "Everybody for our grade know say for this Class 3 wahala, you no do bad. So, abeg, no let this one incident make you doubt your whole teaching career, or make you give up on all students and parents."

She shift her wrapper, wipe sweat from face, still dey smile.

She touch her big belle, smile soft.

"That year, na only me and you volunteer go teach for one rural area, the place hard no be small. But you talk say once you see students dey try, you dey get energy. You don forget?"

Her voice remind me of those cold Harmattan mornings for Oyo, how we go trek reach community hall, dey teach children wey never see computer before. Mrs. Halima laugh even more: "Some things just dey happen. I no dey beg you make you forgive those Class 3 people—they deserve person like Mr. Femi. I just hope say you no go give up this work you love. You understand me, abi?"

That day, after Mrs. Halima go, I sit for office long.

Unlike other teachers wey get family to feed, I fit stop work today, still dey comfortable. Dem even dey talk say I be rich pikin, just dey teach to feel how life be for normal people.

But I just like the feeling of teaching—e dey give me joy.

For my mind, I dey remember that day wey my own mathematics teacher buy me Chinua Achebe book for gift. Na that kind joy I wan give my own students.

That afternoon, I call Mrs. Halima.

"Okay, go apply for academic office. If dem approve, I fit start evening prep today."

Mrs. Halima happy: "To help person beta pass to build seven-storey house. On behalf of my unborn pikin and him papa, thank you, Teacher Musa!"

We laugh, then she hang up go apply for leave. As I drop phone, I look window, see small boys dey play football for field, their laughter loud. Sun dey hot, but the boys no send—dem dey chase ball barefoot, laugh dey scatter everywhere. For that moment, I remember say teaching no be just to pass exam—na to light hope for tomorrow.

As I off my laptop, I dey wonder if any pikin go remember who fight for their peace.