Chapter 12

After a month

I have now adjusted to the environment and learnt my lessons. Lesson 1, do not make male friends in your school, lesson 2, learners are cruel, lesson 3, do not like anybody at work, lesson 4 keep quiet, and lesson 5...

"Mam, I am done writing, can you check my book, can you mark it? " I look up and faced one of the hard-working learners in Grade 10. Oh please! who am I kidding? I gave them a test to write last week and all failed. The thought of it, makes me fume with rage. I just want to shout "What the hell is wrong with you!!!!! ahhhhhh!!!!" But I can't do that, I will degrade my little remaining dignity after falling on Mr Windsor in his car.

Yes, that stink is still with me, they just don't say it in front of me now but one of my learners who is trying to gain points with me, keeps me updated about the rumours in school. Who is dating who mostly? And the most interesting rumour is that Mrs Windhoek might leave, she still has to verify that one.

I take the book and scan the answers.

"Mmmmm" I nod then shake my head as I move my red pen on her book

"What mam? Did I do better now? " He eagerly waits for the answer.

"Yes, you got a lot of answers right. I love how you elaborate on your eight-line paragraphs, a point, and then put your own words, it shows understanding" I look up and meet his pleased smile.

"Thank you, mam. I told you I will get better" He smiles.

"Well, let's wait for the weekly test and see if you have made progress"

"Another test? Nooo" The one next to me groans.

"Yes, that is how you can see if you understand the content darling"

The bell rings.

"Okay, class, we will do corrections for the class activity tomorrow. Activity 04 is your homework. See you tomorrow " I pick up my books and vacate the room.

School out. Yeah!!! Time flies.

"Mam, Mrs Windhoek is calling you" A learner relays the message.

" Okay"

I don't like this, what does she want? Usually, when your senior calls you in their office, it is bad news or maybe it could be good news. I rush to put my books in the staff room and head to her office.

It's that corridor again, giving me chills. It feels as if I am walking towards the road to hell and doom. I knock on the door.

"Come in Miss Paris"

Lord....be with me.

"Sit down"

I hear her words as I close the door. I turn around to find Mr Windsor sitting by the sofa. I have been avoiding him for the past weeks till he stopped reaching out. I have been trying hard not to be his friend at all.

"I will cut to the chase. I have been perusing your teaching, specifically the performance of learners. Before their formative tasks, we check their informal test performance and we noticed, there was a drop in performance in the geography subject throughout FET. We only gave you FET so that your workload is not a lot but it seems that you are still struggling. So we have concluded after much intense deliberation, you already had the issue with Grade 12 last month and maybe that affected your teaching and learning in the class so..." She pause. "We have decided to remove you from Grade 12" She pauses again " Grade 11 also because they are Grade 12 in making" She pauses again. I think she is doing this on purpose for dramatic effect, argh! " Grade 10 also because they need all good building about geography they need" She waits for my reply.

"Okay," I digest the painful news, most definitely a surprise and bad news to me.

"Do not worry, you won't be jobless, you will teach Grade 8 and 9 Social Sciences, English Grade 9 and...that is that for now." She tears her grin.

"Oh, okay" I mumbled.

"Yes beautiful Paris, I know you would understand. You may leave "

I stand up and walk out with my feeble knees. But I don't know what Social Sciences is. I sniff and pat teary eyes. What did I do wrong? I walk into the staff room. It was so icy, everybody seemed upset. Did everybody go through the same dilemma as I am?

"How the hell will I teach Geography for Christ's sake?" Thabo screams and frowns. For the first time, he was not chuckling. "Windsor could handle this change better" He grumbles.

"You think? " Mrs Grey's mischievous eyes glare at him.

"What? Am I wrong? " He asked puzzled.

"Well.. he is the leech so we don't know" She stares at my sad face. "Are you okay darling?" Her sarcasm pierced my bruised heart. I cough choking my tears back.

"Yes Mrs Grey"

Windsor enters the room with a much different expression than mine or anyone here. His expression was the one I saw that day, the cold face. I secretly peep at him, however, it seems as if we are thinking about the same thing, I meet his low gaze which he quickly averted back to his desk. He thrashed his items into his backpack. Everybody just stares quietly with confusion.

"Deputy Head, what's up? " Mrs Grey tries to pry, Mrs no boundaries. I mean I want to know too but I don't have the courage.

"Don't call me that" He carries his backpack and turns his gaze and tears a wide smile. He then vacates the room without goodbyes.

"What is going on? Did Mommy and Daddy fight? Sheesh" Ayanda comments in wonder.

"That is taking it too far, it's obvious something happened" One of the female teachers linger her glances between me and the door. I pretend not to see it, I will pretend not to be offended and hold the urge to scream and cry this pain out. I take my backpack and follow Windsor's lead. After all, they are already thinking whatever is happening to him is related to me so I might as well put a stamp on it. I open the door and vacate the room.

I walk out of the school and walk quickly under the scorching sun, I wipe my sweaty forehead with my cap. I wish I had a car, it is just too hot even for a short distance walk.

"Can I give you a ride? "

"No, you can't "

"Even if it's the last time? "

I turn and look at him. My eyes become all teary.

"Get in"

I stop fighting the urge and quickly hop into his passenger seat and bawl my eyes.

Fuck me!