"Good morning, Mr. Odina." A light feminine voice greeted from the end of the room.
"Good morning, Marge! Kedu ka I mere?" Marge was one of the two Batch B Youth Corp members sent to the school. A brilliant Yoruba girl who had taken a liking to the Igbo language, learning a few words every other week. She had studied Linguistics and had rightly become an assistant teacher in English.
"Adi mma. I'm fine." She replied with a perfect smile, showing a set of white nicely shaped teeth. "And you, sir?"
"All too fine, gal. Just ticked that you beat me to school today."
She laughed. A hearty laugh. She opened her mouth to say something but before she did, a figure appeared at the door and peered in at us.
"Good morning, Sir." they both echoed.
The man at the door grunted. "Good Morning, Miss Ogumanki." He said looking at Marge with a wry smile. He turned toward me with a hard stare. "Mr. Odina, I'd like to see you in my office."
The Principal is renowned for his foul mood, but he seems to have an itch with my name on it today. "Sure, sir. I'll come over after the assembly. I was going to come anyway. I wanted to talk to you about something." I said trying to soften him with a smile.
"Mr. Odina, my office. Now." he said sternly.
I was stunned. What was this about? What could possibly be wrong? "Yes, sir..." I said, my voice frail.
I dropped my worn black leather shoulder bag - the same one I had been using since I started working at Community Secondary School, Emene seventeen years ago - on my desk and followed the Principal to his office, his walk brisk and with an unfamiliar bounce. What could have gotten him so wound up?
We entered his office which was at the end of the building. It wasn't large, just a small niche filled to the brim. The walls had cabinets that was stacked with several files and documents: exam papers, student files, unclaimed text books; the desk had a globe with it's markings well faded, two awards that was picked up by students so long ago that they have lost their shine and the students who had won them must have had families of their own by now; there were a couple of Agricultural Science textbooks which the principal taught to the senior class; a couple of black-and-white pictures hung on the wall, all former principals of the school with the soccer team of '83, the governor of then Anambra State in '91, the best graduating student in '93.
It was a room frozen in time. There hasn't been a new addition to it in a long time and the present occupant didn't have any indication on doing so.
The principal took his seat, facing me. "Well sir, I wanted to inquire about what's taking so long for salary for the past two months to be paid. These are trying times and we need money now more than ever."
The man cleared his throat. "Yes... About that. There was a small hitch which is being treated as we speak. The salary will paid in two weeks time..."
Two weeks time? I barely had enough money to support the family for two days and he was telling me that I won't be getting anything for another weeks. Again, I cursed my luck. I had tried gaining employment at modern private secondary schools but I haven't had much luck there. It seems like I'm too old and under qualified for their liking.
"...But that wasn't why I called you here. I wanted to speak to you about a complaint of a grave nature." the principal was saying. He was looking at me like he was expecting a response, so I gave him one, a sound at the back of my throat that came out like "hmmm".
"I heard from a source that you have gotten quite familiar with Miss Ogumanki. In fact, the report has it that the familiarity has become quite inappropriate."
I stood there, frozen. It was like someone had poured freezing water on me. I was paralyzed. An inappropriate relationship between me, and a corp member. Who could conceive such things?
I looked up at the principal's face and saw that he was waiting for a reply from me. At first, I didn't know whether to laugh or shout at him for accusing me of having an affair. I was one of the most dedicated teacher in the school, I taught two subjects to six classes, I also gave a secret private lesson to a number of students after classes.
Between my academic engagements and my duties as a father, I didn't have the time to socialize much more have an affair. "That is a ridiculous accusation that holds no water. I assure you that nothing of that such is happening. The only thing between Margret and I is that we have a cordial relationship and the kind of friendship that is developed between employees."
The principal cocked his eye brows at me. "I notice that you have slipped to being acquainted at first name basis, and I've heard the laughter that you two share. Mr. Odina, these are indeed, trying times, I'll investigate this matter seriously, and for your sake and mine, you better hope that I don't uncover anything that will put a stain on our school's reputation, and of course, yours. You are dismissed."
I stood there for a heartbeat longer, boiling with anger at this incredulous man who sat there and judged and threatened me. I wanted to curse him and tell him things that will make him wet his pants. But I didn't.
I turned and left.
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