feeling much better, though a

he comfort of the bed, she

e for prayers," An

deeply and ru

axwell remaine

Annabella called, sh

espo

over and pin

l yelped, spri

lly boy," Clara mocked as she ca

s body. Acting as though he had suffered a te

d the floor, Clara discree

h

bled and lan

he cri

u this morning?" Mrs. Chima ask

snic

, Clara?" Mrs. Chima

y, Cl

" Clara interrup

ssed his li

ma shook

you two," she muttered. Then she beck

g. By the time it ended, everyone hurried off t

chool clothes. Mrs. Chima escorted them to school while Mr. Chi

s afternoon," Mrs. Chima said as she

they repli

epped through the g

d abruptly

l looked

around freely. Most of them weren't speaking English either. Instead, the

ara even more w

oncerned about the student

urned t

eing what I

e same disgust

school is th

on't know," C

ed towar

boy was grinnin

ling?" Clara ask

ed cheerfully. "This sch

ou're crazy,"

ll la

eryone. Back in town, you were always fifth

Clara e

he cha

iately rais

wat him, Helene st

wo please

ned to

lder than you. Sh

wider, clearly enjoyi

aid, folding her arm

ater," Maxwell mimicked

rolled

are imp

a while Maxwell t

entered her classro

was eve

looked ancient, and the floor appeared as

red, clouds of dust

the

back of the class and settled near a

hed in

ttle down,

glish caught

ked up im

front was a youn

s beau

beaut

w.

s from here,

st woman I've see

A dark-skinned girl sitting at t

, everyon

lara quickl

We are happy to see yo

s chorus

a bl

local

most l

the teacher replied warm

ank you,

as wond

creamed the response, m

ared in

e is unbe

teacher said, opening the

pupil in our class today. The

around th

a new pu

yone began lookin

aised her hand

ere, M

ne said with a bright smi

Clara to join h

swept across

wasn't a f

red, she slowly made

r, Mrs. Augustine gently pl

hy?" she a

a no

hey're all around

nodded

'm Mrs. Augustine.

ra Franc

tine chuck

ly name. How

t years o

Grade Three. You're absolutely adorabl

, Ma

r accent too. I

iately lift

complimented h

e spread acr

you,

ay return to your seat so w

her seat, Mrs. Augustine

, please cle

he front quickly stood up

r eyes drifting ba

h an intelligent and pleasant woman

on, she felt

l be learning words and the

pupils shout

s

ial about word

ching, giving several ex

e, the lesson was

g, the cla

ns?" Mrs. Au

e pupils cho

Here's you

began writing

cise book and complet

h the work. Others chatted, laughed, and

rs. Augustine cl

nd leave your books on your

d pen, she moved

es later, h

is mean all my teaching was in vain? On

pted into ner

spell simple words!" s

pped beside

see y

ra's book and exa

le appeared

utiful. You got ever

a little s

come and sit at the front. Don't let t

ok to Awajimijana's de

the girl sitting

p and mo

reluctant

her bag and wal

hn

g to be a ve

irl shot her an

owered her gaze and

ijana welcomed her

Mrs. Augustine announced. "And if anyone

y, M

see you all in

hurried out o

ft, Awajimijana t

jana. What's

a sm

y heard my name dur

ijana

wanted to start

O

her cheek

sor

jana replied. "So, how ar

ra answered, causing

talk more a

n, the b

a bl

it

is over

d, staring at the pupils as th

ijana

efinitely

do you

here's a fixed closing time. Here, whenever

stared

n't be

ery se

s outra

na laughe

u'll get used to

hook he

o

no way she could get

bed her bag and

school compound, she nea

Helene?"

he

across th

d Helene app

s go

ings began the

lanced a

u look so

don't ta

hy

tir

look with Maxwell

e walk home pa