" In not less than 500 words, write an essay about your last holiday".
That's my teachers voice. This topic reminds me when I was in school. It was always the welcome gift my English teacher gives us. (But she collects goodies from our parents).
Most times I am not happy to write it because I didn't spend it having fun. I was constantly in my Mummy's shop or at the farm. She never plays with those two during holidays. I hate going to farm with passion.
However, every holiday I would always anticipate that when School resumes, my English teacher would ask us to write how we spent our last holidays. So I keep records of what to write ( of course you know they are all lies).
That not withstanding , I spent the holidays myself and I knew where I went and how I spent it,( others times in the kitchen though) but each time I wrote the essay, my teacher act as if she was there with me. She never scores more 4/10. Sometimes I wondered, "but is it her holiday? Was she the one who spent it for me? Why can't she ever be impressed for once and score me 10/10". Even if I go to "Lagos Beach" and mentioned it, (of course I meant swimming in my village stream,) the teacher would never be impressed. "Could it be she saw someone like me during the holidays in the village far from Lagos Beach?". Hahaha.
Well, in another holiday, my Mother told me that I would not travel to any where since it was a farming season.( Have I even left home)? That made me sad but I made sure I never ran into my English teacher anywhere in town because I wouldn't want to be the only one writing how I went with my Mum to the farm in the village while others were visiting their families in the city.
I thought I was smart enough. But on this fateful day during the holidays, my mother asked that we went to a market to buy cassava stems for planting. (Why go to that extent)? According to her, a particular specie of cassava stems is very good and it was sold in a village market not too far from home. ( How did she know)? Well, She had arranged that after buying, we would just drop it in the farm and hide it from both thieves and the Sun. ( I wish it was gone). The next day, she and I would go to the farm for planting. She had already instructed my brothers to go to the farm and dig the holes for the cassava. ( God make them forget, please!).
As typical with traders especially those in village markets, when they see a van bringing farm produce to the market, they run after it. (I can't have my Mum run like that, never). So I thought. Depending on the produce, they will start struggling for theirs. They do this commonly with maize, oranges etc. ( How about some oranges rolling to my side)
This time, Mum and I went early to the market , as we saw a van carrying cassava stems, Mum asked me to run after her while she chases the van. ( Goodness, I never saw her run). Finally when the van stopped, men and women were already dragging the tied cassava stems.(Some came for a fight too I guess). We had a situation were two or three women would be arguing, each claiming to have been the first to touch and indicate interest in a particular one. Some were already fighting ( I know).
I couldn't run fast, first I never knew that my Mum could run as Ben Johnson just to find stem to plant to produce cassava. Why is she running when I was praying she doesn't find any to buy? Who likes suffering in the farm? I didn't bother to run, I walked till I got to where women were creating scenes, shouting at the top of their lungs, just to buy cassava stems, not for crypto trading.
By the time I got there, I asked Mum why is she shouting. (Mum of educated people don't shout). She pointed to the woman who was dragging her cassava stem with her. The woman was also backing her and explaining to others, although her hand never left the tied cassava stems. ( How dare she? Even when I wish all stems be gone). As the woman turned back to reply my Mum harshly, she said, turning her face " If you like go call...". I don't know what she wanted to say, ( maybe "call police") but her statement was incomplete when she turned and saw me.
It was my English teacher. The woman who would ask me to write how I spent my last holidays. How is she spending hers now? She called my name and asked "what are you doing here"? (She should know am spending my holidays there)
Mum asked if I knew her and I said yes, "she is the teacher who always asks me to write how I spent my last holidays. She is that teacher that would score me 4/10 after I had written the whole truth".
"It's not about the truth, but about mechanical accuracy and good organization". She argued.
"Teacher! And you are dragging cassava stem with me?" Mum queried.
"Mummy, don't worry, I now have a better way to write it" I said; implying that I would write what just happened in the market. I guess the teacher understood immediately that she would be my main topic this time around, especially her tout-like behaviour.
The teacher was very embarrassed and left my Mum's cassava stem alone.( I wish she never did). But again, I don't see why she stopped arguing with my Mum. How I wished there was camera phone then. If it's her's, let her get it and face ridicule in School. (She would have done me a great favor anyways). But she already decided to walk away.
While leaving I asked her, "Aunty will you still ask us to write how we spent my last holidays? haha
There was no response. Haha
For long I asked myself why did that teacher leave? ( I dont want the farm to oysh through). Was it because of arguing with a parent? Could she be shy to be associated with farming? (At School she has been behaving as if she knows no road to any farmland). She didn't even apologize for her behaviour.
I saw a different side of her from what she portrays in School. She speaks phonetics and pronounced words as if she doesn't visit the ladies. Well, my main happiness then was that I know that scoring well on writing about how I spent my last holidays topic was a walk in the park. My 10/10 was sure. ( Else I would tell).
I know that if the woman were to be a student and asked to write how she spent her holidays, that aspect I found will not be there. ( She should comport herself).
Funny enough when School resumes, she gave us the same topic.( As expected). I still wrote about fun things I did. ( Fun in the farm).
This time I lied and exergerated because I don't need to speak the truth. Aunty will be indicted. But I was sure my high score was sure. While submitting, I even told her that my Mum said I should greet her. Just to remind her not to do any how, else every one will know she is a public fighter, a farmer and not as polished as she claims when in English class. To my utmost surprise, that woman gave me
2/10. (She came back prepared)
It was then I knew that teachers are never compromising. I felt horrible. I thought she would treat my script better. But my script saw worse. This time I agreed my "organization and correctness" was really poor. Rather than concentrate on making things better, I thought I could blackmail her into scoring me well no matter the horrible way I had penned it down.
I cried home after school and refused to eat for hours.
Thanks for the visit..I hope you can relate with my work? Did you ever write about how you spent your last holidays during school days? Did you pass it? (Your teacher was soft)
I appreciate your support.
Yours
@adoore-eu