Act I, scene II
590 Words
Eric: (approaching the staffroom while muttering to himself) This man eh, I don't understand him. I don't know why he talks a lot with that annoying English of his. (reaches the door and peers in). Good morning, please can I come in?
(Simultaneously the four teachers greeted him with deep stares)
Teacher 1: Come in.
(Eric enters before having a light shudder within him but regains composure slowly. He walks towards the side of an vacant office desk, he turns the key in the lock and pulls but the drawer didn't open. He jiggles the handle and stops now acknowledging the uncomfortable stares)
Teacher 1: ( stern) Who sent you?
Eric: (uneasy) Mr Clement.
Teacher 1: (stern) Have you forgotten yourself? His desk is by that corner (shakes head to its direction) near the window.
Eric : (hurriedly) Thank you.
(He walks towards, aware of the surveillance. He approached the desk by the side but notices a teacher sitting adjacent; glaring at him. Further overwhelmed by timidity and fear as the teacher starts)
Teacher 2: Don't think that you are free to do what you like because no one is talking about your styled uniform (motions at other teachers to entrance with an obscure gentle wave of his hand. Continues) Some time ago I told him about this uniform (tugs at it) but obviously he is stubborn to do so.
Eric (injects) There are no tailors around and this is what I received from the school…..
(He is interrupted by a loud bang on a desk with the culprit being an angry teacher wielding a cane)
Teacher 2: (Angry and rants) Keep quiet (drops cane) That's how you senior students behave. Always picking up strange characters. (Faces other teachers) They always act like …like ..(raises shoulders) they are above everything.
Teacher 3: (calmly) It is true, I have seen it for myself. You see ehn (clears his throat) When they enter senior class, they just change like some new spirit enters them and they act strange. (To Eric) You're just in SS2, you never reach anywhere (resumes his work)
Teacher 1: I agree with both of you ( turns to Eric and glares deeply in the eye) This boy (wags finger) was an excellent student back in Junior secondary; he was among the top of his class. As it stands (looks at other teachers with a held shrug) he's not among the top ten of his class) I don't know if this is pride or something else but (looks at Eric) oh boy, draw your ears, It won't get you anywhere…. I don't know where you're rushing to or why you're faster than your shadow but hmmm…(in a funny accent) you ain't going anywhere…(cut off)
Teacher 2: Stop wasting your time, are you talking to this….. stubborn boy…this goat (general mild chortle) This he-goat! (General laughter) It will just pass through his ear and exit the other ear
Teacher 4: (To Eric) O boy, do what he sent you to do, abi you forget yourself.
Teacher 3: (jokingly) He has already forgotten his future( a brief general laughter)
(As Eric opens the drawer ,a stack of identical long notes is revealed. A teacher noticing his hesitation, reaches for a note and thrust in forcibly on his s chest that Eric instinctively wraps his arms around it)
Teacher 2 : (loud) Take this and go (watches Eric leaving) Confused human being l
Teacher 1: (calls out) Make sure you change your uniform. Let me not catch you wearing it here !
- Writer
