The Teacher's Headache
910 Words
Third term.
Exams were close. Tension was everywhere.
And in AVHS, one name was on everyone’s mouth.
Ether.
Teachers were confused about him.
Juniors were scared of him.
Seniors hated him.
And his own class? His own class wanted to fight him.
Most teachers liked Ether.
Why?
Because he was smart.
Because he was responsible.
Because when they said "Ether, go and call SS1A for lesson" he would go.
When they said "Assistant, check the assembly line" he would do it.
He was academically good.
He submitted assignments.
He spoke well in class.
The Principal even liked him.
Whatever Ether said and the Principal agreed to, even teachers couldn’t change it.
But...
The same teachers also hated him.
Because Ether didn’t tolerate rubbish.
If a teacher shouted at him for no reason -
If a teacher tried to embarrass him in class -
If a teacher tried to cross his line -
He would stand up and confront the person.
Respectfully.
But firmly.
And he would win. With logic. With facts.
"Sir, with respect, that’s not fair."
"Ma, that’s not what the rule says."
After two or three times, teachers learned.
Some respected him.
Some feared him.
Some just hated him quietly.
SSS2 Art was known as the worst class in SSS2.
No seriousness.
When it was time for lesson and no teacher came, nobody would go and call them.
If teacher gave notes, they would collect it, return it the next day,
and pretend they had written it.
Until Ether came in week 8.
First week:
Teacher didn’t come. Class was busy.
Ether stood up.
"Who’s coming with me to call the teacher?"
Nobody moved.
He went alone.
Second week:
Same thing.
He went again.
By third term, teachers started saying,
"If you want to see SSS2 Art, look for Ether."
His classmates hated him for it.
"Why are you forming responsible?"
"Who sent you?"
"You think you’re better than us?"
Ether ignored them.
He wasn’t doing it for them.
He was doing it for himself.
And for anyone who actually wanted to learn.
As Assistant Head Prefect, Ether had work to do.
Stop fighting.
Stop noise.
Stop juniors from doing rubbish.
Some juniors liked him for it.
Some hated him.
"Is he the only prefect?"
"Who does he think he is?"
They would abuse him to his face.
Ether would just look at them and walk away.
Not because he was scared.
Because he had bigger problems.
But they took it as pride.
"That boy is too proud. See how he carries himself."
Then it happened.
Third term exams.
Government paper came from the ministry.
And it was madness.
90% of the topics were things the teacher hadn’t taught.
The Government teacher, Mrs. Omidiji, was a good woman.
She looked at the class and sighed.
"I won’t set this rubbish for you. It’s not fair.
I’ll set questions from what I’ve taught you.
When will you be free so I can come and take you?"
The class was quiet.
Then Ether stood up.
"Ma, we’ll be free on Wednesday."
"Okay. I’ll come Wednesday."
The moment he sat down, the class exploded.
"What kind of rubbish is that?"
"Wednesday? We have other exams!"
"Who asked you to answer her?"
They started cursing him.
"Proud boy."
"Teacher’s pet."
"Think you’re the principal?"
By break time, the news reached SSS2 Commercial.
They also offered Government.
And some bad boys from Art and Commercial - the ones who never read -
came together.
That afternoon, 6 of them blocked Ether near the field.
"You think you’re wise abi?"
"You want to spoil our result?"
"You go see."
Ether looked at them.
He was tired that day.
Home wahala.
Memunat wahala.
Everything.
He didn’t want to pour his anger on them.
So he just said,
"Move."
And walked away.
They thought he was scared.
The Next Day.
They tried again.
This time 4 of them.
Near the junior gate after close.
"Today you must learn lesson."
Ether dropped his bag.
What happened in the next 2 minutes was not school fight.
It was street.
Quick. Clean. No noise.
One was holding his jaw.
Another was on the ground.
Another was begging.
That was when Master Brown came running.
Games master. Big man.
He shouted, "STOP!"
Everyone froze.
Master Brown looked at the boys.
Then at Ether.
Then he said something that shocked everyone.
"Leave him alone. If he does anything to any of you, the school won’t hold him responsible."
Silence.
The boys looked at each other. Confused.
What kind of nonsense is this?
Master Brown knew a little.
Three months ago, some area boys had attacked him near the market after close.
Ether was passing.
Single-handedly, he settled it.
No police. No noise.
Since that day, Master Brown respected him.
The boys stood up, rubbing their faces.
They had only known Ether as the bold, brilliant, fearless prefect who played ball.
Now they knew.
He had a street side.
A dark side he kept locked...
Until you forced him to open it.
He learned it when he was 16.
In Ogunmakin.
In the factory.
In the world.
After That Day
Everything changed.
Teachers still gave him duties.
But they spoke to him carefully.
Juniors saw him and greeted properly.
Seniors stopped trying him.
Even his classmates in SSS2 Art reduced their noise.
Not because they liked him.
Because they were scared.
People started saying two things:
"Ether is proud."
"Ether is different."
- Writer
