Chapter 2 Mrs Calrke

• I got to the school gate and I checked my old wristwatch for the time.
• "Good morning, miss Maxwell." The security man, Carter, greeted me.
• "Good morning, Carter." I told him. I got pushed to the side suddenly.
• That's Rosaline. She is a witch.
• "What the actual fuck, Rosaline?" I asked her. She wanted to write the attendance before me. What's chasing her? She wants to get the best employee of the month, right? Seriously? That's so childish of her.
• "I am so sorry, Sophie. I just wanted to write the attendance on time. Writing attendance is one of the qualifications of a qualified teacher. I hope you are not hurt." She smirked at me.
• "No, no. I am not hurt." I told her.
• "Okay, see you around." She left after that.
• "She is so frustrating." Carter said and I chuckled.
• "Come and write your attendance." He said and I did.
• "I am used to her behavior." I told him.
• "But you have to start fighting her back. She is always getting away with everything she does with you just because her Aunt is the principal here." He scoffed.
• "Just let her be, I have to go now." I told him as I left the gate area to the school building.
• I sighed as I sat on my chair. The pupils started coming in.
• "Good morning, miss Maxwell." Almost all of them said as they all entered the classroom I replied to them.
• I am used to that.
• "Can you all submit your assignment now? I asked them with a smooth voice so that won't scare them.
• "Okay, ma" Carolyn said and they started submitting.
• I checked their works and sincerely I was amused. They are learning very fast.
• "You guys have done credibly well. I am so happy." I told them all.
• "So listen guys, we won't do anything much today, we are just going to paint." They all cheered. I know that is what they love doing the most. I got them their painting clothes so they won't stain their normal dresses.
• The school provided this for them after a parent complained about her child ruining her cloth in an art class.
• I wore it for them and I got them their watercolors, brushes and paint boards. And boom, they all class is silent. They were busy with their painting. And at that moment, I was able to think about my life.
• I haven't been able to pay back my student loan for the past two months, my house rent is almost due, and my monthly bills. I paid half last month. I think I need a new job. I can do shifts in restaurants as a waitress or a cafe. I don't even know where my life is heading.
• Carolyn's sob brought me back to life.
• "Henry! Will you stop that?" I yelled at him as I went to them. Henry painted Carolyn's face.
• "Oh! my poor Carolyn. It's okay. Stop crying. We can go to wash your face, alright?" I told her and she nodded. Thank God she stopped crying.
• "Don't be a naughty boy, Henry." I warned him as I took Carolyn to wash her face and hands. After that, I told them all to stop painting and that caused them to pout. I collected their paintings, water color, brushes and painting board then I guided them to the wash basin where they all washed their hands. I collected their paint dresses and put them aside.
• "Go back to your seat. I am going to check your painting later." I told them all.
• "So let's do some work. We can be jobless, right?" I said to them,
• "So write figures one to ten. Do quick and let me see your work." I sat down back in my chair, watching them as they were doing their work.
• "Excuse me, miss Maxwell. Your attention is needed at the principal's office." One of the school cleaners told me as she peeked her head through the classroom door.
• "Okay. Can you do something for me now? Please watch the kids until I come back." I pleaded with her.
• "Okay, I will do that."
• "Thank you." I went out of the classroom and went straight to the principal's office.
• I knocked on her door, I opened the door and went in after hearing her come in.
• "Hello, Mrs Clarke." I treated her as I stood beside her desk.
• "Hello, Miss Maxwell." She said uninterestedly.
• "I called you for something so important, please do have your seat." She said as she cleared her throat.
• "What's it?" I asked her as I took my seat.
• Mrs Clarke never liked me since I got to this school just because I took her niece's position. That's her stupid reason. How would I even know it is Rosaline's position?
• So she is always wanting to make my life a living hell in this school but God never gave her that strength. Thank God.
• "So as we all know that the school didn't lose its sponsorship and also we know we didn't get much the amount of kids we thought we would get so.." she paused.
• "So we arrived at the conclusion that we are going to cut some teachers' salaries and you are one of them." She explained without even fearing. She gat to be kidding me. If only she knows how I need that money this month.
• "Well you're joking, Mrs Clarke." I told her.
• "I am so sorry but I am not." She responded.
• "So why are you telling almost at the end of the month?" I asked her.
• "Because..."
• "I don't need your reason, anyway I know if something like that should happen, I wouldn't be there because we all know I have the most hectic job in this compound. So don't give me that bullshit." I said to her angrily.
• "This is not bullshit, miss Maxwell. This is the reality." She fired back.
• "Well I don't think it is because I am not going to accept it. I know for the fact that my name will never be there. I am a teacher of one of the upper classes here. If my salary were to be cut off, what about your niece's salary?" I almost yelled.
• "Well that's the discussion we had with the school authorities and the conclusion we arrived at." She said nonchalantly.
• "Well, no problem. Then I will have to speak to the school authorities myself because I don't understand why my salary will be deducted and yours won't be when all you do is to sit behind that desk. If anything happens to the school, that shouldn't be my problem. It should be yours. Excuse me." I stood up.
• "You have to calm down, Sophie. I will talk to the school authorities and make sure your salary won't decrease. You don't have to talk to them. Save yourself the trouble of talking to the authorities, you can go now." She said.
• "Better. I will go now. I have a lot of things to do in my class." I stood up and went out of her office.
• Bitch!
• I know the school authorities will never say that, she purposely put my name there so that she can save her niece. Nonsense.
• Only if she knows how much I need that salary.
• I bumped into a rock. Well that's not rock. It must be a person.
• "Oops, I am so sorry." I looked up to that person. It is Blake Owen, the father of Henry Owen. The richest parent in our school and one of the richest men in America.
• I just bumped into his chest and it feels amazing......
• "It's alright. I came to pick Henry up, we have to go somewhere." His voice is so smooth and expensive.
• Everything about him is expensive. Above all, this man is dashingly handsome. Like I just want to.....
• "Okay, Mr Owen. Please do follow me to the class." I told him as I took the lead and he followed me. I entered the classroom and thanked the cleaner for staying in the classroom while I was away. She left after that.
• "Henry Owen. Your dad is here to pick you up." I announced to him and he literally ran from his seat to his daddy. I handed his dad his bag and also his painting.
• "Thank you, Miss Maxwell." Mr Owen said.
• "You welcome, sir." I replied to him and with that, he left.
• Henry is one of the most troublesome students in my classes but he is the brightest and smartest kid in this class.