TITLE: Take me as I am EPISODE: 3 AUTHOR: TM David-West “OKAY GOLDEN CHILDREN, that will be all for today and for this week.” Elizabeth called out to the eager-to-leave kids clasping her hands together. The shriek that followed her announcement made her wish she’d clasped her hands over her ears instead. The entire room was in an uproar as they all pounced on their bags and lunch boxes and one after the other filed through the open door. Elizabeth resumed her seat, shaking her head. It was the end of their second week together and truth be told, she was almost as excited and eager as they were... it had been a hectic week. After her first week, she’d found that here at Living Spring hard work was the motto and it was expected from both teachers and students alike. Well, mercifully she wasn’t adverse to hard work and though the teaching system was a little different here, she believed she was adjusting nicely. “Bye bye, Miss Elizabeth.” Nora and Nina called out to her in unison as they trotted past her desk, twinkling and giggling. “Have a great weekend, girls.” Elizabeth raised her head to smile at the grinning faces of the way-too-identical twins. It had been a challenging difficulty telling them apart the first week. But this week when they’d come in with a different hairstyle, she’d zeroed on the dark-brownish birth mark that was on Nina’s left temple and not at all on Nora’s. It meant she had to always look closely at them when she spoke addressed either one of them... or both of them, but it was a small sacrifice to pay in making sure they don’t pull a fast one on her in her opinion. The shuffling sound from the mid-section of the first row caught her attention and she turned her head to see Femi struggling with his rather-too-big backpack, he was just managing to jerk it up so it balanced on his back when he knocked over his barney-designed plastic lunch box. Elizabeth winced and was about to brush to her feet when Rukky just a few feet away, dropped his own backpack and rushed over to pick the lunch box. “Sorry Femi.” He said dusting off the lunch box and then passing it to the chubby grimacing boy. “Wait, your bag is still not properly balanced. Let’s take it off and make the hands longer.” Elizabeth watched as Rukky helped Femi slip off the bag, placed it back on his desk and then with admirable concentration studied the blue-black straps for a minute and then very carefully unbuckled the first strap, made it longer then buckled it up again and then did the same with the other one. “Okay, let’s try it now.” He lifted the bag up and held it up as the nodding Femi slipped first his right hand in and then his left hand. They both went in smoothly and when he jerked his plump shoulders, the bag balanced neatly on his back. “Yes!” Femi cried out in triumph. “Oh, thank you, Rukky.” He grinned at his friend and classmate. Elizabeth found herself grinning too. Amazing little boy, her class rep. Not only was he very bright and sharp-witted, he was also always cheerful and very friendly. He was the best student in the whole of Basic One and had won several awards from his Kindergarten first year in the school. “You are welcome, Femi.” Rukky smiled. “See you Monday.” He gave him a wave and waited for him to walk past before returning to his desk. “Bye bye, Miss Elizabeth.” Femi smiled at her as he shuffled past her desk. “Have a fun weekend, Femi and don’t forget your home works.” She smiled back at him watching as he shuffled down the door and past the windows in the direction of the school car park. She was a little worried about him. And that’s not just because of his somewhat excessive weight but especially because he never seemed to remember to do his home works. And when she’d asked about his parents and discovered he was an only child of extremely very busy banker parents, she’d come to understand why. No one was paying attention to the kid from the home front. He was an average student but he could do better if he maybe had some extra help and attention. She was considering sending a written note to his parents suggesting this. Sighing she turned back and regarded the quietly smiling Rukky as he approached her desk. Since he had that small concentrated furrow between his nature-trimmed brows he usually had when he wanted to ask a question, she angled her head and waited as he steadily approached. Rukky stopped right in front of the mahogany desk. He’d thought hard about this for the last two days and was now certain it was what he should do. Besides he’d prayed about it privately... not with daddy and Stella of course. And he felt certain God wanted him to do it too. So plastering a sunny smile on his face he looked up at angel-singing Miss Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, would you please walk me to my daddy’s car?” Elizabeth was a little taken aback. She hadn’t been expecting that. “You want me to... walk you to your daddy’s car?” Rukky placed his hands on the desk and angled his head to the left sighing deeply. “I’m sorry but it’s just that Stella is having her debate practice today and I’m so used to someone walking with me to the car.” “Oh.” She sat back into her chair. That explained why she hadn’t seen the pretty girl from Basic 4 come pick him up. “Well, ah...” “And daddy usually likes to meet all my teachers.” He added quickly. Well, that was true. After all he did meet Miss Maureen last year during the Christmas party. “And he said he’d really like to meet you.” He’d said it last night, ‘I’d just love to meet this amazing Miss Elizabeth’. “Oh.” She looked at the boy in front of her. He was looking back at her earnestly and... expectantly. His father wanted to meet her? And he liked meeting all his teachers? Well, most parents were like that. In any case she’d met two parents this week. It’s just that she preferred to avoid daddy parents, especially when they were single – as in divorced or widowed. And chatty Miss Rosemary had so nicely supplied the information that the Onofighes were being brought up by a widowed father. It didn’t matter that she’d added with a giggle, ‘and he’s doing a real good job too’ she’d just sooner leave him to his own end of that job while she did her own right here in the class. “Please Miss Elizabeth?” Rukky added the plea not just because he needed to add a clincher but most of all because he could see the doubt in Miss Elizabeth’s pretty eyes. “What?” Elizabeth jerked out of her reverie. “Oh...” Good heavens! The boy is just asking you to escort him to his father’s car and meet him not marry him. “Well, of course Rukky, I’ll walk you to the car. Just give me a minute to clear my table and we’ll be on our way.” She gave him a reassuring smile and returned her eyes to the desk, ordering herself to relax and be calm as she gathered the books on her table and slipped them into her handbag. She checked her drawers to make sure they were locked and then swept a quick glance across the classroom. “Okay, looks like we are set.” Turning back to the beaming boy. “Let’s go.” She waited for him to step out first, then gave the classroom one last scrutiny before drawing close the door and locking it with the key she had in hand, then slipped it into her handbag. “Do you mind if I hold your hand, Miss Elizabeth?” Rukky looked up at her. “Stella always holds my hand.” He added at her hesitation. Elizabeth looked down at the upturned oval handsome face and nodded. “No, I don’t mind, Rukky.” She reached down and took the small, soft hand in her own and together they walked down the long veranda. **** Caleb was leaning against the car when he saw Rukky walking towards him, his left hand firmly clasped in the right of the lady walking beside him. He found himself pushing his back up, standing up straight and simply... stared. He couldn’t help it. He wasn’t the type of man to gawk at a woman... no matter how they looked but he couldn’t help it this time. He was gawking... and openly too. She wasn’t some kind of drop-dead, jaw-dropping beauty or bombshell, at least not in the leggy-tall, flawless skin, sticky-slim, perfect-shape kind of way. No. She was just simple... not plain-Jane simple but simple in a pretty-girl kind of way. It was the dressing, he decided. She just didn’t look like a regular teacher – not plain, colourless or old ma’am. Oh no! This one was anything but plain, she was quite colourful and definitely not an old ma’am. The dress she had on was A-cut, knee-length, slightly flared and was nicely belted at the middle. It had cup-sleeves and a collar-shaped neckline. It was a bold colour-block dress – fuchsia-pink, pale-gold yellow and a mix of cream and chocolate brown on the sleeves. It should be a kind of colour riot, but it all was perfectly embedded together by the designer and it looked absolutely amazing on her. And the chocolate-brown wedge shoes seemed to tone it all down a bit. She wasn’t model-slim, yet she wasn’t chubby either. She was just... healthy. Yeah, a healthy body frame with just enough flesh to perfectly round her curves and keep her oval face wrinkles. And that face was another thing. It was oval and perfectly moulded. Her nose was a little round and somewhat pointed at the tip and her mouth was a little full and cupid-shaped. Her eyes were fully lashed, almost like she’d had it fixed. But it was clear they were natural. The brows were perfectly trimmed, those at least he was sure had some help. But they were just trimmed and left natural, no dark-coloured pencil lining them. And beneath all that, the rest was huge. Like Barbie-doll huge. Not cover-the-whole-face huge but big enough so that you could clearly see the not-so-dark brown eyes. And he would have continued staring at them except that he saw the quiet reprimand in their brown depth as they drew closer to him. Slipping his hands into his pockets, he swayed on his feet and silently ordered himself to get a grip. What was wrong with him anyway? He shifted his eyes to his son. That was his priority... his only priority. “Hello, Rukky man.” He grinned, squatting and opening his arms for a hug. “Good afternoon, daddy.” Rukky beamed jogging over to give him a hug and then quickly slipped out of the embrace and turned to Elizabeth. “Daddy, this is Miss Elizabeth.” He introduced simply beaming from ear-to-ear. So she was the famous angelic-voice Miss Elizabeth. Aha! He’d just be gawking at his son’s class teacher. Great! Now try to show her you are a sane parent, Caleb. “Really?” He gave Rukky a wink and turned to smile at Elizabeth. “Hello Miss Elizabeth. I am Caleb Onofighe, Rukky’s father and I also believe you know my daughter, Stella.” Elizabeth has been quietly observing the shamelessly ogling man and doing her best not to keep reminding herself that this was why she hated meet daddy parents... they could be so predictably annoying. Though this one was quite good-looking one in his Chinos black trousers and sky-blue Polo shirt with ‘Calel’ printed in on the left chest. Chatty Miss Rosemary had also supplied the information that he owned his own Printing Company. He was tall an inch or so over Tonye which would make him about 6 feet of 6̍ 1̎. He had a very manly, hairy caramel complexion, wore a low-cut and a chin beard. He was handsome and his daughter, Stella, was an obvious carbon-copy image of him and... she had no business looking at him. “Good afternoon, Mr. Onofighe. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Caleb accepted the extended hand and shook it lightly before quickly letting go. “I don’t need to ask if you are a great teacher, my son has been raving about you close to two weeks now and it’s been established that you are the best teacher ever.” He turned to give the beaming Rukky a wink. Rukky giggled, a sense of achievement filling him. Elizabeth gave a self-conscious chuckle at the praise. “You know how kids are. The new teacher always ends up the most favourite. Give it a full session and she... or he is old news.” “You will always be my favourite, Miss Elizabeth.” Rukky put in smiling up at her. Elizabeth spluttered out a laugh her cheeks flaming. “They always say that too.” “Children are very impressionable.” Caleb agreed telling himself she didn’t look prettier because the fair skin of her face had tinged a little. And even more he had no business thinking of her physically. “Indeed they are.” Elizabeth nodded running her hand over her handbag. And big people are so funny, Rukky thought rolling his turned-down eyes. Well, Aunty Mabel did say last Sunday that God wanted them to keep trying until they achieved success in everything they did. “My legs are beginning to hurt. I think I should sit in the car.” He announced making sure to drag his feet as he shuffled to the car. “Oh, are you okay?” Caleb asked following him and helping him into the car. He helped him take off his backpack and then strapped the seat belt across his body. “I’m fine, daddy, just tired.” He leaned back against the leather seat and instantly shut his eyes. “I think I’m sleepy.” He mumbled. “Oh, okay. Rest then.” Caleb patted his cheeks and then slipped his head out of the car. Elizabeth quickly shifted her gaze as soon as he turned back to her. “Err... I should be going home myself.” She said squeezing her hands together. Rukky’s eyes flew open. “Are you going to Surulere, Miss Elizabeth? Maybe daddy can drop you off. Right, daddy?” Caleb looked from his all-of-a-sudden alert son to the nervously smiling lady beside him. “Err... of course. Are you going our way?” Elizabeth shook her head. “Unfortunately not.” Thank you, Lord! “I’m actually going towards Berger, but thank you for the offer. Thank you, Rukky.” She lowered her head to smile at the boy. He looked a little disappointed. Oh dear, he probably wanted to really help his teacher. At the sound of rustling feet, she turned and a puzzled, slightly frowning Stella was coming towards them. “Ha, Stella is here.” “Good afternoon, Miss Elizabeth.” Stella greeted,quietly wondering what Rukkys teacher was doing there. “Good afternoon, daddy.” She turned to smile at her father. “Hello Stella. I just walked your brother to the car to join your father.” She said by a way of explanation, wondering vaguely why she felt the need to explain anyway. “Your practice is over, how was it?” “It was fine, thank you.” Stella gave her a smile and turned to enter the car. Elizabeth watched as Caleb patiently waited for her to be properly seated and belted up before closing the car door. He was no doubt a very caring father... a shameless ogler but still a caring father. That touched her. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Miss Elizabeth.” Caleb smiled. “Same here, Mr. Onofighe.” Elizabeth smiled back giving a nod before turning to leave. Caleb watched her walk with flowing, easy steps towards the school gate. What a pretty, well-spoken, totally dignified young woman. And she is your son’s teacher and you are not interested in women, he told himself as he went round the car, opened the door and slid behind the wheel. No he was certainly not interested in women... not anymore. NOTE: Thank you all for your good wishes and patience, We are Back Watchout for episode 4 Target: 5 Likes
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:39:49 +0000
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