How I got back to Bensouda’s fold

When Bensouda was reinstated to her position as female headmistress of this school, it was a changed Bensouda.

Despite the fact that I am the deputy, and the most experienced in matters pedagogical, Bensouda started running the school through Kuya, totally ignoring me. They thought I would protest; indeed, that was what Kuya was looking for. He wanted a fight as he knew that Bensouda would defend him.

But I am brighter than that. First, why would I complain for earning the responsibility allowance while someone else did the work? Who wouldn’t like to arrive at school late like other teachers, to find someone else having arrived early and taken care of everything, but at end month earn the responsibility allowance – however little.

But that was not the only reason that I wasn’t worried. When it came to getting onto Bensouda’s heart, I beat Kuya hands down. I had no doubt that his closeness with Bensouda would not last long. And I would be back in Bensouda’s corner – for good.  As expected, it did not take long.

His self-destruction started as soon as he smelt no resistance from me. He moved with speed to change some of the things I had done, particularly on the school timetable. You see, when I had made the timetable, I had been careful to consider the needs of every teacher. I had given them lessons that they were comfortable with.

The moment Kuya go into power — or rather, when he thought he was in power — he changed all this and insisted that every teacher must have classes early in the morning, and late evening.

“When you refuse to teach in the morning, whom do you want to teach in the morning every day?” he asked Lena, a bad-haired serial late-comer who has never been in school before 8.30am.

THE FALL OF KUYA

“People are not equal. We have morning people and evening people. Even Dre knows that and he gave me most lessons that time, “ she shot back.

Kuya also insisted on giving Saphire classes on Monday and Fridays – days Saphire has never been seen in school, let alone class. It was a useless effort as he never turned up and students missed classes.

“Who does he expect to teach for him on Mondays and Fridays,” Kuya wondered when I advised him to re-consider his plan. “If he can’t come on those two days then he should start planning for life without a job.”

As such, Kuya soon became the most hated teacher. Everyone wished for me to return to the fold. The female teachers, for example,  were not even talking to Kuya, except Nzomo, who was close to him. Although the two called each other “friend”, it was quite clear that friendship went beyond bodily borders.

Soon, most classes were going unattended. The matter threatened to reach the sub-county office. I was really waiting to be called so that I could say how Bensouda had stripped me of my powers unceremoniously.

In order to address the biting shortage, Kuya did something plainly stupid. He scheduled Bensouda for classes. It is an unwritten rule here in Mwisho wa Lami and all schools in Kenya that thou shall not schedule the head teacher for classes. School heads go to class when they feel like. And that’s why the staffroom meeting the other Friday got hot. Bensouda was breathing fire.

“I have nothing against you. I was trying to address the shortage,” he said.

“What shortage do we have?” she asked. “Did some teachers leave this school without me knowing?”

“No,” said Saphire, “It is just that some teachers have refused to go to class.”

“And so you want me to go to class instead?” she asked him.

“Not really,” he said. “I don’t want the students to miss any class.”

Seeing my opportunity to shine, I joined. “The problem is not the teachers but the timetable,” I said and all teachers  cheered me on. The time table I initially had was working, but things went wrong when you changed.”

“Dre, as an experienced teacher you would know that the time table is just an excuse, a lazy teacher will get any excuse not to go to class,” he said as everyone booed him.

“So are you saying that I am lazy?” asked Bensouda. The questions got Kuya off-guard.

“Not you Bensouda,” he said. “You have other duties you attend to. I am talking about other teachers who have no other responsibility other than teaching.

“And what is that you called me? Who is Bensouda?” she asked clearly exasperated.  Kuya had forgotten that our headmistress is called Skastina Majani. Bensouda was only a nickname we gave her at the height ICC cases at The Hague.

“I am sorry Madam,” he said. But it was too late. Bensouda left and went to her office. I followed her shortly after.

“I made a mistake giving that fellow responsibilities,” she complained as I sat down. “How can you help?”

“That’s easy, I can work on a timetable for you to review and approve today,” I said. She told me to proceed.

I did not need to do much. I just took the timetable I had at the beginning of the term, made  slight adjustments. I was done in minutes but did not show it to Bensouda right away. I was waiting for the most appropriate time. Before she left after lunch, she asked me if the time table would be ready before the end of the day.

“And will I see it today?” She asked. I told her she would.

At exactly 6pm that evening, I knocked at her door in Milimani estate, the leafy suburb where the who is who in Mwisho wa Lami stay.

SUMPTUOUS SUPPER

“Who is that?” she shouted from the bedroom. She told me to get in when she heard it was me. She was in the bedroom. “You know this house Dre, make yourself comfortable.”

I did not need a calculator to know that I was being invited to serve myself juice. By the time Bensouda came to the sitting room, I was on my third glass.

“So what brings you here?” she asked me. She was wearing a sleeveless blouse and tight fitting shorts that reached above her ankles. It was a sight to behold.

“I promised to show you the timetable before the end of today,” I said.

“That’s very good,” she said as she looked at it. “Have you discussed it with other teachers?” She asked me.

“Yes I did and they are happy.”

She later prepared supper for me. Sumptuous supper. It was very late when I left her house and walked home. Very late. On Saturday I went to school, put the timetable on the notice board and sent a message to all the teachers on the same.

The new timetable took effect on Monday. Everyone liked it, particularly Bensouda whose name was not on it. And that earned me another invite at her place for supper. And just like that, I am back in the fold!