When my turn to appear before the head teacher came, I walked into the office rambling. The head teacher called out my name and said, “I want you to tell me the whole truth about what happened in your class this morning!” He looked like a wounded lion ready pounce on its prey. I had never seen him like that before
Fear dripped into my heart and it beat heavily in my chest, almost threatening to crush n ribcage. My feet felt weak and if I had moved closer to his table to lean on it, I would have collapse The air in the office felt hot and uncomfortable. I was looking down but I could feel his eyes looking me. All was silent save for the ticking of the clock which hung on the wall behind him. “Are you making up a lie as you always do? Speak; I don’t have a whole day here” Mr. Koyo the head teacher bellowed his big round eyes staring angrily into mine. I felt lonely for I knew those who had been called before me must have let the cat out of the bag. It was now everyone for himself but God for us all. Suddenly, wave of some strange confidence came over me. Clearing my voice I began.
“Sir, Mr. Karanja our class teacher punished me this morning for a mistake that was not mini As he was heading to the staffroom, he heard noise from our class. He stopped by the door and wanted to know those who were making noise. Nobody answered as it was not clear who had started talking because at that time everybody was talking. He asked again but he received no answer. This infuriated him. He stormed into the class, walked straight to my desk, held me by the collar of my shin and slapped me severally across my left cheek. I tried explaining to him that I did not know the person who had started the noise but he refused to listen. He accused me of being a useless prefect an> called me a good for nothing pupil who has no future. Sir, I thought the teacher had gotten too persona and I lost my temper, for this I’m tremendously sorry.
I got up from my desk and walked towards the door. I had the intention of walking out of the class Tears had flooded my eyes and I did not want to cry before my colleagues. Mr. Karanja mistook nr action and thought I was going to hit him. So he grabbed me and wrestled me to the floor. I was surprised. While on the floor I decided to fight the teacher. I got hold of his left leg and pushed him towards the blackboard. He lost balance and fell on the floor hitting his head on the teacher’s table. A t this time, I was on my feet. Fearing that he was going to get up and beat me up, I picked the teacher’s chair and hit him on his head then, in that confusion I ran out to the girl’s toilet to hide. I heard when the teachers came looking for me but they could not find me because I was in the girls toilet while they were looking in the boys’ toilet. I knew it was just a matter of time before I was found so I decided to come and explain to you what had happened in the class. Again I want to say that I should not have allowed my temper to guide my actions. I now know no, teacher wants to have anything to do with me. I am sorry sir.” My voice trailed off as the reality of what I had done hit me hard like a sledge hammer. For sometimes the head teacher never spoke. The worry of what would happen to me gave me jabbing pains across my stomach.
Then the head teacher looked up. “You wrestled, my teacher to the floor? Then as as if that was not enough you picked a chair and hit him on the head? I did not know we are teaching thugs. Do you know what you’ve done? Mr. Karanja was rushed to Nairobi Hospital unconscious. You cannot go back to class as no teacher is willing to teach you just as you have said. You have messed your life and I am ashamed of you. Your bag is with my secretary, take it and go home. Give your father this letter, it explains why I have expelled you,” the head teacher was talking like somebody singing a lullaby to a baby to sleep. I understood how he felt. I knew there was no amount of apology that would make anybody understands me.
It was then I stepped out of the office, picked my bag from the head teacher’s secretary and in silence I plodded out of the office in the weight of my shameful behavior. I was then I longing for the dangers I knew to those I knew not. I learnt that tit for tat is not always a fair game.
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