Chapter 3: Sacrifice No Dey Pay

Two years of wahala for work don spoil my back and neck well-well. The pain no dey let me sleep at all.

Sometimes as I lie down for bed, na only pain I dey count. I no fit even turn neck without wince.

Doctor tell me say make I rest for long, make my body recover small.

E even write letter make I show school, but shame no let me submit am.

But na final year. I dey fear say if dem change homeroom teacher, the students no go fit adjust.

I dey see how small change dey scatter children brain. I no wan add to their wahala.

So na only weekend I dey squeeze go hospital for treatment.

I dey go early, return late Sunday so that Monday I go dey shine for class. Nobody sabi my struggle.

To take break? At least make students finish graduate first.

I just dey pray say my body go hold till then.

I no even think say na this one parents go use report me.

For my mind, I believe say parents go understand, but I wrong.

I reply am gently: “Chinonso mama, homeroom teacher na human being too. Sickness dey happen, and na only weekend I dey go hospital, for my own time. E never affect my work for class.”

I type am soft, hope say e go cool her mind.

But her next talk just vex me pass:

“Which one be your own time? Wetin be personal time? You be teacher, homeroom teacher—suppose dey available every time.”

Her wahala no get end. E be like say na crime to even rest.

Other parents come join mouth:

Bashiru papa: “I agree with Chinonso mama. If you wan be homeroom teacher, you suppose know say na big work. If you no fit, why you collect the work?”

The man no dey ever smile, his own be to always support wahala.

Alero papa: “Last semester you marry, you take three days off. Me I feel say e no make sense.”

I just dey remember wedding, how principal force me take leave. Na problem e still cause.

Morenike mama: “We agree make you be homeroom teacher because you get experience. If we know say wahala dey, we for just choose young teacher from beginning.”

I no fit keep quiet:

I just type, try control vex, “Dear parents, e true say I get health issues, but I never let am disturb class. No matter how hard or how tired I dey, I still dey for the students. If I wan rest, I for don step down since.”

I wan let dem know say e no easy, but na sense of duty hold me.

Chinonso mama fire back: “Abeg, stop to dey form. You dey talk like say na sacrifice, but no be money you dey find? Who no know say homeroom teacher dey collect pass other teachers?”

Her words dey bite like pepper. E burn my ear like hot ogiri. I just dey look my phone.