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MUSTARD III – Ch. 17 | KT OLLA

A SCHOOL bell rang aloud in the boiling heat of noon. It was dry season that year and everyone could feel the heat...

Except for the students who littered the widespread field of this school.

It was the end of lunch break, and that call made those kids return for class.

It was the week before Joshua got his home call. The week before he went back home.

Morrow sat in the staff office and went through papers at his desk.

He was still head teacher for arts classes then, and was anticipating being made school head. A vice principal, for starts.

Jo had just finished vetting questions for the students’ term papers in language, literature and religion. So he glanced up at a nearing voice.

‘Done with yours, Mister Jo?’

It was a teacher friend walking up to his desk. He called him Jo... Mister Jo.

Banji looked up. ‘Yeah, Jonah.’ He called the younger man by name.

That friend of his was from the science department.

He quipped. ‘Lucky you, I’m still stuck with the theory. I’ll cross-check practicals later!’

Morrow was standing up now. ‘Good luck, man. You will make it!’

Now he walked to the windows, stretched himself in the blowing breeze; then he stayed there to watch the students.

The pupils were leaving the fields already, but some were still loitering there.

They laughed and giggled and chased after themselves.

Jo Morrow could scold them and make them get back quick. But he simply gazed on.

So the man watched the kids play and wore a fainted smile.

He thought about them... those high-schoolers. Felt his own kids could’ve been their age if he hadn’t dared...

If he hadn’t dreamed.

Now a voice called him back to the moment. It was Jonah again.

‘What do you think? Will they pass the exam? I mean your classes—will they do well?’

Joshua glanced back and saw Jonah joining him where he stood.

‘Well, I’m not sure.’

‘Oh, same with me. Still I know this, that if they put this much effort in study they’ll beat even Cambridge!’

Banji looked at him, and smiled.

‘But that’s them—let’s talk about life,’ remarked Jonah. ‘D ’you think we’ll do well?’

‘You’re older than me and you’ve seen things from life and all.

‘Life may seem good like it feels to these boys and girls. But do you think we can beat it?

‘I mean beat the hurdles, and do life well! Do you think we can ace the exams ahead?’

Banji bowed his gaze. He seemed to find this a bit personal. 

Yes, it felt quite pokey and intruding. Still he knew his friend had got something to share with him.

He felt curious.

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