For several days, my nights looked like the longest ever known to mankind! I never stopped weeping!
Incidentally, it was during those 'harsh' days, and on a Friday, that I got the 'call'! It was the first term of a new session – a few weeks after we had concluded midstream admission for the new SS1 intake! The shortlists had been published and the school was now open to freshers! Ironically, I had just finished having a little break-time chat with Amara, asking her if she would love to come spend the approaching weekend with me – to which she predictably said no – when my phone rang! It wasn't a number saved on my phone, so when I picked, I wasn't exactly expecting the person to be someone I knew already. And rightly so, she wasn't! She wasn't only just someone I didn't know but someone I was never ever going to think would have a need to call me! She was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of a State I had at the time quickly forgotten, given the shock that came with her introduction of who she was! Of course I became instantly worried and began wondering what she was calling for! Was I getting the sack? Had my detractors blackmailed me yet again? Lots of questions, and of course, worries!
Anyways it happened to be none of those when she eventually spoke up. Her son, Samuel, was on the recently published list of admitted midstream students, and he would be coming into school the following Monday. Subsequently, she was going to need to see me when she eventually brings him to the school, and that wasn't supposed to be a big deal. So, I expectedly explained that it wasn't a problem at all. Of course, I assumed she had to call to inform me of this because of her status as a public servant. There was likely going to be a bit more on the security details that would be available to us on that day with her convoy and fleet coming with her. She was also likely looking for the preferential treatment from the school towards her son and as anyone would expect, such could only be possible with my orders. Everything was soon making sense and as soon as I had finished explaining other requirements needed for her son's clearance come Monday, we hung up. If anything, the SSG's decision to pick my school for her son over the ones in her state of origin, was a personal vindication of how much work I had done as Principal in just 4 years! I certainly couldn't just wait for Monday already!