"I think Miss Jumoke likes Mr. Damọla." A girl whispered to her friends. Not really whispering as anyone that pass would hear.
"Yes, I even heard she asked him out." One of the girls added.
"That's old news, they were dating up till last week, but he dumped her." The person that said this is a guy and one can see that he's getting a lot of fun gossiping.
"Soooo, that was why she was angry on Monday and told all the students in her class to do a homework that much!" The first girl said, her eyes widen as if she discovered the murderer of a whole family.
"How are we to cope when we are in her class?" Another girl added, her face is so innocent as if they weren't gossiping about a teacher.
"You know she's much better at teaching than the rest of the teachers." A girl said. But the rest rolled their eyes to show disagreement to what she said.
"Oh please! The teachers said she seduced the principal in order to secure the top teacher award for good 4years." She flipped her hair and clicked her tongue to emphasize her point.
"I know right! A person as beautiful as she is doesn't know anything except to seduce men up and down. And it's really disgusting." The guy among them said and hissed loudly.
"It's won't be long before she slept with all the men in this school."
"Don't worry, by the time we all reach her class ehn, she would have faced a lot of petitions that the school would not have any choice but to fire her." They continued talking not realizing that the teacher they were talking about is listening from the beginning till the end. But she doesn't interrupt them, it was not the first time and it certainly won't be the last time too.
The teacher called Damola had actually been asking her out since the moment she was introduced to the staff. He flipped out some weeks ago when he couldn't accept anymore rejection from her. Is it by force to accept confession from a guy? She even told him politely that she is seeing someone already. But unfortunately, another teacher was listening and she happened to be one of his admirers. She changed the story entirely, telling some of the staff that Jummy was forcing herself on the male teacher. Some of the teachers did not believe it but they didn't say anything either.
How did the students know you ask? Well a typical school staffroom will have student coming in occasionally to report another student, or to call the teacher for the next class. So they heard, and changed the story again and again till everyone in the school knows, but they knew the wrong version.
Sleeping with the principal? Can't they realize it an abuse to her brain and beauty if she sleeps with the old man for a little award. But people will still run their mouth no matter what she tells them.
"Look at what she is teaching our children." A woman half yelled, holding up a note displaying the full anatomy of a male and female human. The rest of the parents gasped. Every bit of the diagram has a label.
"What! Do you mean she's teaching the kids what they are not supposed to know until they are older?" Another woman exclaimed, talking like an illiterate person.... well she indeed is illiterate.
"Woah, even if have not been in the medical school I know that this is only being taught at the fourth year in university. So what is it doing in our kids biology note?" She did not go to the medical school but someone among them did, but she won't clarify the matter. They are all here to make sure the teacher is fired one way or the other. Her husband went for only one parents teacher meeting and couldn't get enough of her. Miss Jummy this, Miss Jummy that. He even had the gut to compare her with a lowlife teacher. Although she is the daughter of one of the richest people, she is still a useless person.
Probably they are all jealous of her for her beauty, or maybe it's because of her brain, or perhaps it's her wealth that broke the peace, they all wanted something. It's to fire the teacher, she has money to live her life so we're not actually ruining her life, they said to make themselves better. We just wants what is best for our children.
When the principal called her into the office, he looked so apologetic, his eyes repeating I'm sorry all over. He knows how good and innocent she is. The current situation is like that of a king who has to remove the fifth prince from the list of the heirs, when he knew he's the most capable person to inherit the throne because non of the court ministers liked him. He knows that the school will regress if Jumoke is fired but there's nothing he can do because if not the parents will be the one to scatter the school. One person to save a whole school, they can even get another better teacher, it might be hard but not impossible. He believes that accommodating and making people around you to like you is a skill she needed, even more than her brain.
People tends to be nicer to pretty things and people. But her beauty brought only envy for most of her life.
"Miss Jumoke," he started. "Although I really know your work and the development you've brought to this school but the public opinion is not on your side. I know we would probably regret this but there's nothing we can do. If this matter is pronounced for a long time it might have negative effect on your future. I will compensate you with five months salary. I would need you not to resume to the school from tomorrow. The bursary will make sure you get your severance pay. I wish you good luck in all your endeavors."
She couldn't say a word else she will burst in tears. So she bowed and left. She called her father to arrange one of the best cars he owned for her. She's going to leave with pride and dignity. She didn't even need them, they needed her. She's going to make sure they understand that. She packed her bag and left all the lesson note and textbook on the the table. Putting on a sun glasses she never used, she walked out and got inside the car like the princess she is. She is sure the entire school is checking her out and expected her to leave while crying. But they were wrong, the driver didn't even wait for her at the parking lot, he rudely drove to inside the school with four other cars following it. They won't be able to fine them because the car is licensed "OBA". Unless they want to disrespect the king nobody can stop the car.
And majestically she walked, her driver and other guard assigned to her came out of the cars in respect for her. Even if you are jealous of me, you can never be me, was the last message sent to everyone present. The majestical facade left immediately the car left the school gate. She burst into tears and was sobbing so loudly that the driver and other entourage were worried.
She wanted only one thing, and that's to live a normal life. Why is it so hard?