All Done?

Once the rest of the class had left, following the reading from the book of Job, I had remained, as told, at my desk. Waiting to hear what further tasks, as well as the extreme blackboard cleaning (see blog Friday 22^nd February 2013), I was expected to do. My surprise at what happened next, must have been apparent, as, after briefly leaving the room, the sister returned with five students in tow. She walked in with them following, like meek ducklings. “Here are five other students who will be assisting you this afternoon, Mr Dwyer”. She said calmly. “Their teacher says they were also unnecessarily absent from class for some time”. Now, I don’t know if she realised it but… my jaw must have dropped. Three of them were the bullies. There was also two girls. One, a senior student, was put in charge of all of us, after the sister had outlined the various duties. I was, as expected given the task of cleaning the blackboard. Certainly the biggest task of all. I set about it as quickly as possible. I was not very large, and as mentioned to get water for the bucket I had to carry the bucket down to the toilets where there was a low basin and tap. Carrying up a bucket, one could only half fill it, otherwise you splashed water all the way back up the stairs and on the walkways. So needing four or five trips to keep the water clean, meant I was getting fairly tired. On my third trip back, I walked into the room as all the other students were leaving. I looked around. They had not completed their tasks, but as they left, the girl in charge said. “That’ll do”. I still had to finish the blackboard.

They all left and went down to the bottom field, but behind the toilet building. One of them, watching me from the side of the toilet block (well, I thought they were watching me as I continued). I finished the blackboard and went down to the girl in charge. “I have finished”. I told her. “Is it good?” She had asked. “Will sister be happy?” she asked (which was more important). “Yes”, I answered. “I believe she will be.” She shrugged and looked at the other children. “Okay, you might as well go home, Snitch”. I looked at her. “What?” I was surprised. The others came over. “Yeah, they said you snitched on us, that’s why we had to stay.” I looked at them. ‘Yes, I wanted to say it was you, but she wasn’t interested.” I explained. “Well, get home then.” They said. I was angry at this. I hadn’t been in the wrong, yet, I had again been punished. I walked back up to the shelf outside the classroom, collected my bag and began the walk home over the three hills. I still had to get home and do my homework. I had just crested the third hill and saw the building on the wharf, when a voice called out, “Dwyer! Sister says you have to come back.” I turned and saw one of the students on his bike, a way back. “What?” I asked. “Sister says get back and she is angry with you.” He hollered.

(Continued tomorrow)