Two years ago, a certain boy caught my attention when we started a literacy class. It was raining one afternoon but we were unsuccessful in telling the kids to go home. We thought it was best not to hold class. Since it was raining, we all had to stay indoors-the mango tree under which shade is our regular classroom is no use that time-and it meant, it will be too crowded in the small garage now serving as classroom. Better to send the kids home.
No one budged. No one wanted to go home. What were we thinking? Of course these children did not want to miss the fun of being in class! Going to class is a chance of a lifetime-how long they waited until this dream came to pass-you should ask their parents and the parents of their parents. And as for us, we thought the rain is a good excuse not to hold class. Back in our hometowns, schoolkids enjoy it when classes are cancelled for whatever reason. Here, there are no reason to cancel one, except when it spells death. That was lesson number one for me, learned on my first week. But the day is not done in teaching me another lesson.
When we manage to squeeze in everyone and start the alphabet drill, I went out to stay in the porch of one house not far from the school house. Sometime later, I saw a boy in front of the open door of the school house. From where I was, I could tell he was soaked from the rain. He was squeezing out the water from his clothes, folding his pants up, stood in front making sure he will not bring the water in but close enough to hear everything.
I asked my friend who was that boy and why he was there? Is he supposed to be in class? Why did he come in the middle of the class time? That is Ronnie, she said. He works in the construction to help his family that’s why he came late.
to be continued
Next post:
Ronnie’s story Part 2