What a day today..!
I was putting the curtains on the stage when As called me in her office.
Looking as thunderous as she was capable of she demanded
'Have you sent this paper?" She pointed that detailed plan which I had written and An had distributed.
In perfect cool, calm and confidence, in complete control of the situation in my hands, I replied promptly.
"Yes."
"Do you know that you have no authority to act like this?"
"Yes, I know."
Do you know that I am very angry with you because of this?"
'Yes, I know."
My straight forward calm replies threw her completely off guard.
"Then why did you do this?"
"Because of you."
"Because of me?"
"Yes, because you deliberately cancelled the meeting, so I had to do this to inform everybody of what duties have to be performed and when. It was important."
"I didn't cancel the meeting."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Oh, come on As, how can you lie like this to me. You know you cancelled the meeting "
"Well, I am going to hold a meeting today at 4 pm regarding tomorrow's arrangements."
"Ha ha ha ha', I laughed," So finally, we are having a meeting now. Better late than never." She ignored my heavy sarcasm.
"And besides this paper, I am also very angry with you because you talked to Mtn about the mikes."
"But you never told me that I was not supposed to talk to Mtn or anybody for that matter about the mikes. I talked to him only because I thought you wanted to arrange the mikes and were unable to so he might have an idea how to procure one. As, do you mean to tell me now that what ever you have been telling me all these days that you are trying to get mikes is a lie? Do you mean to say that you never wanted me to have mikes? As, I swear, if you had told me I wouldn't get any mike for the play, I would have just dropped this idea long ago. Why did you keep me in dark? I thought I had your permission for doing all this. If I had known you didn't want this play I would never have done it. And now I am too far gone to cancel it."
"You don't understand. Because you talked to Mtn about the mike, now the whole committee as well as all the parents are being after my life with their inquiries. They want to know why we cannot arrange a mike."
"Frankly speaking, even I cannot understand why we cannot have or why you do not want mikes; and more than that why you could not tell me so clearly in the beginning."
"We are a kindergarten. We can't do things like these plays."
"Who says that? I don't believe that. Kindergartens all over the world do this. It is very much a part of any kindergarten curriculum."
Instead of attacking me, as she had planned she was herself under attack now and she wasn't very well on guard. We talked in precisely this strain for next half hour. I told her that I wasn't getting any support from her and that quite a lot of people inside the school and out were aware of this. I also told her that I know she for some reason dislikes me.
Before leaving, I informed her that my husband's project in Germany is about to end which means I might have to go back to India but of course nothing is definite. We have been in this state since many years.
She had reassured me that there was no need for me to attend the meeting as she mainly would be discussing duties. But on later reflection I decided that I must attend the meeting. This As is not trustable at all. She might try to speak false things about me to the others. I was right.
I was shocked to see some teacher's faces looking clearly against me and they were. That stupid Stf complained that because of the play arrangement her break is getting delayed by 15 minutes since 2 days.
"I must have my break on time. I am tired of this play thing."
"The whole school is finished because of this play." As commented." and from now on, we are not going to have any such again in this school. This is a kindergarten and we cannot afford to do things like this. The whole school is suffering badly."
"Excuse me, "I interrupted," Nobody except me and the children is doing anything in the play; I alone take rehearsals and alone make all the necessary arrangements.Who is doing what that the the school is being disturbed? Merely that Stf's break got delayed by 10 -15 minutes? Do you know that yesterday I worked in this school from 9 o'clock to 7 0'clock without even drinking a single drop of water? And I am not working so much for myself. This play is for the school, the children and parents. I am not going to get any reward or promotion for it. If anything I am spending from my own pocket to buy things which the school is refusing to arrange.And I am doing all this only because I just have a sense of commitment for my job which I now realize, is pretty useless here..
"This play is your personal thing." As remarked.
"No, it isn't. The play is very much for school even if I am working alone for it and whether you want to believe it or don't. We are a team. We are one. Whatever I or you or anyone else amongst us does here its all a team work."
"Whatever, but next time we aren't having any such thing again in this school.
I was deeply hurt by their insulting reactions. What type of school is this that dislikes to have things which actually bring good reputation, children's development and parent's admiration? As, Mz and Stf are plainly abominable; when I asked who will arrange chairs for the audience, Stf commented insultingly, " How long is the play? Only about 15-20 minutes. For merely 15-20 minutes why should we work so hard to place the chairs and remove them? Let them sit on the floor." and this when several parents are happily offering to help us with anything we want them to.
After the meeting got over, I sadly went back to the hall where I had been setting up the stage and cried to myself. A little later, Mko came and we talked to each other about this for half an hour. He was also very sad for me and corroborated that As is a real problem for this school.
I had told Cl today in private that I was going back to India and we might never meet again as she is leaving for Saudi Arabia early tomorrow morning for her Christmas holidays and the chances of seeing each other in January are really non existent. At first she was aghast. She stared at me for several seconds and then she burst into tears. "No, please don't say like this. I can't let you go. You have been so nice to me. I have enjoyed so much in your company. I can't imagine working here without you. I will also leave this place if do so."
She clung to me like a frightened little baby. " I will pray to God that your transfer is cancelled and we meet again."
"Do you have a sister?" I asked.
"No."
"Then from today, you are going to be my little darling sister." And we fondly hugged each other with tears of affection in our eyes and a strange desolation and fear creeping in our hearts that we really might never see each other again. I knew she was a very nice girl and we had always shared a good friendship between us but I confess I hadn't imagined she loved me so much that she would break into a cry on hearing me go.
She came to say final Goodbye to me after the meeting was over. She is leaving early tomorrow morning. She had brought a small packet of home backed Christmas cookies for me as token of her love and affection. Dear dear Cl.
Tomorrow is the D day.....!
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