KISS ME SOON

That morning, I left my home at the corner of La Seiva and Saddle Road and rode my Hercules bicycle to the end of Quarry Street where I chained ‘Mercury’ to a concreted pillar underneath a house. Then the long walk to the mountain top started.

When I reported for duty to the head teacher, Mr Spalding, I was drenched with perspiration from head to toe which was inevitable with long sleeves white shirt, vest and a tie choking the living daylights out of me.

After welcoming me to the teaching fraternity, Mr Spalding thought it best to throw me into the deep end of the pool at once so he sent me to teach the Standard Two class. I walked on air to the class with what seemed like thousands of eyes staring at me. I muttered hesitatingly, "Good morning children." And fifty-odd voices shouted, "Good morning, Sir." For the first time in my nineteen years of living I was called," Sir". This intimidated me even more.

"Head for Mental Arithmetic," I said in a small trembling voice. Only those in the first few rows heard my little voice. The rest asked, "What, Sir say?" A little guy with red hair shouted out, "Sir say, ‘Head for Mental Arithmetic’." Some children asked how many sums, I replied "One to ten" which was inaudible at the back... Once again ‘Sugar Head’ as they called him, saved me. Using a stentorian voice, he informed them — "Sir say, ‘One to ten’."

The first sum I gave was so difficult everybody got it wrong. The second sum was so easy, everybody got it right. With a red pencil, I had to tick off more than 50 answers. Miss Rita Pierre, teacher of third and fourth, realised my predicament and offered to help. She gave them a sum which about half the class got right.

After lunch time, Mr Spalding introduced me to my new class - Standards 6 and 7- a small class with about 12 children — 2 boys and the rest girls — age range 15 to 17 years.

While walking through a short cut called the Cass after school, I thanked Miss Pierre again for rescuing me. She smiled and said, "It happens to most new teachers but you will get over it. Use the teachers’ guide book for each subject and prepare your lessons in advance. Don’t look so depressed. You have a lot in your favour."

"What’s in my favour?" I asked immediately. As far as I was concerned, I was a complete failure on my first day.

Miss Pierre replied, "The children love you and that’s a big plus sign in teaching. But take my advice, watch those big girls. Mr Spalding is testing your character."

I told her that, my uncle, Hubert David, was a head teacher at Cumana RC School and one of the nuggets he had given me was, "Never forget as a teacher you are in a position of trust." I related what had already happened," I left the class for a short while and when I returned, some one wrote in big letters on the blackboard, "Kiss Me Soon — Mr Kissoon."

It was rhyme time in a class. The first pupil said, "My name is Arlot and when I grow up, I shall like to be a pilot." The second, "My name is Mary and when I become a lady, I shall like to have a baby." Right away a big boy declared enthusiastically , "My name is Dan and when I become a man, I shall like to help Mary with her plan."