Two Old Fools on a Camel: From Spain to Bahrain and Back Again by Victoria Twead

Author:Victoria Twead
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Memoir, Travel, Spain,
Publisher: Ant Press
Published: 2014-01-29T05:00:00+00:00

Black flags

We punched our cards into the clocking-in machine, black ink, on time, and made our way across the courtyard. Progress was slow as all the students wanted to shake Joe’s hand.

“Good morning, Meester Joe!”

“Good morning, Ali.”

“Good morning, Meester Joe! You are the best!”

“You’re not getting an ‘A’, Talal.”

“Aww... Meester!”

To my surprise, my classroom was unlocked, and somebody was in there, waiting for me. Fatima’s mother.

“Good morning, Miss Vicky,” she said, her gimlet eyes boring holes into me. “The Hall Monitor let me in. I want to talk to you about the work you are planning this semester. I know that Mr. Wayne...”

I cut her short. It takes a lot for me to see red, but I was furious. Did she not know that I planned most of Mr. Wayne’s lessons? Or that Mr. Wayne took days off at will, leaving me to set his lessons and instruct the substitute teachers? And why should I have to explain all my lesson preparations to her?

“I’m sorry,” I said grimly. “I don’t have time for this. And I really don’t appreciate all your emails, or being stalked. Fatima is a good girl, and she’s doing very well. If you are not happy with her education, I suggest you move her to a different school. Right, the school bell will ring any minute now and I have a lot to do. So, if you’ll excuse me...” I wrenched the door open and stood back.

Fatima’s mother looked shocked, and her pale face reddened.

“Well!” she said. “If you will not cooperate with me, I must talk to your Principal again.”

“Please do that,” I said, and closed the door firmly behind her. I couldn’t count on Mr. Brewster to back me, as he didn’t relate easily to female staff, and thought that Wayne walked on water. But by now, I was beyond caring.

Something good came out of that encounter. Mr. Brewster’s Deputy sided with me and a new school rule came into force. From now on, parents couldn’t wander around ASS, accosting the teachers at will. The security guards at the entrance gates were ordered not to admit Fatima’s mother during school hours. If she, or any parents wanted to speak to a teacher, they now had to make an appointment.

It didn’t stop the emails, but now they were sent to Mr. Brewster, or his Deputy, and were no longer filling my inbox. In fact, this was the last one I saw, as Mr. Brewster finally agreed that the woman was a nutcase. He ignored all further messages from her. Hooray!

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