It wasn't my fault

Greetings everyone!

_{Image is mine | Designed on canva}

The only time I had the opportunity to teach was during my NYSC, in a newly established secondary school in one of the eastern states of Nigeria. Because it was a new school, there were just a few pupils in my class, which made my work easier, as I didn't need to shout for my voice to be heard, giving me room to relate well to all of them. I taught them science subjects, and I was supposed to teach them mathematics as well, but the proprietor said he wanted to handle that himself to ensure they were well grounded.

I smiled, relieved even though I love teaching mathematics based on my good knowledge.

No problem; things were going fine until one of the parents approached me to organize a mathematics class for her 15-year-old son on weekends only.
Although I wasn't always free on weekends due to my commitment to a fellowship, I agreed to take the job because I was desperately in need of money. We talked extensively on the price, and we agreed that she would pay at the end of the month.

Work started;

In the first week, the boy responded well with full concentration and punctuality.
The second week was almost the same, but his punctuality reduced a bit, prompting me to query him.
In the following week, he improved on punctuality but reduced his concentration, as if someone somewhere was controlling him on a "shift mode" lol🤣

When the first month ended, the woman quickly paid me with many "thank yous." In that village, they love corpers who are open-hearted.
With the way she paid and thanked me, I decided to put in more effort to improve the boy.

At the start of the second month;

During the very first weekend of the second month, the boy started manifesting 'wonders'; he would come by 10:00 am, sometimes 10:30 am, when we were supposed to start by 9:00 am. I would get there and keep waiting for him. Each time, I would ask him what kept him long, and irrelevant excuses would pop up.

I have a big weakness for flogging, so the only tool I used was talking. I would talk and shout, and he would agree to change, but the next day always seemed to be worse.

I tried my best to curtail all his behaviors, and the more I endured, the more he played me, making me waste my time waiting for him.

I don't get to see the mother often except on particular market days. On one of those market days, I reported everything to her, and she begged me not to give up on her son.

Okay, I continued.
We carried on with our class, with my endless waiting, and at a certain point, I just gave up .
Some weekends would come, and I wouldn't feel like going because there was no reason to waste my time on a small boy that seemed he knew more than me.

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As for how it turned out;

Well, my heart is very understanding...
I opted out because it was obvious the boy was tired and not ready to continue. So I told the mother to keep her money. Oh yeah, she was willing to pay for the months the boy wasted my time, but I didn't collect.

Thanks for reading

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_{This is my entry to the Week 99, Edition 02 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community}