When morning came, Grace boarded a bus with her credentials at hand and just couldn’t wait to reach the venue. She read through her employment letter for the hundredth time that morning, before submission.

“I’m Grace Phillips. I’m pretty confident at teaching and I have passion to raise kids because kids are the leaders of tomorrow. She said, rehearsing her words with imaginary questions from the school management. I look forward to hearing from you.” She almost memorized the lines from her employment letter when the public bus halted. Some passenger climbed down, Grace followed.

Creative Minds Academy is a popular school at Wise Zone 2. It had highly paid staff as Grace learnt. It was also one of the best schools in the city of Abuja. Once Grace stepped out, she located the school Green gates and hurried towards it.

The school’s principal and proprietor, alongside a panel of experienced teachers, sat her at the front of the school hall for an interview.

“Miss Grace.” The principal, who was a round, elderly woman called upon her distracted attention. The purple shift dress on her hugged her figure, but she looked matured in her neatly woven hair. 

Grace turned to her in reply, forcing a smile on her lip.

“Only a couple of teachers would love to study dearly childhood education.” The principal continued with her head, tilted to the side a little. “Many would go for NCE, you know. Based on your credentials, you mentioned that teaching is your dream. I have a question and I need you to give an honest reply. Why would an excellent primary school teacher like you resign?”

The question was unexpected. Grace eyes narrowed above her bolted lips. She thought her previous experience at Ability Nursery and Primary School would add value to her employment letter, since it was the same line of profession. Avoiding to give the wrong reply, Grace couldn’t help but to stare with raised brows.

“Ma... You see.” Her head lowered with a fake smile, but when she realized heat her whole body was shivering, she gave it a rest.

“What were you saying, Miss Grace?” The principal leaned forward with both arms on the table. Her small eyes focused on Grace like a camera’s lens. “Are you saying that you wanted to change for a better working experience? Or was it that you needed a bigger pay?

“Yes, ma.” Grace nodded with courage and then, a pinched laughter. “The both.”

“You only have an O’level and ordinary diploma.” The proprietor cut in. “How can a standard school like ours employ you?”

The hall was air-conditioned, but sweat lingered down Grace’s forehead. She wiped it off with her palms over her face. “This isn’t an examination. Why so much questions?” Grace cried mentally, with a bowed head. She just kept quiet, looking down and away.

The proprietor was an elderly man in his late sixties, while the principal seemed to be in her late fifties or whereabout. They should be considerate. Grace hoped as she nervously peeled her fingernails. It took a lot not to chew on them. She nibbled on her lower lip with a held breath. They all had their eyes on her. Her elbow rested on her knee as she placed her jaw on her palm. A gaze at the principal, she watched her whispering some words into the proprietor’s hearing. He told her something, though he was barely audible. The principal nodded and whispered back. Their smile faded once they turned their gaze at her and realized the curiosity in her eyes.

“Okay, fine.” The principal adjusted her sitting position. “That will be all for now. Go home and wait for our notice.”

“Uh... Am I rejected?” Her neck narrowed as she sat upright.

The principal just nodded off her question and smiled.

When Grace stepped out of the hall, she walked round the classrooms to study the place with crossed arms and a pout. The place had excellent equipment and furnishings. However, the learning environment was also favorable, though her silence at the proprietor’s question disappointed her. Grace wished they would accept her. Her eyes balled as she tried hard not to cry.

Dragging her feet towards the gate, Grace's eyes narrowed once she entered the sun. It was just 8:30 a.m. Grace realized the raining season was ending. She put on a new sunshade to avoid another headache. Though she tried hard not to show her emotions. The shade was a good camouflage. 

Almost reaching the gate, a voluptuous lady walked in. She had a white-sleeved shirt and a black pencil skirt on. Grace didn’t notice until she walked up to her and grabbed her wrist with a big smile that radiated under the scorching sun.

“Miss Grace, is it really you?” She blinked twice with a blush. “I bet you’re here for the interview.”

“Yes.” Grace nodded. Taking off her shades and blinking back her teary eyes, the corners of Grace's mouth pulled upwards, but her eyes remain dull and even slightly narrowed. “Are you here for the interview?” She asked

“No, I work here now.” Mrs. Oluchi beamed. “You see, after you left Ability Schools, you absence affected the whose school, especially the primary section. Parents were withdrawing their kids and Mrs. Njoku did her best to run her school but now, it’s an empty cage.”

“What?” A gasp forced out of Grace lungs. Her skeptical eyes narrowed with a crinkled nose. “Is it that bad?”

“Yes, my dear. She might just lock down the school or sell the building one of these days.” Mrs Oluchi clarified.

“I got this job two months ago. It wasn’t long after you left, Mrs. Ebok withdrew Victoria and her brothers from the school. A lot happened, I had to leave when Mrs. Njoku could no longer pay me.”

Mrs. Oluchi squealed with a soft chuckle. To Grace, it felt like a mockery, a reminder of the happiness she had once known but could no longer grasp.

A sigh escaped Grace lips while her droopy body gave a sour expression. “I should have paid her a visit, but how do I show my face in such a place? It’s all my fault.”

“No, don’t say that.” Mrs. Oluchi’s lips twisted into a smile, but her eyes revealed a hint of resentment. As if to say sorry. Or was it that she pitied Grace?

“Did you tell them about the reason you left Ability Schools? I mean, did they know about the lost child?” Mrs. Oluchi took a step closer as she brought up.

Grace’s shoulders slumped, burdened by the weight of their shame and guilt, their gaze fixed on the ground as if searching for answers in the cracks of the floor. The idea left Grace stunned, just as earlier.

“I’ll advise that you don’t tell them no matter what.” Mrs. Oluchi pressed her a warning. “Mr. Tunmise, the proprietor of this school, doesn’t take things lightly and his wife, the principal is also a disciplined person. They won’t take that from anyone here. If they knew, I’m sure they wouldn’t employ you so, it’s best you keep it a secret. At least till you get the job.”

“Your words gives me hope.” Grace admitted. “I’ll go home and pray over it. My working depends on God now.”

“Okay, I’ll go to my class now.” Mrs. Oluchi smiled with her lips barely turning up, but her eyes were cold and calculating. “I hope to see you around.”

“Sure.” Grace nodded positively.

“Okay, bye!” She walked away first, while Grace

“Bye.” Grace sweaty fingers played with the back of her hair when she swallowed on her breath.

Then she realized the quivering in her voice. Her voice which was once confident and assuring, now trembled with uncertainty and self-doubt. Her past situation threatened to speak for fear of revealing her inner turmoil. She put on her dark shades before walking out of the school with draggy feel and bowed head.

‘How could fate work well for some people?’ Grace wondered. Mrs Oluchi who made her leave the class even works in a better place now. ‘Who would have guessed?’

Luckily, a taxi pulled over where she stood.

“Maitama.” Grace mumbled. She joined the taxi with people jam-packed at the back seat.

Once Grace got home, she walked to the bathroom. Took off her clothes and sat in the bathtub with the shower on. Adrenaline bursts through her veins as the lukewarm water oiled down her dark, slender body. Her toned legs turned jelly as her hands held onto her face. The water made her natural voluminous hair go from curly to fluffy and stringy. Haunted by memories, Grace found herself reflecting on her past actions in the silence of the day. Each one a dagger to her heart, tearing at their fragile sense of her self-worth.

Standing rigid with terror, Grace’s stomach contracts into a tight ball. Blood drained in her face with a mass of piled up anxiety. Her eyes prickled as she cried bitter tears. With hands covering her mouth, she sobbed in great anger, muffling her pains. “I hate you, Ore. How do I have a future without you?” She groaned with gritted teeth and collapsed in rage.

After ten minutes of sobbing, Grace stepped out of the bathroom. She was about to put on a dress when her phone rang. Her gaze darted to where she threw her small handbag on the bed. She grabbed the bag at once and clasped her mobile phone. It was an unknown number.

“Hello.” She croaked, sitting at the edge of her bed. “Yes, it’s me. Grace Phillips.”

“You are the Principal of Creative Minds Academy?” She grasped in a heightened voice. Then suddenly blushed.

“What? I’m employed?” Her left hand slapped over her mouth to stifle the quick scream that emitted. “Really? Thanks so much, ma!” Grace jumped off the bed to the floor in an impressive display of agility. “Thanks so much, ma! I’ll resume with you on Monday.”

Once the call ended, another call entered.

“Hello Susanne, I just got employed!” Grace bursted the news to her twin sister in happy tears.

“What are you talking about?” 

“Yes! I got employed at Creative Minds Academy, and I’m to resume on Monday.”

“Wow, seriously?” Susanne’s tone was rather flat, with no trace of excitement. Her lips pressed into a slight frown as her eyes rolled up. “Congratulations. Good for you, sis. I’ve been worried about you. Where are you now?”

Grace’s smile gradually faded. “I’m at home in the guest house.”

“Okay, I’ll check on you once I’m back.” Susanne muttered slowly like a snake intoxicated with plans. She was at a spa, having a full body massage.

“You didn’t tell that school the reason you left your previous job, right?” A practiced grin formed on Susanne’s lips with a sense of hollowness to it. Her chin lifted to a sneer, but it converted into a mimicking blush the next second.

Grace excitement died immediately and her butt sank down unto the bed. “Umm.... I didn’t tell them.”

“That’s fine, it’s good you keep it a secret.” Susanne ended the call, pissed. “It seems Grace wants to leave me so bad. What happens when she earns? Grace would save up and move out. She’ll leave me once again. Sorry, sister. I have plans.” Susanne rumbled the words and relaxed her head into a chair, enjoying her medicare. Her lips pressed into a slight frown as her eyes rolled up.

“What? I just got a teaching job!” Grace cried out in joy once the call ended. “Why did she end the call without saying goodbye?”

A sensation of a trapdoor bursted in her belly, and Grace settled on the thought for a moment. “I just didn’t tell them. It’s not as if I lied. And why can’t people move on with their lives? Hun? At least, I have a teaching job now. I can save and live on my with without depending on anyone. Not on Ore or Mrs. Njoku. Not even on Susanne. There’s nothing to worry about!” She spun around sharply with shoulders clinging to her ears, and couldn’t help but to laugh in a loud giggle.

Dancing towards the refrigerator, Grace took out a bottle of red cold wine to celebrate herself, for the first time since she got there.

***

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