Monday
Some people say the week starts on Sunday and some say it starts on Monday. I don’t know which one it is. I should ask Mrs Viljoen about it today. I’m wearing my maroon blazer with shorts. No matter how cold it gets, we’re not allowed to wear long pants unless it’s winter. I did choose a white school. In the township schools they do as they please. You can even wear a leather jacket, as long as it matches the school colours. Swag!
I see Gabisile and Mbali together. Gabi must be telling her how I’ve been playing them. They must be conspiring against me. I change direction so I don’t have to face them, at least not now. But Mbali is in my class.
The bell rings and we race to the assembly quad where we sort into our classes: Grade 7A, 7B all the way to 7G. The teachers aren’t yet out of the staffroom, so myself and all the other prefects have to ensure order in the assembly quad. That’s one of our duties.
As soon as the teachers come out of their meeting we head to class. Mrs Viljoen is our homeroom teacher. She’s my favourite teacher and I know that I am one of her favourite learners. Don’t get it twisted though, I am not a teacher’s pet.
We stand behind our chairs before we sit down and wait for Mrs Viljoen to greet us. We then sit down and watch her as she writes on the greenboard the week’s events to look out for.
- Raffle
- Pet Day
- Spelling test
I’m not really interested in the last two points. I am more interested in the raffle. We have a couple of raffles that run throughout the year and Gran said I should be smart about it. She said when she gives me the R50 at the end of the month, I should save it so that I can buy tickets worth R50. That way, my chances of winning will be higher.
“They will shuffle and shuffle and no matter how many times they shuffle, your number will come up because you bought more tickets than everyone.”
I really am looking forward to the raffle.
“Tickets will be sold right after first break,” Mrs Viljoen addresses us. “Also, we will be having a ‘Pet show and tell’. If you have a pet, don’t forget to bring it, and if you don’t it’s okay. This does not count for marks.”
A few minutes into class we’re already at it. We’re doing, ‘die trappe van vergelyking’ – degrees of comparison. ‘Big, bigger, biggest,’ except the more complex ones, because we’re older now – like ‘good, better, best’. Those are really easy to screw up.
My pencil breaks so I tap Mbali on the shoulder. “Babe…” I begin to ask to borrow her sharpener … and before I know it I am kicked out of class for being disruptive!
Mbali threw a tantrum, said I was disturbing her. I’ve always borrowed stationery from her in the past. Gabisile must’ve turned her against me. I should’ve listened to Dylan.
I never thought my favourite teacher would kick one of her favourite learners out. This has never happened to me. What’s worse is that I am the bloody Head Prefect. Thank God there are no cameras on our corridor but what if the principal decides to do her rounds and sees me? That’s my title gone! It’s the salt!
Mrs Viljoen calls me in. “Come here. Bring me your homework diary and then go back outside.”
I already know what she’s going to write.
Dear Parent
Your child was very disruptive today in class, constantly disturbing other learners while they’re working. Please see to it that he is dealt with.
Mrs Viljoen
“You won’t be allowed back in until your Mom signs this, okay?” she says, in her Afrikaans accent.
All of this because I wanted to borrow a sharpener! Mom and Gran are going to freak out when they see it.
***
Tell us what you think: Is Lincoln going to lose his Head Prefect blazer?