Stubborn Nerves on Registration Day

On registration day, due to time constraint, I arrived at school around seven on an empty stomach and was immediately overwhelmed by the rapidly multiplying crowds of parents. I gave in to nerves and despite having been briefed on what to do the day before, I did not know what to say to the parents. 

A colleague passed by the classroom and I jumped at the opportunity to ask him questions. He cleared my doubts patiently and my hands stopped shaking. I uttered an inaudible prayer and the collection of fees began. I counted the money and issued the receipts carefully, trying my best not to create any mistake. But still, once in a while, I forgot to ask one or two parents to sign their attendance. At one stage, I overcharged a parent and the mistake could only be fixed by the time school reopened. 

Halfway through the session, my vision blurred and my stomach protested. I tried to rally all my faculties but the prodding hunger kept wavering my concentration. I was desperate for a bite of something but alas, I brought no food with me. At this critical moment, the school prefects distributed packets of fried noodles to every teacher and I quickly made an excuse to the parents and gobbled up my share. Then, energy seemed to spread through my limbs in intensity and I resumed my job with a vengeance.

Throughout the collection the parents were patient with me and some kind ones even had the honesty to return the excess change I had accidentally given them. Twenty years ago I had done the same mistake but no one had returned a single cent to me, making me pay for the loss from my own pocket. 

When the session ended at Twelve, I heaved a sigh of relief and thanked God on a job well done. By the time school reopened on Tuesday, another challenge will await me as the number of my students, One Bario, is a staggering 46.

That night, I had a bout of panic attack.