We Are The Odinas #13

adaobi (61)Official Memberin STEEM NIGERIA • 5 years ago

Magnus

"Good afternoon, Mr. Odina." The woman exiting the Principal's office chimed a little too loudly.

"Mrs. Okeke, Good afternoon. How do you do?" I asked out of courtesy. The woman taught Fine Arts but she was more renowned for her loose tongue than her skill at impacting knowledge.

Two months ago, she had been linked to a gossip thread involving the underground sale of women clothing which had been banned at the school. James had told me that she had reported the teacher making the sales because she had refused give her a particular piece of cloth on credit.

"I am just great! It's such a lovely day. Don't you agree?" She said smiling sweetly at me.

"Yes. I imagine that it's perfect for painting or wool spinning..."

"Oh, it's just lovely! And to think that we just got paid today! It's glorious!" Mrs. Okeke cut in.

'Get paid?' I haven't received an alert yet... "You got an alert?" I asked.
"Yes. Just about an hour ago. You didn't get one?"

"I..." I started saying, but I remembered who I was talking to, so I trailed off. She was about to say something else, but since I wasn't in the mood to make lame chatter with her, I said, "I really must get inside. The principal must really need to see me."

She nodded vigorously. "Go on, then. Bye!"
"See you, later..." I said under my breath as I entered the office. She had already sped off.

I entered the principal's office for the second time in two days. And yes, I was nervous. I mean, it's not like I was expecting a raise or something. So I imagined that my visit, was really about only one thing.

"Mr. Odina," the principal said curtly.
"Good afternoon, sir." I greeted, inhaling the stale air. I mused that the man should invest some of his salary in an air freshener. The office smelt like a storage room with folds of mold.

"Sit down, Mr. Odina."
I plopped my behind onto one of the apology-of-a-back-chairs and felt the wood bite into my fat-less buttocks. I looked straight at the man in front of me and tried to imagine what was going on through his head.

"Mr, Odina, have you liked your stay here?" The principal asked.

I was stunned. "Sir?" 'Where is this coming from?'

"Akpu mu mmiri n'onu? Do I have water in my mouth? Can't you hear me properly? I asked if you have liked your stay so far in this school?" He asked his face stern.

"Sir, I have taught here in all the years of my career, all sixteen of it. I can't say that I regret anything about them. They have been good years. I enjoy working here."

"Then why are you so focused on spoiling it? Why did you decide to throw it all away?!"

"Sir? I beg your pardon but I don't know what you are talking about..."

"You don't? I think you do. Oh, I am certain you know!" The principal fumed, spittle escaping at the sides of his lips. "I told you that I was going to investigate the relationship between you and Miss Ogumanki. That's what."

"But sir..."
"Don't but me, Magnus. What the hell? I understand the appeal that a younger woman has on people of our age bracket, but I expected you to know better than fall for the whims of the body, I expected that you were the kind of gentleman that realizes where his priorities should lie!"

"Sir, are you insinuating that Miss Ogunmaki and I are having an affair?" I asked in disbelief.

"No, I am not insinuating. I already know!"
"No, sir. You are mistaken. Nothing inappropriate is going on between us, I swear!"

"Magnus, please, don't give me that nonsense. I am too old and experienced to be fooled by such a flimsy folklore. Even the students put up a better performance than this!"

"Sir, you think I am lying?" I cracked out.
He shook his head from side to side. "I have investigated the matter and I have substantial evidence that point toward the fact that you and miss Ogunmaki is having an unhealthy relationship. Honestly, I didn't expect any of this from you.

What's gotten into you? Is it that Bini witch? Did she take your sense when she let you into that thing between her legs?"
"Sir, really, with all due respect, you have to stop with this stupid charade. What sort of rubbish is this? Your allegations are baseless."

He was momentarily stunned. Then he regained his stern expression. "Okay. If that's how you want to play it then, so be it." He opened his drawer and extracted a white envelope which he threw in front of me.

"What's this?" I inquired looking at the envelope like it was an Ebola specimen.
"I had hoped that you will come to your sense and do what is right: apologize for your behavior and pledge to break off whatever uncanny relations you had with that Ogunmaki girl.

In that case I would have given you a week suspension and that would have been the end of it.

"But, seeing as you have chosen to chart a course of desolation, I am going to help you. So there, is a letter terminating your employment here. I can't have your actions corrupting the good morals of the students, tarnishing the imagine of this great school. Mr. Odina, You are fired."

And in that moment, an invisible pail of cold water was doused on me. The blood in my veins froze. Sweat soaked my shirt.
'This can't be happening... This can't be happening...'

I slowly opened the envelope, took out the type written letter and read it. Yes, my employment has been terminated as at today. And then, it started to make sense. Mrs. Okeke hovering outside the door. I hadn't gotten an alert because to the man on the other side of the table, I wasn't an employee anymore.

"What about my wife, and kids? I can't provide for them."

The man chuckled. "You should have thought of that before you took a tumble with the Corp Member, Mr. Man. Honestly, I don't give a damn. You have unmade your bed, so you shall lie on it!"

He chuckled at his own play at the popular adage.

"You are very stupid." I said standing up from the seat.

The laugh died and the grin fell off his face. "You said what..."

"That you are a very stupid man. Because that's the only reason why you will actually believe that I would sabotage my work and family for the sake of a girl half my age. If only you could have pulled your head out of your backside, you would have recognized that you are mistaken and that you shouldn't believe whatever Mrs. Okeke has told you.

"I have worked for you for more than a decade and you obviously don't know me well enough to know what I am capable of, and what I would never do.

"But I don't blame you, I blame the sorry state of our country. Which is the only reason why someone like you would occupy this office, the only reason someone of my academic qualification would be relegated to the laughing stock in a place like this."

He shot up from his chair, fisted raised in a punch. I wondered if he was really going to punch me. But I already knew the answer.
In the last second, he stopped midair. He looked at me through squinted eyes.

"Please, do. Give me a reason to pound you." I said coldly.

He let his hand fall to his side. "Leave my office this minute!"

I turned on my heels and headed out the door. I let the door bang shut behind me.
Once I was outside, the cool breeze hit my face and I closed my eyes. It was then that I began to make conscious effort to calm down. I took long deep breaths to calm my nerves.

"Buddy, what's that about?" A familiar voice said beside me.

I opened my eyes to find James standing beside me. He had concern etched on his face. I held up the white envelope. "I just got sacked."