THE ONE

″In regard to your workload, we have covered more than half of our syllabus for this year. I hope you have all started preparing for your end-of-term exams. As you know, all the points you gain estimated by your performance throughout will add up to give your final score. You may choose to relax, but the consequences will be dire. However, eat appropriately, keep both the mind and body fit, spend time with your family and be happy. See you next term.″ Malvia spoke to the class in a calm tone, she knew it would be a while before she saw them again, so she gave them a little more advice than she usually did. Having dismissed her pupils, she packed up her belongings as she saw them leave in excitement, who wouldn’t be happy it was a Friday. After she left the classroom with her handbag in her hand, she met her fellow teacher and friend Judy. Judy too was done with her last class of the day, hence she sighed, ″It’s been a long day, I can’t wait to lay my body on my comfy bed.″ Malvia smiled and replied, ″Same here, though I am expecting my regular guests.″ Judy knew the regular guests Malvia was talking about, before she could reply, the two had reached Malvia’s office. Upon opening the door, four kids ran into Malvia’s embrace in excitement. 

Eight-year-olds Nate and Chris treated each other like buddies, while Ethan and Candice short for Candy were five-year-old twins. Kate, the oldest was ten. Judy swallowed back her words, Malvia hugged the four as she smiled at them and asked, ″Have you been waiting for a long time? And where’s Kate?″ Kate’s brother Nate replied, ″We haven’t been here for long, Kate is using the restroom.″ Malvia nodded her head, and she asked them all to sit down and wait for her. She and Judy headed out for the school tuck shop to buy some snacks. Judy finally let her words out, ″Don’t you think your friends are taking advantage of you?″ ″No, I don’t,″ Malvia replied without hesitation. Judy did not relent, and spoke her mind ″Oh please, this leave is meant for you, to have some relaxation, some time alone and get to know some men you know.″ Malvia shook her head, ″I could use some company, Martha and Rose don’t know about my leave yet, the kids are only coming for a day then they’ll be off.″ Judy smiled, ″See, you have hidden the fact that you have gotten leave, because you know those two friends of yours will literally dump their kids with you. I am glad they don’t learn here, you would have been their school nanny you know.″ Malvia knew there was some truth in what Judy said, but she loved the kids and their company and they had become part of her life.

Ten minutes later, Judy returned to the kids with bags full of snacks, this time Kate was back with the kids. Being the oldest among them all, Kate was the most mature as she got more than half of the paper bags from Malvia. Soon, the six were seen walking out of the school premises in chatter and warmth. Even though Malvia didn’t notice it, there was a man who watched her closely as she left, Eric smiled at Malvia’s disappearing figure. Judy saw everything he did, hence she spoke to him in a teasing tone, ″Mr Stalker, when will you tell her how you feel?″ Eric felt a little embarrassed for being caught but he answered honestly, ″Soon, she’s literally perfect.″ Judy almost rolled her eyes, ″Well, pretty much every woman is literally perfect in the eyes of her beloved,″ Eric then faced Judy, ″will she consider me?″ Judy looked him up and down and replied, ″One of the biggest turnoffs to a woman about a man is the lack of confidence. Listen, you’re handsome, have no kids, are clean and kind and have a good salary for an average man. You are also older than she is, and are not a mommy’s boy. If only you could be a little more confident in yourself, there’s nothing to worry about.″ Actually, Eric was good-looking, at least to most, he was one of those dark chocolate skin toned teachers that teenage girls would drool over, luckily he was not the friendly type. Many pupils categorised him as the no nonsense type of teacher little did they know he got nervous and was at a loss of words in front of one woman, Malvia. He and Malvia could be termed as the ‘hi’, ‘hello’, and ‘good morning’ type of acquaintances. He admired her but he didn’t know what she felt, she was too casual with people, not exposing much of her feelings, and he felt maybe she had an ideal type of man far off his league, why else would she be single. Judy patted Eric’s shoulder, ″If you don’t approach her, someone will.″

An hour and a half later, Malvia and the five kids arrived at her home, since they were all in their uniforms, she asked them to head to the bedroom and change their clothes. Living in a two-bedroomed house, Malvia never imagined one of her bedrooms would be practically occupied by the kids. When they went to visit, the three boys would sleep together while the two girls would sleep with her hence, she had no choice but to buy larger beds in both rooms. While the children changed, Malvia began to prepare a meal, which would practically be their supper. After which, the six sat around each other and later watched a movie together. It was then 8pm, and taking note of the time, Malvia told the kids to head to bed, which they did. Only then did she head to bed after making sure all the doors were locked and all electrical appliances were off. She too slumped on her bed and slept steadily beside the two girls.