The Johnson's Children's School

“I don’t want to go to school” I cry unhappy after the first day at school.
“But Why, What happened? Did someone hit you? There were so many children for you to play with in school. Why don’t you want to go to school?” Amma and Appan want to know.
“The teacher isn’t beautiful, she looks ugly. I hate her.”
“Then don’t look at her, play with the children”
“I want to go to another school, the teacher here is ugly.”
“Okay we will move you to another school but there will be no excuses after that you have to go to the new school everyday.”
“Okay, agreed” I smile happy at not having see the ugly teacher again.
The next day Appan takes me on his cycle to another school. I look around and cling to appan with all my strength screaming my head off at the prospect of being alone in this strange new place. Appan tries to pull me away from his body but it is as if I have become a part of his body. At last he gives up and takes me home. I am relieved to be back at home but I see that Appan is not smiling any more. He is very angry. He doesn’t say anything to me but I can hear him discussing something with amma. The next morning I am at a new school, The Johnson’s Children’s School, just on the other side of the road from our house. I can see our home from the school and I have watched the kids from the school going to school everyday for the last few months, so I am willing to give it a try.
“Appa, you have to take me into the class room and to my seat.”
“Okay”
“Then wave before you go out of the class room.”
“Hmmm”
“Then wave again at the door”
“Hmm”
“Then come to window and wave again”
“Okay”
Then you have to stay there till the class ends.”
“Agreed.”
At the school Appan takes me to meet the teachers, they make a fuss over me.
“You look very pretty in your new uniform” they tell me.
I am scared and refuse to let go off Appan’s hand. He takes me in to the class and to my seat, then waves. I watch as he waves again at the door. Then I wait for him to appear at the window, I let a sigh of relief when he comes to the window. He stands there smiling. I relax and turn back to the class. I turn every now and then to make sure he is at the window. Each time I see him my confidence grows. I relax enough to pay more attention to the class, I almost forget Appan and then I turn around to take another quick look to be extra sure and he is not there. I look around, he is no where to be seen, I panic look around and see that one part of the class room wall is made of Pannambbu, a leaf and wood partition. I get up run towards the pannambbu partition and push it with my entire strength make a hole in it and run with all my strength, I cross the road and am home. Amma sees me and is shocked, “Where is Appan?” I am breathless then I see appan coming in through the gate happy,
“Well, She is fine today, sitting and attending classes without any problem” he announces to amma, and then he sees me sitting on porch step. And he does berserk, he picks up a cane and canes me, makes me walk back to the school caning me throughout. I am crying but he is too angry to notice. The teachers are waiting shocked and upset at my crime. I go back and sit in the class and cry and cry. I know from today there will be no excuses for not attending school, no matter what, I will have to attend class come rain or shine. No more carefree days at home. Appan has decided the rules and it will be implemented in full.