AFTER THE SHADOWS: A Thin Escape

Chapter 3

As always, every market place has a mad man. In this Munyari High School, there was one mad woman? Every student loved him save for one girl in particular.

Sometimes, it is known for students to hate teachers for being punished. Others hate them for being strict and the many assignments they give. For James and this student, neither of those cases caused the hatred but something else. As we all know, teenagers are a complicated group of people.

As James was busy in class trying to get the students up to speed in mathematics, there was this girl Julia that never saw a teacher but something else. To her, James was a potential boyfriend and the perfect lover so to speak. Julia was so much fancied by James beyond her control. As the others were busy looking at the sums on the board, she was busy stripping him down. She had stripped him in her imagination for so long that, she could no longer keep it inside. She had to burst her heart out and tell James how she felt about him, teacher or no teacher.

One Wednesday evening after the classes as the other students were going for games, Julia had a different timetable. She waited until James was the only teacher in school. She walked into the staffroom, found James alone, and busy. Without hesitation, she walked right to him carrying a few books. His head was buried into the desk. He was busy going through some of the work he had given to another class. He did not notice her approaching him.

He was destructed from his state by her shadow as she stood next to his desk. From toe to the head, he looked at her as he lifted his head off the books on the desk. She just stood there looking down on him. She held her six on the left hand and the books on her right hand in the manner of a tray with glasses. Her legs were slightly apart with one in front of the other. The right leg that was in front was slightly bent. Her eyes were busy admiring him as he lifted his head up to end the silence. Shocked by her look, James inquired of what she wanted. She confessed of having some sums she could not tackle and needed his help.

James knew nothing about what Julia was about to do. On hearing that she was there for the sums, he invited her to get a chair and sit with him for the lesson. Knowing that her plan was in motion, she smiled in response. She dropped the books on the table and cut walked slowly towards the chair across the room and back. Still, James had no idea that, this girl was on a mission to invade his privacy and emotions seriously.

She placed the chair in position across him and then walked to his side again to pick the books. She picked her books from his side of the table. Back to the chair to sit, she turned like a semi-trailer just so he could notice her moves. Bad for her, James had not tuned to the channel yet.

Without much waste of time, James got down to work. As he was explaining to her, she seemed still not into place. Repeatedly, James explained but she could not get it. The answer she gave was always "I still don't understand."

At first, James thought the reason she could not understand was that she was seated on the opposite side of the table. He thought she could not see the books properly. He prompted her to change her sitting position to his side. She quickly stood up and lifted the chair to his side. She was getting closer and closer to the fountain.

James went on with the lesson. As he was busy explaining the sums, she was busy caressing his body with her eyes. She could not dare waste them by looking at the books. Still, when James asked whether she understood, she gave the same answer, “I still do not understand.”

Finally, James got bored and postponed the study to the following day in class. Since Julia was not after the sums, she could not walk out without accomplishing her mission.

Slowly, frame by frame without a word, she rose from her chair. She seemed as one under remote control. Towards James, she faced in a manner to suggest, I am not here for the sums dummy! The way she moved her body made it clear that, indeed, she was never there for the math’s lesson.

She was of average height, had a slim body in the shape of a Coca-Cola bottle, light-skinned and slayish in nature. She was every man’s weakness and she was well aware of the fact. She was a woman no man could stand-up in his right man senses.

By then, James knew that hell was about to break loose. The earth froze along its axis contrary to his speeding heartbeat. He appeared as one who had been iced. He could hardly move or talk. His eyes auto synchronized with her body motion. This reaction he could not help or resist. As usual, men always have funny responses in the presence of women and that was one of them.

This time, a woman was seducing James and she really meant serious business. To the door, she walked to lock it as James was left glued to the chair. Before she walked back to James, his body was two liters of water short. Drops of sweat dripping his chins proved hard work does not necessarily involve overworking the muscles. His nervous system was shot with an overload of unexpected emotions almost shutting down. Slowly she sat on his laps caressing his face with her super soft palms and fingers. She kept her eyes glued to his as she brought her face closer to his.

It was not that James was not trying to talk but the words could hardly come out. At that moment, he was deaf, dumb and paralyzed. She kissed James and told him what had brought her into the staffroom that evening. She clearly stated to him the reason as the love that she had for him. Her hands were busy unbuttoning his shirt and finding their way into his chest.

“Mr. James, do not act like you have never seen a beautiful woman before. Do not be afraid. There is no one around but us,” said Julia to James.

“I…I…I…,” James tried to talk but words could not come out clearly.

“Save your breath, James. I already know what you are about to say. Myself, I have loved you since the very first day you came into our school. I was waiting for this day. Just go on. Touch me; do not be afraid. I shall not bite,” said Julia.

“Well Julia, I am intrigued to hear this. Actually, as much as you say you love me and as much as I would like to play along, I am deeply flattered but, this is the far it has to go,” said James.

“What do you mean my love? I told you, do not be afraid and nobody else knows about this. It is just you and me. I can tell from your eyes that you like this too,” replied Julia.

“Of course I hear you and I know that no one else knows but, as I said, I have my own girlfriend and, as a teacher, this is against my ethics. Maybe if I was not your teacher and had a girlfriend it could have worked,” said James.

“Ethics you say. What ethics? Are you not a man enough? What kind of a man rejects such an offer? Your girlfriend does not need to know. Am I not beautiful? Tell me; James, tell me? What ethics can tell you to reject such beauty?” said Julia.

“O…o…of course you are beautiful Julia and I'm having trouble resisting you but, as I have said, I can never do this please. Just find someone else. Take no offense please,” said James.

“You do not have to resist me my dear. Follow your desire. It’s telling you the right thing to do,” said Julia.

“I would really love to do exactly that but, please mind the ethics as I said earlier. Would you mind standing up now? It…it’s getting uncomfortable,” said James.

She finally got off his laps with so much anger for being rejected. James sighed as a sign of relieve after she got off his laps. He then quickly got off the chair and stood beside with the chair between them.

“How dare you say this to me? I should take no offense! You should have at least respected my feelings man. You can’t turn me down like this,” said Julia.

“Just understand whatever I tell you. And by the way, you should respect my feelings and my relationship to you as your teacher as well,” said James.

“You have messed with the wrong woman. For turning me down like that, you must pay dearly,” said Julia as she unlocked the door and walked out.

“Julia, wait… can you wait please? Do not be angry with me. This is not good for any of us please,” said James.

“Well, right now, my heart is broken. This means no good for me as well, so, I am going to respond in kindness to that,” said Julia.

She proceeded to walk out forgetting her books and slammed the door behind her. James could not comprehend what had just happened. Not knowing what to do, he sat for a while to gather his thoughts. He reached for the water jar on the table and helped himself as one who had been in the desert for days without water. Later, he stood from his chair and home he went.