AFTER THE SHADOWS: A Thin Escape

Chapter 4

Early the following morning, he arrived at school first. He was the teacher on duty. As he was going round the classrooms, he saw Julia smile as he entered their class.

He could not understand why she had to smile at him yet he had let her down the previous day. Knowing that Julia was a crazy one, he knew she might have opened him the gates of hell. He could feel the scorching heat already by looking through her eyes. As he was walking out, one other student followed and caught up with him. James stopped walking to hear what the student had to say. To his surprise, Julia had told most of her classmates about it. The student got concerned and decided to tell James about it.

It confirmed the gates of hell were really opened and the devil was ready with the big fork. He told the student to disregard the story because nothing had happened. The student was kind enough to tell James what Julia had waiting for him. She had told everyone including her parents that, James had seduced her and tried to rape her after she turned down his request.

James thanked the student and proceeded to the staffroom. He had never been that confused.

Although he acted normal in front of the student, he knew things were about to get worse. Julia was the one student that hated James for not doing what she wanted. In other words, she hated James because he did not bend to her will to love her back. She was ready to do everything just to get back at him by having him sacked and even have him sent to prison.

James knew that his day was no longer beautiful. He could see Satan in hell. He knew then that he was to answer a case he knew nothing about.

Some minutes later, Julia’s parents arrived at the school. Upon seeing them, his body froze and started sweating at the same time. Since no other teacher had arrived at school, he played not to know about it and walked to them. He welcomed them to the school but before he could complete his sentence, they were onto him.

“Where can I find Mr. James?” Julia’s father asked.

“May I ask why you seek to see Mr. James Please sir?” James asked.

“It’s a matter concerning my daughter Julia,” Julia’s father responded.

“You are looking at him, I am Mr. James,” James answered.

“So, you are the teacher who is raping our girls in school? Instead of teaching them, you have other intentions for them?” asked Julia’s father in anger.

“No sir. It is not what you think it is. I can explain,” said James in his defense.

“It’s not about me thinking. It is about what I saw and heard from my daughter. What is wrong with you people? Can’t you let these girls be?” asked Julia’s father.

“Sir, I assure you that there is a mistake somewhere and despite what your daughter might have told you, she is lying. Please listen to me,” said James.

“Of course there is a mistake somewhere. You… Mr. James tried to force my daughter into sleeping with you. There is the mistake. In fact, you even had her come home naked,” said Julia’s Mother in Anger.

“Please no ma’am. That is not what happened. Your daughter started everything and when I refused to play her game, she swore to make me pay. That’s the truth,” responded James in his defense.

“Okay, fine. It seems you do not want to accept, Aah. We shall settle this once the principal arrives,” said Julia’s father.

James went back to the staffroom thinking hard. He could barely understand why Julia had to do this to him. The world was not fare after all! No matter how much James tried to make his life good, it seemed like the devil had something different for him. It was as if he had replaced God’s original map of James life with his own and was eager to see him follow it.

Shortly, the principal arrived. After the morning assembly, Julia’s parents stormed into the principal’s office demanding for answers why their daughter had to go home half naked.

“You may sit down please and, how may I help you please?”  Mr. Peterson asked the parents.

“Thank you Mr. Principal. We have come here today to find out what is happening at your school such that our daughters are coming home half-naked. Is this a newly introduced lesson or what is it?” responded the father.

“Why do you say this please? I do not understand what you mean by that statement,” said the principal.

“Well then, if you don’t understand, why don’t you ask James? He might know better,” said the father.

“What has James done this time?” asked the principal.

“My daughter came home last evening only to see that her blouse was without buttons. Upon inquiry on what had happened, she told me that it was James who wanted to rape her after she turned down his request,” said the father.

“And what request was that sir?”

“Well… my daughter says that, mwalimu here wanted to make love to her but she turned him down…”

“Slow down a little bit. I do not see the reason as to why James would want to do such a thing. There must be something wrong somewhere,” said the principal.

“Of course something must be wrong somewhere. Is this how you protect your teachers? How can you even call yourself a principal yet not knowing of such going on in your school? Tell me Mr. Principal; tell me? What are you feeding these teachers that they can’t keep it in their pants?” said the father.

There is no need to be angry before we get to the root of the matter. We should call the two and get the whole story? Let’s not bite more than we can chew,” said the principal.

James and Julia were called into the principal’s office. James was asked whether he had committed the crime accused of but he denied. On the other end, Julia was still sticking with her accusations against James.

“Mr. James, it has come to my understanding that you tried to force Julia to have sex with you last evening after she refused to agree to your request. Is this true?” asked Mr. Peterson.

“Sir, I must say that whatever Julia has told her parents concerning last evening is all lies. I did not try to force her into anything. In fact, she is the one that was trying to get me to love her but when I turned her down, she swore to make me pay for it. I guess this is how she meant.” said Mr. James in his defense.

“That is not true. Why would I tear my own blouse? I can never do that. After all, since when did a woman make advances to a man? It is always the other way. He tried to ask me to have sex with him after I went for a lesson and tried to rape me when I refused.” said Julia.

“As you can see Mr. Principal, this is not anything to discuss. Your teacher is guilty of trying to rape my daughter. This cannot continue. He must be held responsible. If you cannot handle this case Mr. Peterson, I will find those who can,” said Julia’s father.

“No, Mr. Anderson. Do not rush to conclusions like that and, we will handle this case as a school. James’ part of the story has to matter too. We have to listen to both of them and get to the root of the matter,” said Mr. Peterson.

“As you say Mr. Peterson but we must get justice for my daughter. Moreover, that teacher, he must be sucked. In fact, I am being indulgent on him. He should be in prison by now. ” said Julia’s father.

After hours of revolving around without any solution, the principal Mr. Peterson decided to adjourn the case to a later date. Julia’s parents were dismissed but they were not happy that the case was not to end that day.

On the other end, Julia was release to attend classes while Mr. Peterson and James were left at the office to have a chat. Mr. Peterson asked James to be sincere with him about the case. Mr. James told the principal that it would have been very stupid for him to want to rape a girl in school, especially within the school compound.

Mr. Peterson considered this fact but did not tell James of what he thought. He did not say that James had done it and neither was he in support of Julia. Since it was protocol, James had to be sent home for a leave as the principal looked into the matter.

Without much to do, Mr. James packed his things and left the school compound. Upon seeing this, Julia was happy about it. She knew that even if the case had not yet been solved, she had already won against James.