The headmaster was seated in his comfortable chair, and five teachers were also with him. The room was quite small to occupy all of them. The room temperature was high. They were all sweating. JK was not an exception. It was as if water had been poured on him. His uniform was soaked with sweat. I could also see him sobbing uncontrollably. It was actually the first time I saw JK crying. I couldn't stand such an ugly face shedding tears. Ewww, it was such a pitiful sight. There wasn't any seat to sit on, so I stood there with the senior boys' prefect. I didn't like the experience I got the other time I came to the office. The images of what happened started rolling in my head as I stood there.
"Are you the senior on duty? " the headmaster asked me.
" Yes please " I responded
" I guess you are in the same class with JK so tell me what you know about this theft case. " he asked again
" ermmm sir, I didn't see him take it. I was outside supervising the juniors to work so I only came back to class when it was time for classes. It was during the lesson that I heard one girl complaining that her purse had been stolen. When a search was conducted, we found the purse in JK's bag" I explained.
" Alright, do you think JK is the one who stole the purse? "
" Sir, although I didn't see him steal it, I think he can. He's a human being. Looking at how hard the times have become, if one doesn't take care, he or she can steal. " I added. The headmaster looked at me for some seconds and discharged me without asking any further questions. When I got out of the office, I heard JK being lashed and also screaming. He was asked to confess but he didn't talk. I decided to stay behind the door and listen to what else will follow.
I stood outside and enjoyed how JK was suffering inside the headmaster's office. "Who's that standing outside?" one of the teachers shouted. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, when I heard that. When I got to my class, almost all my mates came to surround me. They all wanted to know what transpired. I told them everything. Oh, and the part about JK being lashed, I exaggerated it. They resolved to teach JK a bitter lesson in their own small way. While we were all scheming on how to add more pains to what we had already inflicted on JK, the headmaster entered our classroom. Everyone kept quiet. He was joined later by the teacher who was in our class when the incident happened, and JK, the thief. I was so happy to see him suffer that humiliation.
The headmaster told us all to remain calm and wait until they had completed their investigation. Investigation? What again are they waiting for? Can't they just sack him or suspend him? I only hope they don't drag the issue. The headmaster also admonished us not to call JK names or cast insinuation at him. "Until we're done with our investigation, we can't conclude he stole it," he added. I got so furious. Why was JK being given a preferential treatment? If it were any other student, would the headmaster have treated him that way? I got so pissed. The headmaster asked JK to take his seat. They left our class. I felt we had been cheated. "How can we sit in this class with a thief?" EK screamed. I, Frank and MA supported him. Other mates also joined. JK could not hold back his tears. He wept uncontrollably like a baby.
He couldn't stand the insults being rained on him. He got up, and started walking towards the door. Almost all of my mates hooted at him until he went out of the class. I was not satisfied. I told my partners in crime to go out and teach him a bitter lesson of his life. I wanted him to suffer physically and psychologically. My friends left the class immediately after I had given them the instruction. Just when I was about to join them, one girl pulled my shirt and warned me to sit down.
"Hey leave my shirt. What's wrong with you? "
"if you go out, I'll let the cat out of the bag." she whispered into my ears. I got so scared. Could she be the one who took the purse and put it in JK's bag? I had no option than to sit down.
#to_be_continued
