The New Corps Member

Some people enter our lives without changing anything. Others arrive without knowing that their presence will change the course of several lives.

It was a beautiful Monday morning at Techage Model College.

The school compound was already buzzing with activities. Students hurried through the main gate, some adjusting their uniforms, others carrying their school bags while discussing everything from weekend adventures to the assignments they had failed to complete.

The school bell had not yet rung, but the compound was alive.

Near the assembly ground, a group of junior students were running around, trying to finish their morning duties before the teachers arrived.

A few senior students stood under a mango tree, discussing the upcoming inter-house sports competition.

At the entrance to the SS2 classroom block, three girls walked together.

They were Precious, Favour and Esther.

Precious was a sixteen-year-old girl who was difficult to ignore. She was intelligent, outspoken, confident and very particular about her appearance. She enjoyed being noticed and was not afraid to express her opinions.

Favour was her closest friend. She was friendly, cheerful and sometimes too trusting. She believed friendship meant standing by people, even when they made mistakes.

Esther was different. She was observant, thoughtful and careful about the people she trusted. She rarely accepted explanations without thinking them through.

The three girls had been friends since their junior secondary school days.

As they approached the classroom, Favour suddenly remembered something.

Favour: Precious! Please tell me you did the mathematics assignment.

Precious: Good morning to you too, Favour.

Favour: Don't change the subject. Did you do it?

Precious: Which assignment?

Esther: Jesus! Precious, not again!

Precious: What? Must I remember every assignment in this school?

Favour: You are asking which assignment? The one Mr Okafor gave us on Friday. Twenty questions!

Precious: Twenty questions? I thought he gave us ten.

Esther: So you didn't do it?

Precious: I didn't say that. I said I thought it was ten.

Favour burst into laughter.

Favour: This girl will not kill me. So where is your assignment?

Precious opened her school bag and began searching through it.

She brought out two notebooks, a textbook and a small purse.

Precious: Wait. Let me check.

Esther: Precious, we are going to be late.

Precious: Just give me two minutes.

Favour: You don't have the assignment, do you?

Precious stopped searching and looked at her friends.

Precious: Okay, fine. I didn't do it.

Favour: I knew it!

Precious: But I have a plan.

Esther: What plan?

Precious: I'll copy from somebody before the teacher comes.

Esther: One day, your plan will fail you.

Precious: Esther, please. Allow me to enjoy my life.

The three girls laughed and entered the classroom.

None of them knew that before the day ended, a new person would become the subject of their conversation.

And for one of them, that meeting would become the beginning of a story she could not easily control.

The classroom was noisy.

Some students were copying assignments from their classmates, while others were discussing the weekend. A boy named Samuel was standing beside the teacher's table, trying to convince his friend to lend him a mathematics notebook.

At the back of the classroom, Precious was busy arranging her hair using the reflection of her phone screen.

Favour noticed her.

Favour: Precious, are you preparing for a fashion show?

Precious: Must I look rough because I am in school?

Favour: Nobody said you should look rough. But you've been arranging that hair since we entered.

Esther: Leave her. Maybe she is expecting somebody.

Precious: Esther, you talk too much.

Esther: And you know I am not lying.

Just then, Samuel approached their desk.

Samuel: Good morning, ladies.

Favour: Good morning, Samuel.

Samuel: Precious, please, did you do the mathematics assignment?

Precious looked at him.

Precious: Why?

Samuel: I want to compare my answers with yours.

Precious: You want to compare answers or copy?

Samuel: Is there a difference?

Everybody laughed.

Precious: Sorry, my brother. I didn't do it.

Samuel: Ah! So the three of you are useless this morning.

Esther: Speak for yourself. I did mine.

Samuel: Esther, please save my life.

Esther: You should have done your assignment instead of playing football throughout the weekend.

Samuel shook his head and walked away.

The classroom noise continued until the door suddenly opened.

Their class teacher, Mrs Williams, entered.

Mrs Williams: Good morning, students!

Students: Good morning, ma!

Mrs Williams: Please, settle down. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Students: Yes, ma!

Mrs Williams: Good. Bring out your mathematics assignment. I want to see what you have done.

Precious immediately turned towards Favour.

Precious (whispering): I'm finished.

Favour (whispering): I told you!

Mrs Williams: Precious!

Precious quickly faced the front.

Precious: Yes, ma?

Mrs Williams: Where is your assignment?

Precious: Ma, I have not completed it.

Mrs Williams: Again?

Precious: Sorry, ma.

Mrs Williams: You are an intelligent girl. I don't understand why you keep taking your academic responsibilities lightly. I want you to complete it before the end of today.

Precious: Yes, ma.

Mrs Williams: Good. Now, before we begin, I have someone I want to introduce to you.

The students immediately became curious.

Samuel: Another teacher, ma?

Mrs Williams: Samuel, can you allow me to speak?

The classroom became quiet.

Mrs Williams turned towards the door.

Mrs Williams: Please, come in.

A young man wearing the familiar NYSC khaki uniform walked into the classroom, carrying a file and a few books.

He looked around the room with a calm expression.

Some students exchanged glances.

Others whispered to one another.

Precious, who had been resting her chin on her palm, slowly raised her head.

For a few seconds, she stopped paying attention to everything happening around her.

Mrs Williams: Students, I want you to welcome our new corps member. He has been posted to Techage Model College, and he will be assisting with some of your subjects.

She turned towards the young man.

Mrs Williams: You can introduce yourself.

Daniel stepped forward.

Daniel: Thank you, ma.

He faced the students.

Daniel: Good morning, everyone.

Students: Good morning, sir!

Daniel: My name is Daniel. I am a graduate of Economics, and I am currently serving my country as a corps member. I will be working with some of your teachers during my service year.

He smiled.

Daniel: First, I want you to understand something. I believe education is not just about passing examinations. It is about preparing yourselves for the future. Whatever you eventually become in life, the discipline, knowledge and character you develop here will play an important role.

The students listened.

Daniel: I don't expect everybody to be perfect. Nobody is perfect. But I expect you to be willing to learn, to ask questions when you don't understand something and to take your academic responsibilities seriously.

He paused briefly.

Daniel: I also want you to understand that respect is very important. I will respect you as students, and I expect you to respect me as your teacher. We can laugh, interact and learn together, but we must always remember that we are in a school environment.

Mrs Williams: Very good.

Daniel: I hope we will have a productive time together. I look forward to helping you improve academically, and I also hope you will make my service year a memorable one.

Students: Yes, sir!

Mrs Williams: His name is Mr Daniel. Please, make sure you address him properly.

She turned to Daniel.

Mrs Williams: They are SS2 students. They can be quite interesting, but you will get used to them.

Daniel smiled.

Daniel: I hope so, ma.

The class laughed.

Mrs Williams: Alright, I will leave you to continue with the lesson. I expect everybody to cooperate.

She walked out of the classroom.

Daniel placed his books on the table and picked up a marker.

At the back, Precious was still watching him.

Favour noticed.

Favour (whispering): Precious!

No response.

Favour: Precious!

Precious turned.

Precious: What?

Favour: Are you still with us?

Precious: What do you mean?

Favour: Since this man entered, you have not blinked.

Esther turned around and laughed.

Esther: Leave her. I think we have a new development in SS2.

Precious: You people should mind your business.

Favour: We are minding it. You are the one giving us something to discuss.

Precious smiled and faced the front again.

But her attention was no longer on the lesson.

Daniel wrote a topic on the board.

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC ECONOMIC CONCEPTS

Daniel: Alright, class. Who can tell me what Economics means?

Several students looked at one another.

Daniel waited.

Daniel: Nobody?

Samuel raised his hand halfway.

Daniel: Yes, Samuel.

Samuel: Economics is the study of money, sir.

Some students laughed.

Daniel: That's a common answer, Samuel, but Economics is much broader than money. It studies how individuals, businesses and governments make choices about limited resources.

He continued explaining.

Daniel: Let me ask another question. Why do we have to make choices in life?

A girl in the front row raised her hand.

Daniel: Yes, Blessing.

Blessing: Because we cannot have everything we want, sir.

Daniel: Excellent. That is because resources are limited, while human wants are many.

He wrote another point on the board.

Daniel: Now, I want somebody from the back to give me an example of scarcity.

Precious suddenly sat upright.

Precious: Sir!

Daniel looked in her direction.

Daniel: Yes. What's your name?

Precious: Precious, sir.

Daniel: Alright, Precious. Give us an example of scarcity.

She stood up.

Precious: Sir, if somebody has money to buy food but doesn't have enough money to buy clothes, it means the person is experiencing scarcity.

Daniel nodded.

Daniel: Good attempt. You're on the right track. Can anybody improve that answer?

Another student raised a hand.

Daniel: Yes, Blessing.

Blessing: It means there are limited resources to satisfy unlimited wants, sir.

Daniel: Exactly. Well done.

Precious sat down.

Favour (whispering): At least you answered something correctly.

Precious: Did you see how he looked at me?

Favour: He was correcting your answer.

Precious: I know. But he noticed me.

Esther: Precious, please concentrate on the lesson.

Precious: I'm concentrating.

Daniel continued teaching.

He asked several questions, explained the topic and gave the students an assignment to complete.

Throughout the lesson, Precious made sure she answered whenever an opportunity presented itself.

Sometimes she raised her hand even when she was not entirely sure of the answer.

Daniel treated her like every other student.

He corrected her when she was wrong and praised her when she answered correctly.

To him, it was simply another day of teaching.

To Precious, however, something had begun.

The break bell rang.

Students immediately rushed out of their classrooms. Some headed towards the canteen, while others gathered around the school compound.

Precious, Favour and Esther walked towards their usual spot under a large tree.

Favour brought out a packet of biscuits from her bag.

Favour: Precious, do you want some?

Precious: No, thank you.

Esther: Since when did you start rejecting biscuits?

Precious: I'm not hungry.

Favour looked at her suspiciously.

Favour: Are you sick?

Precious: Favour, must somebody be sick before she refuses food?

Esther: No, but you have been behaving strangely since morning.

Precious smiled.

Precious: Okay, let me ask you both something.

Favour: Go ahead.

Precious: What do you think about our new corps member?

Favour almost choked on her biscuit.

Favour: Ah! So this is what we are discussing today?

Esther: I knew this question was coming.

Precious: I'm asking a simple question. Must everything be a joke?

Favour: Honestly, he seems like a good teacher. He speaks well, and I think we will learn a lot from him.

Esther: I agree. He looks serious about his work.

Precious: That's all?

Favour: What else do you want us to say?

Precious: Nothing. I just think he's different.

Esther: Different how?

Precious: He's young, intelligent and well-spoken. Did you hear his introduction?

Favour: Yes, we all heard it. We were in the same classroom.

They laughed.

Precious became a little serious.

Precious: I'm telling you, I like him already.

Favour stopped laughing.

Favour: Precious, please. Don't start.

Precious: Start what?

Favour: Whatever is going through your mind. He's our teacher.

Precious: So? Am I not allowed to admire somebody?

Esther: Admiring someone is different from developing an obsession with the person.

Precious turned towards Esther.

Precious: Who said anything about obsession?

Esther: Nobody. I'm just saying.

Precious: You people always like making things complicated.

Favour placed her hand on Precious's shoulder.

Favour: Look, he's here to teach us. Let us learn from him and prepare for our examinations. That's all.

Precious nodded, but her expression suggested that she was not entirely convinced.

Precious: Okay, mummy. I have heard you.

The girls laughed again.

A few metres away, Daniel walked across the compound towards the staffroom.

Precious noticed him.

She immediately stopped talking.

Favour: There he goes again.

Precious: Who?

Favour: Nobody. Continue looking.

Precious smiled.

But Esther noticed something that Favour did not take seriously.

Precious was no longer simply admiring the new teacher.

She was beginning to think about him far more than she should.

Inside the staffroom, Daniel was arranging his teaching materials.

Mrs Williams entered with a cup of tea.

Mrs Williams: How was your first experience with SS2?

Daniel: It was good, ma. They seem like interesting students.

Mrs Williams: They are. But you have to be patient with them.

Daniel: I understand, ma.

Mrs Williams: Some of them are very intelligent, but they need encouragement. Others require more attention.

Daniel: I noticed that.

Mrs Williams sat down.

Mrs Williams: How did you find the students at the back?

Daniel smiled.

Daniel: They were quite lively.

Mrs Williams: Especially Samuel?

Both laughed.

Daniel: Yes, ma. He seems like somebody who enjoys making the class laugh.

Mrs Williams: That's Samuel for you. And Precious?

Daniel looked through his notes.

Daniel: Precious? Yes. She answered one of my questions.

Mrs Williams: She's a bright girl. But sometimes she allows her confidence to get ahead of her responsibilities.

Daniel: I noticed she needs to improve her consistency.

Mrs Williams: Exactly. I hope you can encourage her academically.

Daniel: I will do my best, ma.

The conversation continued as they discussed the school's academic programme.

Daniel had no idea that an ordinary classroom interaction had already become something significant in the mind of one of his students.

The final bell rang.

Students began leaving their classrooms.

Precious was packing her books when Favour approached her.

Favour: Are you coming?

Precious: Yes. Let me arrange my things.

Esther: We should hurry. My mother asked me to help her at home.

Precious: You and your mother. Every day, there's something to do.

Esther: At least somebody has responsibilities.

Favour laughed.

The three girls walked out of the classroom.

As they approached the school gate, they saw Daniel speaking with another teacher.

Precious slowed down.

Favour: Why have you stopped?

Precious: Nothing.

Esther: Let's go. We have a long journey.

They continued walking.

Just before reaching the gate, Precious turned around one more time.

Daniel was still speaking with the teacher.

Precious: Favour, wait.

Favour: What again?

Precious: I want to ask you something.

Favour: I'm listening.

Precious: Do you think Daniel sir is married?

Favour stared at her.

Favour: Precious!

Esther burst into laughter.

Esther: Ah! This girl has already started!

Precious: What's wrong with asking?

Favour: You are a student. He's a teacher. Why are you asking about his marital status?

Precious: I was just curious.

Favour: Please, let us go.

Precious laughed and followed them.

But she was not ready to forget the question.

Precious arrived home around 4:00 p.m.

Her mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Mother: Precious! You're back?

Precious: Yes, mummy.

Mother: How was school today?

Precious: Fine, ma.

Mother: Have you eaten anything?

Precious: Not yet.

Mother: Go and wash your hands. Your food is almost ready.

Precious dropped her school bag in her room and returned to the sitting room.

Her mother looked at her.

Mother: How was your mathematics assignment? I hope you are keeping up with your schoolwork.

Precious hesitated.

Precious: Mummy, I will complete it.

Mother: What do you mean you will complete it? Wasn't it given to you last week?

Precious: Yes, ma. I will finish it today.

Her mother shook her head.

Mother: Precious, you are in SS2 now. Very soon, you will be preparing for your final secondary school examinations. You cannot continue postponing important things.

Precious: I know, mummy.

Mother: Your father and I want you to have a good future. You have the ability to do well, but ability without discipline will not take you anywhere.

Precious: Okay, mummy.

Her mother smiled.

Mother: By the way, how is school? Any new teacher?

Precious immediately became interested.

Precious: Yes, mummy. We have a new corps member.

Mother: Oh, really? What does he teach?

Precious: Economics. His name is Daniel.

Mother: That's good. I hope he teaches well.

Precious: Yes, mummy. He's very intelligent.

Mother: Good. Make sure you learn from him.

Precious: I will.

Her mother returned to the kitchen.

Precious picked up her phone and smiled to herself.

She opened her WhatsApp conversation with Favour.

Precious: Are you online?

A few seconds later, Favour replied.

Favour: Yes. What's up?

Precious: Nothing much.

Favour: Precious, if this is about Daniel sir again, please leave me out of it.

Precious laughed.

Precious: You are already afraid.

Favour: I'm not afraid. I just know you.

Precious: Relax. I'm not doing anything.

Favour: Good. Keep it that way.

Precious dropped the phone on her bed.

She walked towards the mirror, adjusted her hair and looked at herself.

Precious (softly): Daniel.

She smiled.

She did not know that the simple name she had just whispered would soon become the centre of a complicated chain of events.

It was almost 9:00 p.m.

Precious had finished eating and was supposed to be completing her mathematics assignment.

Instead, she was lying on her bed, scrolling through her phone.

She opened her WhatsApp status and saw a post from one of her older acquaintances, Rita.

Rita was twenty years old. She had completed secondary school and was no longer a student at Techage Model College. She lived in the same neighbourhood as Precious and had known her for some time.

Rita was the kind of person who enjoyed conversations, social gatherings and knowing what was happening around her. She was streetwise, outspoken and sometimes careless with the advice she gave younger people.

Precious opened their conversation.

Precious: Hi Rita.

Rita: Precious! Long time. How are you?

Precious: I'm fine. How are you too?

Rita: I'm good. How was school?

Precious: Fine. Something interesting happened today.

Rita: Interesting? Tell me.

Precious began typing.

She stopped.

Deleted the message.

Typed again.

Finally, she sent:

Precious: We have a new corps member in our school.

Rita: Okay. What's special about that?

Precious: He's young and very handsome.

Rita sent a laughing emoji.

Rita: Ah! So that's the interesting news?

Precious: Rita, I'm serious.

Rita: Okay, okay. What happened?

Precious stared at the screen.

She wanted to tell Rita everything, but something made her hesitate.

She finally typed:

Precious: I think I like him.

There was a brief pause.

Then Rita replied.

Rita: Like him how?

Precious: I don't know how to explain it.

Rita: Precious, I hope this person is not your age mate.

Precious smiled nervously.

Precious: He's our new teacher.

Rita did not reply immediately.

A few seconds passed.

Then another message appeared.

Rita: Teacher?

Precious: Yes.

Rita: Precious, what kind of trouble are you planning?

Precious laughed.

Precious: I'm not planning any trouble. I just like him.

Rita: Hmm. I hope you understand the difference between admiring somebody and allowing your feelings to control you.

Precious read the message but did not respond.

She locked her phone and placed it beside her pillow.

For the first time that day, she began thinking about what her friends had told her.

But instead of accepting their advice, she convinced herself that they simply did not understand.

She turned off the bedroom light.

Tomorrow was another school day.

And she had already begun thinking about how to make Daniel notice her.

The following morning, Techage Model College was preparing for another busy school day.

Daniel arrived early and walked towards the staffroom.

Mrs Williams greeted him as he entered.

Mrs Williams: Good morning, Daniel.

Daniel: Good morning, ma.

Mrs Williams: I hope you're settling in well.

Daniel: Yes, ma. Everything is going well.

Mrs Williams: Good. You will be taking SS2 again today.

Daniel: Alright, ma.

Daniel picked up his teaching materials and checked his timetable.

Meanwhile, at home, Precious was standing in front of her mirror, carefully arranging her school uniform.

Her mother called from the sitting room.

Mother: Precious! Hurry up. You're going to be late!

Precious: I'm coming, mummy!

She picked up her bag and hurried downstairs.

As she left the house, she checked her appearance one final time.

Precious (voice-over):

"People always say that if you want something, you should work hard for it. But sometimes, I wonder why some people get everything they want without even trying.
I have decided that this time, I won't just sit and watch."

The camera slowly fades.

To be continued...