Chapter two

I didn't bother to stop my car and go looking for her. 

There are a lot of strange and supernatural beings that I had heard being spoken of by some old people to the younger ones. 

What if that girl gets attacked by one of them? 

But I was more scared of coming out of my car in the middle of nowhere than going to save children. 

I just continued driving and I arrived at school. 

When my mind went to what I had seen earlier, I brushed off the thought about the little girl from my mind. 

I don't want anything that would ruin my mood today at all especially since I'm not the heroic type. 

After parking my car, I head straight for the school building. 

"Good morning Mrs Susan. How was the weekend for you?" I greeted one of my colleagues as I approached a class. 

"It was wonderful miss Peggy." She replied. 

"Excuse me?" I reacted. 

"Oh. I'm so so sorry. I want to say Mrs Peggy. Please accept my apologies." Mrs Susan said. 

"Okay." I said simply, not knowing what to say or how to react. 

"I mean, it's difficult remembering that someone is married when they don't really have kids to show for it." Mrs Susan said. 

That statement really annoyed me but what was I to do about it? 

She already had two daughters of her own and they attended this school. 

In fact, they were one of my pupils. 

Female teachers in this school had always looked down on me but I'll show them. 

I will have my own child. In fact, I will have my own children. 

But for now, not having kids of my own and all, I'd rather just try to bear all the mean things they say to me. 

So I ignored her and entered the class I was to teach this morning. 

I was ten minutes early but of course I didn't care. 

I'm a serious teacher. I was in fact one of those teachers that lazy pupils would wish never made it to school. 

But I didn't care what they think of me. 

I loved my job and will do it well even when it doesn't pay that good. 

The pupils were still seated as I came in and it surprised me. 

They'd usually stand up to greet me but why were they pretending not to know what to do? 

"Eheem." I cleared my throat. 

They all turned their attention to me but still didn't greet. 

"Aren't you all supposed to stand up and greet me?" I inquired. 

They turned and looked at each other and then back at me.  

"Well?" I asked. 

A girl raised her hand to answer my question. 

"Yes?" I said. 

"Mrs Hemsworth said we shouldn't great an unmarried woman." The girl stated. 

"What?! Who told you I wasn't married? You all know my husband." I retorted. 

A boy from the opposite end of the classroom raised his hand. 

"Yes?" I said. 

"Mrs Hemsworth said that if you don't have children of your own that means you are not a fully married woman." The little boy said. 

Mrs Hemsworth was the principal of the school. I had expected her to be part of those women who resented me. 

However, what I didn't know was that she would stoop as low as to lure these children into being a part of their madness. 

A wave of shame and embarrassment swept through my body as I listened to the boy speak on. 

"She also said that either you or your husband is incapable of bearing kids." The little boy added. 

What rubbish is this? 

I didn't come to school to be insulted this way. 

Just because I don't have kids? What kind of a place is this? 

Now not only the adults but the children are talking about it. 

How will I be able to bear the humiliation of childlessness everyday by everyone? 

I broke down in tears in front of the kids. I'm not sure if I'd be able to bear this at all. 

I told the kids that the morning class was over and I'd teach them only after the break time. 

They all put on an expressionless face, each of them not showing any sign of happiness or even sadness. 

This was my everyday job. 

To come to school and teach these zombie like children. 

No matter what you do or say, they'd remain the same as if they were under a spell. 

I hated it here. I don't know how my husband was able to convince me to move to this place but I hated it. 

I walked to the playground of the school which looked as dry and wasted as it always had. 

It wasn't a beauty but at least I could take in some air on my own without any anyone being on my neck just because I didn't have my own children.

When I and my husband moved here as newly weds, people around flocked over us and welcomed us with open arms. 

But as soon as months started passing by they grew distant and hated us for not bearing children. 

The break was over and I returned to the class from whence I left. 

All the children were seated in their places and just stared at the board. 

I walked on and picked up a chalk and wrote the subject on the board. 

I taught them maths. 

They never showed much interest while I taught but they all pass their tests and that was enough for me. 

The school closed at two o'clock and every one of the children waited for their parents in the playground. 

I just hoped into my car and drove off. 

I knew that now I had to get used to children not greeting me in the school. 

They always fulfilled Mrs Hemsworth's every wish, probably because she is the principal of the school. 

I got home and parked the car to the side it's always been parked. 

My husband wasn't back from work yet so I made myself useful. 

It's time to pick up a broom. 

I swept every inch of the house until my body was covered in sweat and dust from all the work. 

It's just two people living in this house but it's always so dirty by morning. It was just as if people were passing through our house at night to get to the other side. 

A knock came to the door which shook me out of my thoughts. 

I looked at the time and it was now five o'clock. 

So I've been cleaning three hours or so. I dropped the broom at the side ad opened the door to see who it was.