While the students were engrossed in gossip, Peter walked down the hallway and stopped at a door marked 'Principal's Office.'
He straightened his clothes to appear neat and knocked before entering.
Inside, he found Rick savoring his tea.
"What a pleasant surprise, Sir Peter, visiting me at this hour. If I recall correctly, shouldn't you be in class right now?" Rick remarked, setting his cup on the cupboard.
"Yes, sir, I was supposed to be in Section A, but some obstacles necessitated my seeking you out for information," Peter replied, taking a seat at the table after Rick gestured for him to sit.
"Oh, so it's important, huh? I don't think anything less than important would make you leave class and roam around to find me. Would you like some tea?" Rick offered, pointing towards the kettle on the drawer beside his worktable.
"No, thank you, sir, but I'm here to inquire about a student, specifically the new transfer student who just enrolled in our school," he replied, causing Rick to pause mid-action, a child's face flashing in his mind.
"Then tell me, what's the issue with this student? Has he misbehaved or done something wrong?" Rick questioned, suspecting a problem since two teachers had come to inquire about the child.
"No, sir, I'm here to ask why you allowed him into Section-A. I recall you mentioning a few days ago that this section was already full, and no one could join, even if they tried, and now suddenly there's a new kid here without any information provided to anyone," Peter stated bluntly.
"Well, Mr. Peter, I think you should know that some things aren't worth asking or repeating. I'll say this again: the student named Evan was already enrolled in the class but couldn't attend school due to some issues. Now that he's resolved them, he's attending classes like the other students. If you have no further questions, please leave, as the period is almost over, and I doubt your class is doing well without you," Rick explained, concocting a story to prevent Peter from asking further questions about Evan, which he had crafted perfectly in his spare time.
If someone inquired about the problem, he could say it couldn't be disclosed due to certain issues.
Peter found himself in a quandary, unable to obtain information about the student he was so keen to learn about. Eventually, the words he had been reluctant to express surrendered and poised themselves on the brink of utterance.
"Then, one final question, Mr. Rick, and after that, I'll leave, even if my question remains unanswered," Peter declared. Rick, who had been silent, nodded thoughtfully, preparing a swift but insincere response.
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"Recall, a few weeks ago, a prominent businessman sought his child's admission here, insisting on Section-A. However, you immediately refused, suggesting Section-B instead. Despite their persistence and various tactics, you remained firm in your decision. So, why the change of heart now? I can't imagine this child's parents offered anything of more value than the previous ones to warrant your agreement," Peter ventured, bracing himself for the reprimand he anticipated, as discussing such matters in front of the principal was strictly forbidden.
Even after a minute had passed, nothing occurred, and he opened his eyes to see Rick's head bowed. He glanced at him and, after pausing to breathe, he delivered his response.
"Alright, if you wish to hear it, then so be it. This child is neither wealthy nor impoverished, and the reason I granted him admission is that he was already enrolled but unable to attend school. The evidence lies in the fact that we have allocated a specific number of seats in every class and section, and only that number of students are permitted to enroll. Don't you think it's odd that after all this time, one seat in Section-A remained vacant, and I didn't offer it to anyone else? He deserved it, and I didn't want to demote him without cause. And as you know, even if a scholar applied, they wouldn't be admitted to Section-A since it's already full," Rick explained, awaiting Peter's reaction, which came as a stern look.
"What's the matter..." Rick began, but Peter interrupted with a deep bow.
"I apologize, sir. It was wrong of me to suspect that you would accept a 'donation' to admit a student. I am truly sorry, and I hope you can overlook my accusations and give me another chance to serve the school faithfully," Peter said, his words stinging Rick, who chose not to punish him but to reflect on the matter and instructed him to return to his classroom.
Once Peter had left, Rick exhaled a sigh of relief and slumped in his chair.
"Oh God, it's so difficult to spin a tale of heroism and justice when it doesn't come naturally to me, and I never thought Peter would actually believe it," he muttered, straightening up as a knock sounded at the door.
While attending to the newcomer, Peter walked towards his class. It was only as he was about to leave that he realized the children had tricked him into thinking the test was cancelled, and he had fallen for it.
"Ah geez, those kids, they won't get away with skipping the test," he muttered as he reached the classroom. Just as he opened the door, the bell signaling the end of the period rang, and his time for teaching today was up.
"Yayyyyyy," the students cheered quietly, delighted.
"Hah, if you think you've escaped, you're mistaken. Tomorrow, you'll all have to study extra and take the test without any time to revise. And you, the new transfer student, stand up," he commanded with a pointed finger at Evan.
"Listen up, I'm already informed about you. Don't be lazy just because you arrived today; you'll have to work twice as hard to catch up with everyone else in your studies. Be ready for that. And yes, try to understand the first few lessons of Mathematics for tomorrow, and let me know if you have any doubts. Be attentive, okay?" he instructed, as Evan nodded earnestly. "Well then, goodbye class, and be prepared for tomorrow's test," he announced as he left the room for his other classes.
The students felt a mix of despair and relief; they were happy to have evaded trouble for the day, knowing the entire class could have been compromised.
-- To be Continued --