It was the beginning of a new student academic session in Happy Day Nursery and Primary School. Old pupils were seen with beaming faces ad they hugged and embraced their friends, some of whom they had not seen since they went on the long vacation. Their joy therefore knew no bounds to be united again and one could hear some of them singing the popular nursery song:
The more we are together ❤️
Together, together ❤️
The more we are together ❤️
The happier we shall be
Your friends and my friends
My friends and your friends
The more we are together ❤️
The happier we shall be
The happy children chased one another about laughing gaily while angry and envious looks were cast upon them by some children who sat alone by themselves, looking forlorn and dejected. These ones had sad, faraway looks. They were the new pupils, some of whom had been transferred to Happy Day because of their parents change of job or job transfer or because their parents were dissatisfied with their performance in their former schools. Some of them were pupils starting school for the first time. These new pupils wishes that the day would soon be over so that they could go home to more familiar grounds.
The most amusing and yet pathetic scene on this first day of the new term occurred at the play group section where the children clutched their mummies' arms and bags. Some of them were even holding on to their daddy's trousers, howling and yelling on top of their voices, unwilling and determined not to be left behind in this unfamiliar surroundings.
The cooling and petting by their parents did nothing to allay the fears of these unfortunate victims of early education.
Their parents, on the other hand, were determined that their little Cinderellas and Prices charming start school early enough. Some of these parents, however, had no choice,especially because of their busy schedules and the nature of their work.
Many of them were of the opinion that it was safer and better to bring their children to school than to leave them at the mercy of house helps. Knowing that their children are in capable hands will give them the peace of mind to concentrate on their jobs without wondering what is happening to their darlings at home in care of the house helps. In fact, some of these fears are justified because it has been rumoured that some house helps put babies in deep freezer to cool when they noticed that they were running temperature only to abscond when they realise that the babied died as a result of this foolishness.
It had also been found out that some house helps maltreat the children put tn their care while the parents are at work. Some of them even eat the food meant for these babies, leaving the babies underfed and sickly until they are eventually sent packing when their employers finally notice the health condition of their children.
There had also been reported cases of looting and stealing of employer's properties by the so called house help. Some parents are now wary of engaging their service. Moreover, the trend is gradually phasing put because the people who give out these house helps now demand exorbitant prices on them, coupled with the law against child abuse and child trafficking.
So, this morning at Happy Day Nursery and Primary School, the commotion continued unabated in the playgroup section until Mrs Katsina appeared on the scene. Shouts of "Grandma is here! Grandma is here!" Rent the air. Some of the older pupils ran towards an amiable looking, dark complexioned, smallish woman who was making her way towards the nursery area.
Mrs Katsina moved on slowly amidst tugging and hugging from children who had surrounded her, petting and greeting some of them as they trailed after her. She had a word or warm embrace and welcome for everyone. At last, Mrs Katsina and her trail came to the play group section where she exchanged greetings with some of the parents who already knew her. She introduced herself to the new parents. She then took a roll of tissue paper out of her bag and began to wipe the faces and noses of the crying children, some of who shied away fron her, resenting her touch as they went on clinging to their parents.