Fiction Prose – Short Story

 

“Good Morning, Cikgu Quin”

It was 5 a.m. in the morning. Quin is still not used to this early morning start. The drowsy eyes made his bed still comfortable to lay on. But he needs to get up. He is no longer a student. Now the students need him. Cold shower, buttoning the t-shirt still feel the same. It just more responsibility that he carries. Driving to school takes him 30 minutes to arrive, depend on the traffic congestion. He drives in to the SK St. Mary’s gate, where he is going to complete his last School Based Experience (SBE). Why is it so hard, to greet pupils the way he did? He did not think so much but then treat his pupils good.

            What makes it feel even awkward is that this is his first time conducting SBE with all pupils in the school physically. Luck hasn’t been on his side for the past two SBE, where he completed both of it without pupils in the school due to the rise of pandemic and the online classes. It was a shame that both SBE has to be online, that he got quite late to experience what does it to feel like observing a face-to-face learning interaction does. While his friends already familiar with their pupils, and their classroom management, this is his new experience n his last SBE. He got to make the most out of these five days.

            He gets into his table, after being led by the school headmaster. He greeted by the teachers. “Good morning, Teacher Quin”, is the words that he never expects to listen. “This is my moment” as he proud to be named as teacher. He felt the honour to be a teacher, because the trust that the teachers there given to him to teach their class. Little does he know what’s coming…

            The next day, Quin enrolled into a class for him to teach in. for the first time, he got to teach class 3B. He has prepared all of his teaching material, worksheet and his lesson plan ready as his reference. He got nervous but also excited. He climbed up to third floor and enter the class 3B, where his pupils awaited him. But expectation is the thief of joy. It turned out to be chaotic. While a few of them obey his command, most of them is very naughty. But there is one pupil who caught his attention. A boy named Ryan. A very talkative and playful, yet very naughty boy. Not even a greet yet, he said “teacher crazy” followed by a laugh. The whole class notified what he said, and then report to Quin. Teacher Quin could hot help himself but to show a blank face, as he did not know what to do, either to scold him or to laugh as well. It was hilarious until it kept going throughout the lesson. Quin decided enough is enough. “Ryan, that is not polite. You should not say that”.

            “Why not?” Ryan replied. The whole class was too stunned to speak. Same goes to Quin. But he digressed. He was clueless. He kept going with his lesson. Luckily, it all went well, at least his lesson plan. The classroom management was poor. Even after the class, Ryan kept going with the “something wrong with this teacher”. It sounds hilarious to hear, but something inside Quin that hurt. He has done his best to teach the class passionately. He went back to office, to reflect back on what he did wrong. He was devastated, but he believed it is his job to educate Ryan to behave, and to respect him as a teacher.

            The next day, Quin entered the same class again. This time, he needs to assess the class based on his last lesson. He knew the pupils were not keen with exam, but he has made it easy. He also noticed nothing has changed from Ryan. He still calling Quin as “crazy teacher”. Quin kept his straight face, not knowing how to educate him. As the time ticking, the class did their exam, but they were playing. Some were talking with each other; some were walking around. Knowing the class can be chaotic, Madam Syafiqah entered the class, their teacher class. Suddenly, the class went quiet. He can understand why, as Madam Syafiqah’s face was quite intimidating.

            Five minutes left to answer the exam, Ryan looked anxious. He has not finished his exam, while being noticed by Madam Syafiqah. Regardless what he says to Quin, Quin decided to guide him on how to answer the question. Ryan only nodded and quickly answer the question. One by one, he was guide by the teacher. The guilt appeared on his face, as Quin still helped him even after what he said to him.

            Time is up, everyone handed in their exam paper. Ryan did not say a word after what just happened. So, the exam ended with a thank you from the whole class. Quin continues to mark the exam paper at the office. While Madam Syafiqah also helped him to mark the exam paper, she was quite surprised. She noticed Ryan exam paper, and he did very well with his exam. “Usually Ryan struggle in his study. I think you did a great job teaching him” she said. He could not believe it. It just him guiding Ryan in his exam.

            It was Friday, Quin’s last day in the school. He did not enter the class, but to complete his other task. He did not get to meet class 3B students to say goodbye. Apparently, it was not necessary. The whole 3B pupils went to the office to say goodbye to him. Then he heard Ryan said “good morning, teacher Quin”. He was crying while hugging his teacher. “Thank you, teacher,” something that he did not expect to come out from Ryan’s mouth, then he gave his teacher a present. A box of chocolate. Small, but enough to shed some tears. He felt appreciated, his job as a trainee teacher worked. He did not get to hear another good morning from Ryan, but at least he greets something to his teacher.

“Goodbye, teacher Quin”