Chapter 21

I was in charged of the 9th graders. All the other teachers were friendly and nice. They helped me to adjust to my new working environment.

There was Mr. Brown, who was the head of the English Department. He was a wise 50 years old man. Then there was Mrs. Fletcher, who was the principal of the school. She was in her fifties but still looking as if she was in her thirties. Mrs. Fletcher was a gentle and kind lady. All the students and teachers respected her.

There were other teachers too; including myself there were 12 teachers in total teaching different grades and subjects in the school.

It was a small grammar school. There were around 80 students only but most of them were from the middle and higher income families. Therefore they were very well educated and disciplined. Mrs. Fletcher emphasizes on discipline very much.

School started at 7.30am every morning. I woke up at 6am, washed up and drink a glass of milk with a slice of toast bread before I started my walk to school.

School lasted until 1pm. After classes, all the teachers would go back to the staff room to do marking until the nearby church bell rang signalling the end of the work day around 4pm. Then I would walked back home.

During the evening, I would cooked dinner for myself. Then I would sit at the round table in the backyard enjoying a cup of hot chamomile tea while looking out at the sea.

Before going to bed, I would do some reading and write in my journal.

I wrote back to Henry, Aunt Helen and Chen every week. I received letters from Henry every other weeks. He would write every day after getting off work from the hospital. He would tell me about what he did for the day.

It could get very lonely sometimes but Henry's letters kept me company.

I still missed Josh very much. Sometimes I would take out the engagement ring he gave to me and hold it in my hand. I kept it safely in a jewellery box on my dressing table.

It has been a year now since his passing but I still missed him dearly.

One day, Mrs. Fletcher told me about a program which the school was starting.

"Miss Sabrina, I was wondering if you are interested to take part in a community project organized by our school. The school is looking for volunteers to teach at the nearby orphanage on every Saturday." said Mrs. Fletcher.

Then she continued on.

Mrs. Fletcher said, "Most of the orphans there are illiterate. Due to social service financial shortages, not all the orphans were sent to school."

"That is so sad to hear. Yes, I am interested to take part in this project." I answered.

"Every child has the right to education and this should not be taken away from them in any circumstances," I continued.

That was how I started teaching in the orphanage and this will continue until I retired in my 60's.