After the parents heard what Mrs Davis said, their agreeable expressions froze.
Mrs Willis was the first to 'break the ice' around them.
"Umm, lemme understand something. Will our children be the ones to do the weeding while we supervise them? Mrs Willis asked.
"That can't be right. I think she meant, we, the parents, are the ones doing the weeding," Agnes added. Making sure to stress the "we".
"The two of you should stop confusing yourselves. She said, We are here to supervise them and not to weed the grass," Marcus' uncle, Ben, clarified.
"Well, you are new here, so let me update you. The last time, I'm not talking about the ones that happened a few months ago. I am talking about the one that happened just last week. We, the parents, were the ones who filled the two barrels in the children's bathroom," Mr Willis informed Uncle Ben.
"That's right! Even though she gave the punishments to the children, we're the ones that ended up doing it," Agnes complained.
"Well... It's because you wanted to do it. The children are big enough to hurl water. Besides, you should have drawn the water from the river, brought it to the village entrance and had them bring it to the school," Uncle Ben said.
"How big are the children? In this whole class, the oldest is 7 years old. With my shortie, who's three, and Asher, who's two, being the smallest, how can they carry water or weed grass? At the end, we the parents are the ones been punished," Agnes argued back.
"Say what you want, but you should know the proverb 'spare not the rod and spoil the child' is for a reason. See, now, because they know they won't be the ones to do the punishments, they're always misbehaving. Anyways, Edward, let's go, so I can supervise you," Uncle Ben replied sternly. Then, he walked out with Edward.
"Mr Ben, the punishments will begin after school at 12:30 pm," Mrs Davis informed Uncle Ben.
Uncle Ben nodded his head and turned to his nephew.
"Okay then, Edward, return to your seat,"
After he was done speaking, he headed out.
Mrs Willis also stood up and spoke to Lil Asher.
"Okay, my sweet banana. Whether it was your walking, speaking, or eating stage, you never worried me. So, this your stage of weeding grass, I know you also won't make me worry. I will return to supervise you later. Air kiss muah!" After she said that, she rushed out.
Agnes looked at her son awkwardly and spoke. "Well... Marcus, since your friends will be weeding grass, you can't be the only one left out. So, bye~bye for now," then she quickly headed out.
After the three parents/guardians left, Mrs Davis turned to her students who were on their best behaviour and smiled at them.
Then she said to her students,
"Okay, everybody, let's say the A B Cs together. 1, 2, 3, let's go,"
Then, she and her students started reciting the English alphabet together.
"A B C D E F G H.....,"
....
Outside the village school;
"Lena, why did you listen to that Ben man just now?" Asked Agnes as they walked home.
Mrs Willis stopped walking, faced her and spoke seriously.
"That's because I realised what he said is true. Every time Mrs Davis gave our children punishments, we did it ourselves. Instead of showing them how to do it. And what are the results? Every week, they get punished."
"But the children are just naughty. And they're still young for this, those big, big punishments," Agnes, not convinced, argued back.
"Agnes, you still haven't understood yet?? Because we're the ones doing their punishments, they don't learn their 'lessons'. Instead, they become bolder, scattering their teacher's desk. That's too far,"
Mrs Willis replied seriously. Still trying to make her friend understand.
But as if Agnes' brain were fried today, she still didn't get the point.
" ain't you making it sound so serious? " The children were just thoughtlessly playing," she replied. Baffled by her friend's serious tone.
When Mrs Willis heard what Agnes said, she lowered her voice and replied seriously.
"That "thoughtlessly playing", that's how Ben lost his only son and wife. Because the boy was young, they thought he was just naughty. Until one day, he asked his mother to follow him to a place in the forest near our village. When they arrived at the place, he dug three eggs from the ground and gave them to his mother. When she recognised them, it was too late. A snake came from the bush and bit them," then she took a deep breath and continued.
"At that time, we saw Ben running in the village with his wife and son on his shoulders. Shouting for help, but it was too late when he reached the village. According to him, they watched some kind of movie.
In the movie, the little boy used snakes to protect his mother. After they came home, his son said he would also use snakes to protect his mother. But they didn't take it seriously until that morning, when the mother and son went into the bush, and he later followed them only to see them fighting for their lives," Mrs Willis said, as tears dropped on her face.
"So, if you say your child's young. Then, you can do the punishment for him. But, for that my ancestor, that came back as a baby, he will weed grass today! Even if I help him later, he has to do some. See you later,"
Mrs Willis said and started walking ahead.
"But Lena, you know my mother-in-law, she can't bear to see Marcus lift a cup. Let's not even talk about weeding. And besides, every child is different," Agnes said as she walked beside Mrs Willis.
"Agnes, you're my friend, that's the reason I'm telling you this. Your mother-in-law raised her son with 'iron hands'; now she's enjoying the fruits of her labour. If you allow her to make you raise your son with 'rubber hands', you'll be the one to suffer tomorrow. If you think I'm poking my nose in your family matter, forgive me." After Mrs Willis said that, she picked up her speed and literally ran home.
"Wait for me," Agnes shouted as she also started running behind Mrs Willis.
After Agnes ran for a while, she stopped.
"Dammit! Wetting their whole family eating seh?"