CHAPTER NINE

The principal's office was calm and cool but Tola felt hot; her reason for being there had happened a week ago but she felt tension all over as both her parents were in the office with her. Her dad was the main reason for her concern, he had scheduled this meeting himself when he heard of the incident and left his work for it. Her mother on the other hand was nonchalant to the situation and just wanted this meeting to end to get back to her Indian movies. Her dad was upset with her and it hurt more than any punishment she was to receive.

" master and mistress Adeogun, thank you for honoring our invitation this lovely evening, power was out and we wanted to turn on the generator-we apologize for our tardiness" the principal said while taking his seat.

" please do not apologize, we are the wrongdoers and we are the ones who should be grateful that you would wait for me to schedule time to attend this meeting today" Tola's dad said while Shirley rolled her eyes. Was this a contest for most polite?

" your daughter sir was caught fighting and beating a fellow pupil silly. The girl had to be rushed to the hospital immediately because of the manner of her injuries"

Mr. Adeogun frowned at his daughter who put her head down in shame. Shirley stared at her husband and daughter; she wondered why he took this too far than necessary. He had power, riches and fame and yet he came all the way from the United kingdom to apologize to a school principal. He said he was doing this to secure a good name for himself and his family but in her opinion he was in a position to silence all those who tried to soil it. We are in Nigeria after all!

" my wife and I are very sorry for our daughter's misbehaviors, we have made sure that all the hospital bills in regard to the girl has been paid for"

" it is alright sir, all is fine and the family sends their appreciation"

" it is the least we could do…. and what is Tola's punishment if I may ask?"

" well…. Sir …. We have not decided on that yet"

" that is no problem then, I could help you decide one. She should be flogged publicly as an example to others, made to write a letter of apology to the school, the girl in the hospital and her parents, after this she should be suspended for a week" Daniel said with a stern face.

Shirley stared at her husband in disbelief, what was he saying? The daughter of the famous Adeogun whipped publicly? Tola just kept her head down, she felt hot tears prickling her cheeks but she dared not let her father know of her attempts to cry.

" no my dear" Shirley whispered into her husband's ears

" no what?" he replied

" how could she be flogged publicly?" Shirley said and her husband frowned.

" sir, we do not wish to punish your daughter" announced the principal and Tola was shocked

" why is that?" Mr. Adeogun asked

" the girl taunted your daughter to beat her"

" so are you saying she was right… when a child is angry he should resort to violence landing another child in the hospital?" Daniel was getting furious

The principal was confused at his reaction. Rich men never wanted their children to be punished and they paid handsomely if the guilt of their children were efficiently covered. Is this not so?

" I see, you are one of those Nigerians looking for money by being an accomplice to evil and social vices? We continue to sit down complain and lambast our governments for corruption, theft and the likes but here we are cultivating them in our children at a very young age. If my daughter was to become the president, are we training her to beat up and kill her people when they annoy her?" he was getting furious now.

" no sir…. It is just that we do not flog pupils in our school" the principal stammered

" then have her suspended for a week , I will make sure I am home for that week"

" yes sir"

Mr. Adeogun sat straight in his chair quietly but furious, his wife remained silent throughout the meeting. The principal thought that he needed to end the meeting; these were not the kind of Nigerian rich family he expected.

" thank you so much for coming sir: I would need to be excused now for another meeting" the principal said.

" a pleasure sir" Mr. Adeogun extended a hand for a hand shake which the principal took; Mrs. Adeogun just smiled and nodded to him and the whole family took their leave and left the principal in his office.