The boy smiled, tickled by the vision before him. The teacher had told them to gather around the birthday celebrant, who was standing with her arm extended towards the hilt of a dull table knife with a bow on it. The cake was light blue icing with its many dents, proving everyone was eager for a taste, and some people had pinched bits here and there. He smiled wider because his best friend called out to him, come and stand beside me. They did everything together. Their teacher was all smiles, standing beside the photographer, to make sure everyone was in their place.
Okay, are we ready to smile?
Yes aunty!
Okay, show me your smiles
Cheeeeeeeeeeeseeeee! they chorused, showing all the gap-toothed smiles you could imagine for 6-7-year-olds. She laughed at their enthusiasm, and the boy laughed too.
Okay, wait for me. She did a little run and stood beside him, just at the edge of the half circle the children had formed around the birthday girl. She stood beside him, even though he was standing on a chair, she still stood taller and beautiful. He stared.
Little boy at the corner, look at the camera, the photographer called out.
She noticed him and feigned a fake sternness — all the children were used to it by now. She was everyone’s favourite teacher, not a stern bone in her body. He inhaled her fading floral scent again, but this time what he smelled broke his concentration.
He opened his eyes. His classmates were here, but not all of them, and you could barely recognise the school uniforms. It had been so many days. The smell that hit him was the smell of their nearby potty corner.
His best friend wasn’t here either.
His teacher smiled at him.
So what did you remember?
Birthday pictures in school with cake.
Hmmmmm! That’s a good one.
How about you? — She pointed to another classmate, whose response was interrupted by the ugly man.
Teacher! he shouted, and all the adults around turned towards him. They were all teachers.
He used the rod he was holding to point it across to the woman his message was for.
The boy’s teacher.
Come with me! he bellowed.
She stood up, moving as slowly as she could.
The boy closed his eyes and fished for another memory before the screams started.
