Episode 12 – "Rent Day"

Scene 1: Waking Up to Reality

(Ebere wakes up early, stretching as she checks her phone. A message from her landlord pops up:)

📩 Landlord: "Good morning, Miss Ebere. Your rent is due today. Kindly send the payment before 12 PM. Thanks."

(She groans, rubbing her forehead. She knew this day was coming, but seeing the message made it feel worse.)

Ebere (muttering): "Money just likes leaving my account, sha."

(She gets out of bed, takes a quick shower, wears a plain white blouse and a long black skirt, and ties her hair in a neat bun. She picks up her small handbag and checks her purse—just enough money for rent, transport, and maybe one meal. No extra for enjoyment.)

Scene 2: Paying the Rent

(Ebere arrives at the landlord’s office, a small building near her apartment. The landlord, a middle-aged man named Mr. Okon, sits behind his desk, counting money.)

Mr. Okon (smiling): "Ah, Miss Ebere! You know, you are one of my responsible tenants. Some people are dodging me like I'm EFCC."

Ebere (forcing a smile): "Good morning, sir. Here’s my rent." (She hands him an envelope.)

(Mr. Okon counts the money carefully before nodding in approval.)

Mr. Okon: "Good, good. You’re settled for another month. How’s teaching?"

Ebere: "It’s... an experience." (She doesn’t want to mention the crazy things her students talk about.)

Mr. Okon (laughing): "Children of nowadays, no shame! Anyway, thank you for paying on time. Some people will say ‘I will pay tomorrow’—that tomorrow never comes."

(Ebere chuckles and leaves, relieved that she won’t be homeless this month.)

Scene 3: At School – The Broke Teacher Life

(Ebere arrives at school and immediately heads to the staffroom, where Miss Blessing and Mr. Jeffrey are already seated, eating snacks.)

Miss Blessing (noticing Ebere’s mood): "Why do you look like someone that just lost a fight?"

Ebere (sighing): "I just paid my rent."

Mr. Jeffrey (laughing): "Ah! That one is painful. Your account is empty now, abi?"

Ebere: "Completely. If you shake me, you will only hear echo."

Miss Blessing (giggling): "That’s why I live with my sister. No rent stress."

Ebere: "Lucky you. Me, I have to survive alone."

(They continue chatting until the bell rings, signaling the start of the school day.)

Scene 4: Another Day, Another Drama

(As Ebere steps into the Year 3 class, she hears loud murmuring. The students are gathered in a corner, whispering.)

Ebere (raising an eyebrow): "What is going on here?"

(The students quickly return to their seats. A boy named Raphael hesitates before speaking.)

Raphael: "Miss Ebere, Perfect and Brian were fighting over a pencil."

(Ebere sighs, rubbing her temples. Rent stress in the morning, student drama in the afternoon. What a life.)

Ebere: "Brian, Perfect, come here."

(The two boys walk up to her, heads lowered.)

Ebere: "What happened?"

Brian: "Miss, it’s my pencil. He took it."

Perfect: "It was on the floor! Finders keepers!"

(Ebere stares at them for a moment, then sighs.)

Ebere: "Are we really fighting over a pencil? Brian, next time, keep your things safe. Perfect, just because something is on the floor doesn’t make it yours."

(She hands the pencil back to Brian.)

Ebere: "Now, sit down before I turn into a military teacher."

(The class laughs as the boys return to their seats.)

Scene 5: The Cost of Living

(During lunch, Ebere buys a small plate of rice and sits in the staffroom. She stares at her food, thinking about her money situation.)

Ebere (muttering): "After this meal, it’s garri and water till salary day."

(Miss Blessing overhears and laughs.)

Miss Blessing: "Ebere, welcome to the broke teacher club!"

(They both laugh, knowing that by next month, it will be the same struggle all over again.)

End of Episode 12.

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