HiveComb

This week's prompt is: "Sink or swim"

Martha sat with her head hung low. She was wondering what to do. As the principal of the small village school, she could not do much anyway. The academic year was about to start and the school lacked facilities and books. The books were distributed free of cost to the students as they could not afford to buy them. The students were children of the local farm laborers. They also did not wear uniforms and many came to school barefoot. They did not mind sitting on the floor and studying. Only the teacher had a desk and chair. The blackboard too was not in good shape.

Martha wrote a note and gave it to the peon. He took it to the staff room and told the teachers that there was a meeting with the principal. The teachers had dreaded this moment. Was Martha going to shut down the school? They knew that she lacked the funds to improve the school. As it is, she was using her own money to pay all the salaries and provide food for the children. She also got some money from well-wishers but this year, it seemed more difficult to get the funds. It was a sink-or-swim situation.

All the teachers assembled in Martha's office room. She smiled and welcomed them. They were prepared to hear what they dreaded most. Martha told them about the situation. It was then that the fine arts teacher spoke up. She told them all about her idea. At first, all the teachers and Martha seemed skeptical but they decided to give it a try.

The teachers started to prepare colorful flyers and posters. They then pasted it on public boards and distributed it to people in the village. Some teachers even went to the nearby city to give it to those who would be interested. The people who read it smiled. It was an announcement about a school fair where students would perform dance and music programs and also conduct magic shows and stalls would also be there. People could visit the fair to encourage the children. They were also encouraged to share the news and perhaps help by donating money for books, furniture, and so on. The colorful flyers soon became the talk of the village and the nearby towns. People did not know that the school was in such bad shape. The principal of the boarding school nearby visited Martha one day and promised to donate desks and benches for the children. Martha was so happy that her students would finally get to sit properly.

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The day of the fair came and the school saw a rush of people. Many had wrapped presents with them. The teachers and Martha were so overwhelmed by the response of the people. Martha thanked the fine arts teacher because it was her idea that had saved the school. The fair was a huge success. The students were given treats by the local baker.

After the show, Martha and the teachers opened the presents. There were books, pencils, instrument boxes, chalk boxes, education charts, and so on. An anonymous person had gifted a personal computer. Another person had gifted new utensils to prepare food for the children. The grocer had donated twenty sacks of rice and pulses. The money collected from the fair was enough to buy new blackboards.

The school was saved thus. The academic year began happily. One day, the school had a visitor. A man came to the school in a flashy car. He stepped out and walked towards Martha's room. She came out and greeted him. He smiled and took off his sunglasses. He introduced himself as an old student. Martha then remembered him as her classmate. He had moved off to another city and was now running his own company in another country. He had come to his estate when he saw the school flyer by chance. He could not however come on the day of the fair but wanted to visit his old school.

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Martha and Stephen as he was called caught up and chatted away happily. Soon, it was time for him to go. Martha wondered if she should ask him for some help but kept quiet. He took out his checkbook and wrote a cheque, tore it out, and handed it out to Martha. Her eyes widened and she stood speechless. He smiled and waved goodbye before she could thank him. The amount he gave her was enough to cover more than ten years' worth of school supplies. Before leaving, he had also mentioned that he had formed an alumni and that they would meet at the school later on to discuss helping her and the school. Martha was overwhelmed. She informed the other teachers and staff about it. They were also overjoyed. They had swam ashore indeed.

© sayee