THE VENERATED PREFECT

He wasn't just any other class prefect, Kevin was the 'de facto' leader of class 2 East. His  pulchritudinous  face made him stand out from the rest. The boy hovered between the corridors of our century old primary school like a colossus. I must say that I admired his magnanimous personality. Though he wasn't the bellsetter, his  class teacher picked him as the prefect. I didn't  know why the teacher chose him - perhaps because of his physical appearance.

Kevin ruled class 2 East  with a rod of iron. He had learned the specifics of cruelty without learning the generality of mercy. He didn't shy away from reminding the rest of the pupils that he was in charge. He was revered by his fellow pupils.

I was in class 2 West, Kevin's neighbouring class. There was a particular day when both our class prefect and our class teacher were absent. We thought it would be a day of fun and we had already declared it "a holiday" but we were wrong. With no lessons, and no prefect to write the names of the noise makers, it was free time - time to have fun. It was time for bullies to exercise their art and  to insulate yourself from such, you  usually had to hit one of the oppressors once; to be considered dangerous enough to be left alone.

Those were the days when  child's self-esteem was not a matter for concern  and shame was considered a spur to better behaviour and accomplishment. We didn't realized that the  disorder in our class was interrupting learning in the neighboring class  (Class 2 East)  until when their class teacher sent her trusted lieutenant to come and restore order - none other than the revered  prefect - Kevin.

Kevin zoomed into our class, and with a piercing voice, he ordered everyone to be silent. Everyone settled quickly on their respective desks . He again ordered the entire class to place their heads on their desks -facing down. The Silence which engulfed the class  made my blood as cold as the autamnal air that crept through an open window. Armed with a stick, Kevin reigned terror on us, making the experience something like finding oneself shrunk to lilliputian proportions and forced to live in a jewel casket.After he was done punishing us - as if to congratulate himself for the work well done, he went straight to our teacher's desk and feasted on the  bread and tea that was always brought to our teacher; I don't need to remind you that our teacher was absent that day.

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