Page 48 - TEARS OF SUFFERING

TEARS OF SUFFERING

Ugyen nodded, but he felt sick to his stomach until the
school was reopened. On the first day of school, Ama
went to his school and talked to the principal about him.
The principal considered his situation. Ama provided
him with all the stationery required in the school. So,
Ugyen went to the school with the nagging fear his
teachers might reprimand him for his truancy, but to his
surprise, he found all of them polite to him.

Ugyen’s schooling meant a weightier workload for Au
Lham—including packing Ugyen’s packed lunch—but
she took up the extra burden gladly. She was proud to see
Ugyen go to school again.

Ugyen went to school with his brother, Samphel.
Mornings, Ama would drop them to their schools, on her
way to her office. Evenings, Samphel would pick up
Ugyen from his classroom. Sometimes, Ugyen’s pickup
point would be at the gate, and if Ugyen didn’t turn up
on time, Samphel would search for him in the school.
Samphel never left his little brother behind even for a
day. Thus, Ugyen repeated the 3rd grade in the same

classroom.

48