Kevin

Kevin quickly bonds with Santarina

Kevin made himself known to me on the first day of school in Addis. And the first name i learnt of all my 455 children. He was clearly attention seeking. And where there is a problem child, look no further than the home environment.

His Ethiopian mother owns and runs two clubs in the city. One is a night-club (touchingly called Kev’s) and a strip club in the sleazy part of Bole. Both clubs are frequented by police officers and “influential personages” and she avoid licensing difficulties by plying them with liquor. She works all night and sleeps all day. She also looks like a complete slapper. Kevin’s non-participant and absent father is a DJ and lives and works in Djibouti.

Kevin has had “issues” since arriving in Upper Kindegarten, and problems this year in Grade 3 have included writing “fuk” and “six” on walls, theft and acts of violence on siblings and younger students. I write home regularly in his Communication Book informing her of the myriad incidents and asking her to come in “for a chat”. These are simply ignored and i instruct my secretary to try calling. She eventually agrees to visit, but cancels out as she is “too ill”. Enough is enough, and inform Lidya to make a new appointment before the end of the week, otherwise Kevin will not be allowed on compound.

Unfortunately Mrs Kevin arrives in unannounced on a Thursday, and elderly Rasta returnee Mrs R (Head of Special Needs) is not on site. I am in one of my “No Nonsense” moods and make my position abundantly clear. Kevin is Special Needs and is a danger to others. He craves attention which he clearly does not receive at home. He needs attention and guidance. She agrees to come back the following day to meet Mrs R and arrange a one-on-one shadow to assist him. Unfortunately, i have a meeting on the Secondary Campus and cannot attend.

The next day, i return from my meeting only to find a very anguished elderly Rastafarian awaiting me. She has been verbally abused, sworn at and threatened by a raging Mrs Kevin for accusing her child of ADHD. I write a formal letter to her saying i will not have members of staff treated with such behaviour and she should look for an alternative educational establishment for her son. This is whole-heartedly ignored.

It doesn't take long before Kevin finds himself in troub;e yet again. This time it is for taunting one of my beautiful SEN children and i go ballistic at him. I write again to mother informing her i will not tolerate the situation any further, and she needs to call me urgently – even giving her my cell phone number. Nada!

On Friday, Kevin punches a Grade Two girl in the face at lunch-time. No more. I personally take Kevin off campus and take him to his home. His maid greets me at the gate and i inform her that until she contacts me, Kevin is excluded from my school.

Come Monday morning and the ineffectual maid brings Kevin to the school gate, and unusually Deputy Z is observant, sees Kevin, and turns him away, repeating my request.

This morning “Uncle” brings Kevin up to my office. I repeat my stance.

• Kevin’s mother apologises to Mrs R
• Mrs Kevin agrees to work with not against the school 
• Mrs Kevin agrees to a one-to-one tutor

I tell him i love Kevin very much and will be sorry to see him leave. I also tell him that in Britain i would call in social services for gross negligence. He calls Mrs Kevin on his cell and within 10 minutes she joins him. She looks totally crud and manic. Again, i repeat my demands and she blows her top at me. She gets up from her chair and tells me she will have the school closed down. She tells me she is going to Finance and demand a refund for the rest of the term. She then starts banging on my desk knocking papers and pen-pots over as she works herself into a frenzy. I am shaken somewhat, but boldly walk past her informing her that i am calling security to have her removed. By the time my rather frail looking security team arrive, Kevin, his mother and “Uncle” are gone.

I immediately write a formal letter to Finance telling them to refund Mrs Kevin’s money, and just as i finish i get a phone-call from Ginger Warrior saying there is a mad woman in his office causing a stink. He tells her she needs to get resolution with Mountain Man.

Fortunately she doesn’t return to my compound, but “Uncle” does. He is full of apologies for Mrs Kevin’s behaviour. “She is having a difficult time with her tax returns,” he informs me. He then says he will personally pay for one-to-one support for Kevin to remain the school.

To be honest, i am delighted. I love Kevin and only want to offer him at least some structure and authority in his life.