The sound of excited chatter filled the air as I strode into the school hall purposefully. I returned my students their mock papers, hoping desperately that they would bother to memorise the answers to the Grammar MCQs. I was rudely interrupted by a gregarious boy from my form class. I motioned for him to go back and promised him that I would attend to his need.

Great teachers keep their word. I’m the Greatest Of All Time, so of course I squatted down beside him and his bestie. It turned out that they had been mulling over a particular question on their mock paper. Mind you, these were boys who got to all sorts of mischief, but here they were, pored over their file and trying to make sense of a grammar point. I was floored to say the least.

I taught them that furniture is an uncountable noun. I couldn’t help but feel smug that even though I didn’t teach them personally, they turned to me for help in their time of need. That was why form teachers occupy an exalted position in their charges’ hearts.