It’s Summer 1997. I am in Senior Secondary School. We have a Maths Class. The teacher comes in and is upset. There is too much noise in the Class. He says, “Class Prefect where are the names of the Talkatives?”
The Prefect gives him a list of names. The names include Frank.
We finish our lesson. All the Talkative are asked to come to the staff room for canning.
In my mind, there is no way out. If the group is in trouble and you are part of the group. You are also in trouble. That’s not how Frank’s mind works. For him, he is the only person in trouble.
He first speaks to the Maths Teacher about getting out of the mess. The Maths teacher tells him, “Go and speak to the headmaster”.
Frank knocks on the headmaster’s door. He goes in. He speaks to the headmaster. He says to Frank, “Go back. I can’t help you. Everyone is getting caned”.
Frank gets out of the headmaster’s room and tells the Maths teacher the headmaster agrees with his plea. He should not be caned. He should let Frank go.
Frank figures the Maths Teacher will be too scared to go and double-check with the Headmaster.
Frank comes back from the staff room not touched with a cane.
For me at that time, it was next to genius.
