The Beating in Kipkimba

It was a cold Monday of July. A misty haze hung around the school and from the classes one could hardly see beyond the gate. The bell had been rung and we all walked out of our classes and lined up in the school assembly. In Kipkimba Primary those days, there was the bell and there was the huge ear shattering gong. The gong was a discarded tractor plough disc that hung from the huge tendwet tree. Below it rested a metal rod which Simeon Kapkulio the timekeeper would strike with ferocity every morning at 6.00 a.m, reverberating in the adjacent villages of Kapchiley, Kaptuma, Cheboin, Kibogi and competing with the din of tea processing machines in Nandi Tea factory, four kilometres away. The small bell was used for assemblies and lessons.Prefects carried canes and would beat whoever came in their way. They helped line up the pupils as scouts prepared to hoist the flag. Teachers too stood in various informal poses in front of the pupils but behind the flag post. The headmaster, Mr. Mitei, with his ever strong yu for men perfume, glowered at us, ready to pounce. I remember the first time he reported.......... His first address in the assembly.."Good morning school""Good morning sir" Went up the chorused reply from about 500 pupils."No, say Good morning...