Linda arrived at school some minutes past 7 o'clock that morning with her uniform rumpled and her countenance glaringly down. Everything about her that morning was the opposite of what students and teachers knew, despite the fact that she had barely spent two years at the school. She joined her mates where they lined up for morning devotion, and seconds later they all noticed she was not participating in the choruses. With an excuse of stomach pain, she excused herself to go into her class even before the devotion ended. Inside the class, Mr. Barry, her class teacher, who was preparing his lesson notes, called her to his table.
"What is the matter? You greeted me in a mumbling voice, and I knew that something was wrong somewhere." He dropped his pen and removed his spectacles to listen clearly. "Tell me, what is it?"
She was reluctant at first, but after mild persuasion, she explained the cause of her sadness. She was to leave the school where she had found warmth and love the next month. From her explanation, it was clear that the development was impromptu.
"Your family relocating by your dad's order is normal, but why now that you are in your final class and your exams are barely three months from today? I do not think this is the best option for you, but what can I say? I wish I had the power to keep you."
She sniffed and wiped the side of her eyes.
"But what exactly made your dad want to relocate so abruptly?" The teacher added.
"It is the environment; he said it is dirty and unhealthy."
It had rained the previous night, and, as usual, the roads were littered with plastics and waste, and stagnant water flooded the roads as a result of clogged gutters. Linda had tried to maneuver her way to school through all these, but she slipped and was in a mess. She returned to the house, changed into her other pair of uniforms, and followed a much longer route to school.
"I see! This is why your school uniform is rumpled and you arrived late today; this is understandable and a good enough reason for your dad to be angry. But if there is a solution to this mess, would it change your dad's mind?" Mr. Barry asked and smiled.
"Maybe" Linda replied with a shrug.
"Alright. Listen to me, the flooded roads and litter are obviously eyesores, but those things did not fall from the sky, nor did they happen overnight; they are there as a result of accumulated plastics disposed improperly, and until there is an end to the wrongs, we will get worse than what we are having now. I have a plan; are you in?"
Linda's eyes shone in amazement as she fixed her gaze on Mr. Barry, waiting for him to say what plan he had. At this point, the morning devotion ended, and her mates trooped in. They greeted Mr. Barry as usual, their eyes on Linda in curiosity.
"Class, who among you is a friend to Linda?" He asked when they were seated.
All the students in the class raised their hands.
"I see. She is leaving us by next month." He paused to observe their reaction. He saw what he expected "But we can try to keep her."
He began to talk to them about the cause of Linda's sadness and the effects and solutions to plastic pollution. By adding stories and real-life experiences to his explanations, he got their attention in no time. He ended the pep talk with an assignment.
"Joel, do you know W.H.O. says it takes decades for plastics to decompose?"
"Sir, I'm sorry; I don't know who says so."
The whole class, including Linda, roared in laughter at Joel's reply. Mr. Barry's question to Joel was intentional to lighten the mood in the class. Joel was the funniest student in the class, and he delivered the job perfectly.
"Anyway, I meant the World Health Organisation. These and many other disturbing facts come from this organisation on a daily basis, but people do not listen. I want my students to make a statement on this, will you?"
They gave a thunderous affirmative reply.
"Good. Here is the plan: starting today, you will all pick up plastics from your surroundings and use it to plant flowers around your homes. You will also reuse plastic bags for errand trips every day. You will make creative use of the plastic containers around you. By the end of the month, I will pay a courtesy visit to all of you, and the most diligent will be rewarded. Lastly, while doing these, make sure you talk to your family and friends about the assignments."
Their eyes glittered in excitement as Mr. Barry opened the floor for questions. It was Joel who spoke first.
"Sir, the idea of your assignments is very nice, but how will it correct the whole environment?"
"We want to make a statement with our assignments." Mr. Barry replied with a smile.
"Sir, it will take a miracle for these assignments to unclog the gutters and clear the flooded roads in a month." Elizabeth added.
"True. At least we can try. At least we can try our best." Mr. Barry replied with a wink.
"Sir, do you think it will make my dad change his mind?" Linda asked in a low voice, "I really want to stay here."
"Linda, if we never try, we will never get to know. Let us first make a statement." He turned to the class, asking, "What is our mission?"
"We want to make a statement!" they roared.
The classroom was basking in euphoria as they set out to begin the first lesson of the day. Mr. Barry could not be more fulfilled.