MY DAUGHTER EMMA by ULASI JOSHUA IKECHUKWU (best summer books txt) 📖

/> ANITA: That’s almost his sister’s age. Most parents forget to do good child spacing these days.

DR. KATE: (smiled)

ANITA: You’ll have to take these papers to the lady at the room behind the library. She’ll take their measurements and make school uniforms for Emma and Steve. You’ll then have to purchase this list of books from the bookstore beneath the library. After which you’ll locate class 3B; that’s where they are assigned. Please remember to come back to pick up their admission letters.

DR. KATE: Than you very much Ms. Anita.

SCENE 2: INT. AT DR. KATE’S HOUSE. EVENING.
Dr. Kate sits down with Emma and Steve.
DR. KATE: I hope you two had a great day at school today.

STEVE: Yes mom.

EMMA: Yes Dr. Kate.

DR. KATE: What subjects did you learn today?

STEVE: We had spelling and French language lessons, as well as history and mathematics.

DR. KATE: What did you learn from the spelling lessons Steve?

STEVE: I learned how to pronounce certain words mom.

DR. KATE: Words like what?

STEVE: Words like hippopotamus.

DR. KATE: Can you spell Hippopotamus Steve?

STEVE: Of course I can mom. I did get it right in the school and I can still get it right for you.

DR. KATE: What of you Emma? What words did you learn to spell?

EMMA: I learnt how not to spell hippopotamus Dr. Kate.

DR. KATE: What exactly do you mean, Emma?

EMMA: When the language teacher came into the classroom, he was well dresses, good-looking and friendly. He actually wanted to teach us how to spell the word ‘hippopotamus,’ so he wrote it clearly on the chalkboard ‘Hip-po-po-ta-mus.’ But there was a problem.

DR. KATE: What sort of problem?


EMMA: He had a terrible stutter. That speech condition that makes you repeat the first sounds of certain words. So when our language teacher had finished writing the words ‘Hip-po-po-ta-mus’ on the board, he pointed to it with a stick and asked us to repeat whatever he said. Then he pronounced the first set ‘Hip!’ and again ‘Hip!’ and then ‘Hip-Hip-Hip!!!’ But to his amazement, everyone shouted the words ‘Hurray!!!’ we didn’t know when we all said these words. It was such a spontaneous moment. No one had planned it earlier. But our language teacher did not think so.

DR. KATE: I’m sure he was embarrassed. Wasn’t he?

STEVE: I don’t think he was, because he actually expressed much happiness when he told us some stories about himself; Stories that really happened.

DR. KATE: Tell me one of his stories, Steve.

STEVE: He told us that his parents came into this country in 1954. At that time, he was about eighteen years old, and had enrolled in a university. Two days before their matriculation, their vice- Chancellor addressed them through the university public address system. Having come from a country where English language was rarely spoken, he had difficulty understanding the Vice-Chancellor, who spoke so fast. So the Vice Chancellor told them that they will all matriculate in two days, wearing their gowns and singing the university anthem. The Vice-Chancellor told them that he could not explain everything, but that they should all wait till the D day so as to experience what it really means to be matriculated.
On the matriculation day, our language teacher hid himself under his bed in the hostels. He did not want to dress up for the matriculation, but stuffed his matriculation gown away in a cupboard. When the matriculation day was over, his roommates were surprised to see him relaxed in the room. “Didn’t you attend the matriculation ceremony?’ they asked. “Yes,” he answered. “I don’t want to be maltreated. I heard the Vice-Chancellor announce through the university public address system that we shall be maltreated on the D day, that’s today.” His roommates all laughed at him and told him what great an event he had missed.

DR. KATE: So he thought that matriculation and maltreatment are the same.

STEVE: Exactly.

DR. KATE: That means he didn’t understand English language very well. How could he pass his subjects then? Since all subjects were taught in English?

STEVE: The story is not over yet. Our language teacher failed all his three subjects in the first semester. To make the story more complicated, the university posted his scores for the three subjects to his parents, and advised that he should withdraw.

DR. KATE: His parents must have been furious with him. Weren’t they?

STEVE: Not at all. In fact they wondered why their brilliant should be asked to withdraw from the university after performing so well in his subjects.

DR. KATE: But you said he failed all three subjects. Didn’t you?

STEVE: Here’s how it went, mom. Our head teacher’s parents were not familiar with the English grading system. Back in their home country, a zero (0) means a fail, while a nine (9) translates to excellent. But here, a zero (0) means a fail, and it is indicated by the number ‘9’, while a higher score, say 100% can be indicated by the letter ‘A’, and is sometimes referred to as ‘A1’ or ‘1’ for short. So while the brilliant students made A1, A1, A1, that’s 1, 1, 1 in their three subjects, our language teacher’s result read 9, 9, 9.

DR. KATE: That’s a police phone number! He must have repeated a class.

EMMA: Exactly. His friends spent only three years in the university, while he had to spend an additional year for a three year course. They call it 4/3 (4 over 3).

DR. KATE: That’s an improper fraction. It is amazing to me to find someone who enrolls in the university to study a course he does not understand. He should have gone for mathematics or the sciences.

EMMA: But he did well in his later years. In fact, he won the national award for the best language student in his third year.

SFX: the sound of a stopping car right in front of the doctor’s house, and Emma and Steve leave the sitting room.

DR. KATE: Hello, Nurse Nina.

NINA: Hi, Dr. Kate. I ‘m off duty today, so I decided to come over.

DR. KATE: I hope all is okay, nurse.

NINA: Certainly, Dr. Kate. Do you remember what I told you in the hospital about late Mr. King?

DR. KATE: Do you mean Emma’s father?

NINA: Yes. But the story is not over yet. You see there’s this….

Dr. Kate interrupts her, and whispers.
DR. KATE: Wait a second.

She then peeps into the other room.
DR. KATE: I just want to make sure the kids are not listening Nina. I haven’t told Emma that Mr. King was not her father, and it would be so unpleasant if she finds out now.

NINA: What I mean doctor, is that there are other things which I’ve not told you yet.

DR. KATE: Other things like what?

NINA: Like the rest of the stories that Mr. King told me before he died.

DR. KATE: Why not wait till we see in the hospital?

NINA: Okay. But I can’t wait to bring down these items.

DR. KATE: What are they?

NINA: They are the personal effects of Emma’s father. Em-em I mean his foster father.

DR. KATE: I understand. Where did you find them?

NINA: The Chief medical Director asked me to bring them to you. After the police had made a serious search for the relatives of late Mr. King, they returned them to the hospital after they learnt that you had taken Emma into your house.

DR. KATE: Let me see the contents.

SFX: sounds of jingling keys and plastic bag.
NINA: A car key, cheque valued at Fifteen thousand from a life Insurance company, and keys to his house.

DR. KATE: Where is the house located?

NINA: I can’t pronounce the address, but they said it is one of the most valuable properties in the area.

Dr. Kate sat up with excitement.
DR. KATE: Hmm. I see. The poor old man had saved all these for his daughter. Oh for Emma, I should have said. Are these all that’s left?

NINA: No, Dr. Kate. The chief medical Director said that Mr. King’s bank has agreed to make a direct deposit of his savings into your bank account as soon as you provide your account number and a letter of Administration.

DR. KATE: Hmm. I see. Did the Chief medical Director know where Mr. King’s house is located?

NINA: No. she didn’t even see these items. They were all neatly packed in a leather bag.

DR. KATE: Does she know how much money that is contained in the cheque?

NINA: No, Dr. Kate. Why did you ask?

DR. KATE: Does she know how much money that is left in Mr. King’s bank account?

NINA: No, the bank manager was unwilling to make the amount known. E-m-m may I talk to Emma for a second Dr. Kate?

DR. KATE: I’m afraid she’s in the middle of her homework right now. But you may come again during the weekend. I guess you’ll have a lot of time to chat with her.

NINA: I think I shall leave at once Dr. Kate. Do have a nice day.

DR. KATE: See you tomorrow in the hospital then.

NINA: Bye.
The sound of a car moving away from the house.

SCENE 3: INT. SANTHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MORNING.
Nina visits the head teacher at Santha Elementary School.
NINA: Good morning Ms. Anita.

ANITA: Good morning Nina. How may I help you?

NINA: I’m surprised you knew my name Ms. Anita.

ANITA: I’m also surprised you knew mine. Have we met?

NINA: I don’t think so. Your name is boldly written on your door so I don’t have problems figuring it out.

ANITA: I guess yours is also boldly written somewhere in the local hospital.

NINA: Have you visited our hospital Mrs. Anita?

ANITA: Several times. I’ve seen you several times in the hospital. I know that you work there as a nurse. Your services require that you see so many patients in a day. That’s why you find it difficult to recognize them. Anyway, how may I help you?

NINA: I’ve actually come to see one of your pupils Ms. Anita.

ANITA: Which one of them?

NINA: A girl named Emma.

ANITA: You mean Steve’s brother?

NINA: E-m-m. I don’t think Emma has a brother Ms. Anita.

ANITA: Well we only have one girl named Emma in Santha Elementary, and she was brought in here by her mother; a woman named Dr. Kate.

Nina speaks up quickly
NINA: Yes, that’s the person I really want to see. Emma, who was adopted by Dr. Kate.

ANITA: Did you say A-d-o-p-t-e-d?
Ms. Anita removes her pair of glasses and leans backwards against her chair.

NINA: Yes, the Emma who was adopted by Dr. Kate. That’s the girl I want to see.

ANITA: Is there any problem nurse?

NINA: There’s really no problem. But there are several things the girl’s father wants her to know.
At this Ms. Anita edged forward, wearing her pair of glasses.

ANITA: Emma’s Father? Has Kate remarried?

NINA: You seem to know Dr. Kate very well Ms. Anita.

ANITA: Yes I do. We worked together in Africa and the Caribbean before she got a job in the hospital. But that was about twenty years ago. She doesn’t recognize me now.

NINA: Are you sure she doesn’t?

ANITA: She’s been here twice, and had looked steadily at me, trying to figure out where she could remember me from. It’s been twenty years now. Besides there’s only one scar which she may be able to remember, but I’ve covered it up with my wig.

NINA: Then you must call Emma at once. I believe there are things she needs to understand. I’ve been to Dr. Kate’s house to explain these things to her, but the doctor had kept