My Early Years of Teaching in the 242

When we arrived in Betsy Bay I was thankful after enduring a very uncomfortable ride on the back of the pickup. I was taken to my residence where I met the Principal of the school waiting for me with my keys. He must have sensed my displeasure because he immediately reassured me that everything would be alright and that he would take care of me and make sure that I got adjusted to the place. Then he escorted me around the house and pointed out my well and my electricity supply, which consisted of a long drop cord that extended from his residence a short distance away. Inside the house he introduced me to my oil refrigerator; it used kerosene oil to generate the chilling temperatures needed inside it. I was educated about trimming the wick and replacing the oil in the tank at the bottom of the refrigerator. Flabbergasted, I told him I wanted to rest. So he left but as he was leaving he casually mentioned that I was not to stay out after dark because of the mosquitoes. I shrugged his comments off because I thought that I knew about contending with mosquitoes from my childhood days in Wemyss Bight.

So that night I decided to stay out late armed with my trusted flashlight. I walked from one end of the settlement to the next, checking out the nightlife. Suddenly, I felt one mosquito bite, then another, then another and now I was swinging wildly at my attackers, attempting to keep them at bay. Then I heard what sounded like a small helicopter approaching and I did not need any more hints; I sprinted for the safety of my residence. Unfortunately, I had to locate the keys and I fumbled to unlock the door and a host of mosquitoes descended on me like fighter jets on a bombing run. When I managed to get inside the house this swarm of mosquitoes followed me inside. I started flailing wildly at my nemesis and ran to my bedroom door, opened it and dashed inside, slamming the door shut. But the damage was done because I had to endure many painful stings that night because I had no mosquito repellent or spray.