The Smell Of Shame

I still remember the incident that occurred when we were in junior secondary school. Every morning, my dad would take us to school since my mom worked in another town and was only home on weekends. We'd arrive early, and during morning assembly, the timekeeper would ring the bell, and we'd all rush outside. We'd sing, pray, and listen to a short sermon.

However, one day, a strange smell wafted through the air, distracting everyone. We all looked around, trying to figure out where the smell was coming from. To our surprise, it was one of my classmates who had stool on himself. The assembly ground erupted into a mix of murmurs, pity, laughter, and shock.

Our teacher called the school cleaner to take him to the toilet to clean up. I recall another incident during exam period. The smell was so strong that our supervising teacher had to step outside. We initially thought it was just a minor issue, but the smell grew stronger. The boy was too ashamed to stand up until we were told to get up, and he was forced to reveal himself. He cleaned up and spent the rest of the day in a somber mood, unable to play with his friends.

After that incident, the boy became a subject of discussion among our classmates. Some people would tease him, while others felt sorry for him. I remember feeling a mix of emotions - embarrassment for him, but also curiosity about what had happened.

As the days went by, the boy started to withdraw from our class. He'd sit alone during lunch, and wouldn't participate in discussions. It was as if he was trying to escape the embarrassment and shame.

The incident affected him so deeply that he changed schools the following term. I saw him once when my dad was driving us home, and I couldn't help but think about the incident. I wondered how he had convinced his parents to let him change schools.I couldn't imagine how he felt - the embarrassment, the shame, the fear of being ridiculed by his peers. He must have felt like he was living in a nightmare, with no escape from the humiliation.

I felt a mix of emotions - happiness that he had escaped the embarrassment, but also curiosity about how he had navigated the situation with his parents. I realized that it could happen to anyone, perhaps due to health issues or unforeseen circumstances. The incident also made me think about how I would want to be treated if I were in the boy's shoes. Would I want people to laugh at me, or would I want them to offer me support and kindness?

As I think on these questions, I felt a sense of gratitude for the experience. It had taught me the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, even in difficult or embarrassing situations. I hoped that the boy had learned something valuable from the experience as well. Perhaps he had learned to be more confident in himself, or to seek help when he needed it.