The female lead in the story is Nancy Obi. With her husband, Michael, Nancy aims to work towards modernizing the backward school system her husband, the new principal, has inherited. Nancy also dreams of introducing new cultural trends into the school district.
In the story, Nancy is enthralled with Michael's love and respect for "modern methods" of education. She completely understands his suspicion of "old and superannuated" teachers who would be more at home in the markets of Onitsha. Even while she celebrates what she thinks is the bright future of Ndume Central School, she laments the fact that there are no other wives for her to lord over. The other teachers are all young and unmarried, and she must content herself with overseeing the renovation of the school grounds instead. In due time, however, the rains help bring Nancy's dream garden to fruition. Beautiful flowering shrubs and plants give the old school compound a robust, new look.
Nancy's pride is short-lived, however. When her husband neglects to show consideration for the religious sensibilities of the villagers, the couple soon learn that their high-handed ways will only bring about negative results in this school district.
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