Chaopter 12 The Cadet Training Centre

Instead of sacking me,the Manager chose to torment me by demoting  me to the Cadet Training Center.To me there was an abuse of power by the great white Manager.By right he should have retained me and extend my probation for another three months.Not adhering to that he ought to have sacked me instantly.

He did  neither but chose to demote me to the Center.Well.I had no where to turn to, except to receive those torments forfeiting my pride.It was sheer embarrassment for me all the way.I think the ability to with stand all those abuses proved that I am indeed a survival. However the sole consolation was they did not reduced my allowance.

The ability to face reality with a thick skin was in fact a stage of awakening for me.All great men faced failures many a times before they actually achieved some thing to remember by.Many in my position would had called it quit but never  for me, I dare dreamed dreams of a better future with my short comings.Knowing that failures were the mother of success.

There were jeering behind my back but those never bothered me a wee bit.I just looked ahead of me.Those training in the Center were three other much junior planters and I had to dwelt with their unkind looks.Losers had nothing to lose and should I failed here also,I lose nothing more as I be in square one.In any case I was still paid as when I was a probationary Assistant.

The Training Manager was bias towards my presence from the very beginning.He was a retired Chief Clerk and promoted to training Manager.To me he required more training than I do,for he taught us nothing except his "Catherine's wheel".

Neither were his outward appearance as he walked ,like a duck with mustache of "Hitler". This Indian fellow apparently thought he was like Hitler.To me this was the type that buttered the Manager to the top while a clerk.I have seen many his kind long time ago.He was a black European.I mean there were nothing outstanding in him which would qualify him that position.

To me the whole set up were shady.He never maintained hi sown records instead used another cadet to kept his records for him.Just imagine awarding another trainee access to his keys and the rest seemingly untrustworthy.Technically this had been going on while he was Training Manager.

This was not to discredit him but these were what were happening all the while.In every batch of cadets that passed through him he had some favorites.Every batch had only three to four cadets and yet he favors certain cadets and was bias to who he never like.I was within this culture and therefore knew what was going on.

Having access to the Training Manager's drawers meant a lot.That was why  these favorites  could do so well in their class tests etc.They before hand what any question to expect  for those examinations. Also to rectify any wrongs with a rewrite of the test papers.I am not accusing blindly as these were the truth.All the other cadets can bear me witness should they still be alive.

Even the Manager had no favorites among the trainees I know for certain that there were duplicate keys of the  Manager's circulating among them.A sort of inheritance which were passed down the line.To me many such training centers of prestigious firms were really no big deal.Nothing to be proud of.Of course I took a beating before I knew them.

The proper training was mostly learning all by our selves.We were all left alone to find our ways around.For me it was seriously a refreshing course or getting acclimatizing to the whole frame  work of a planter or a planter in Agency ran plantation.There were however no denying that my outlook improved tremendously..

I therefore emerged a better and smarter planter.It allowed me to rethink my future,to be in it or leave it for good.I had high hopes that they gave me a second chance but somehow I receive no such honor to serve them ever again.Despite my passing the Estate Practice Examination(rubber).

That really hurts my ego.However when the final crunch came I fumbled badly at their final examination.I not only did badly in its written tests not that I do not know the answers.I miserably fell into a  nervous break down.My hands were moving properly shaking feverishly. I wrote that test with unsteady shaky hand with my thoughts hay wired.

Neither was I well when giving the oral examinations and was mumbling sheer nonsense brainlessly. I was not listening and thinking properly.I was  simply confused and therefore did not present  myself pleasantly or impressively at all.

When the results finally came to the Center,the beaming Training Manger announced the result to me with a board smile.So cruel was his smile that it broke my heart completely.He even allowed to leave immediately thus saving another two months allowances for his Company.What a great achievement for a black European Manager.

Had I passed it would have caused him much embarrassment because he had given me one of the worst report in the history of the training Center.This one battle I so badly but I shall prevail.It was not the end of the world.With that it ended my nightmare in that Company.