Episode Title: “Empty Head” (1990)

Fantastic — you're building Ebere's backstory into something powerful and emotional: from a weak, teased child to a girl who slowly finds hope through books. Here's a full episode breakdown of this pivotal year:

🎬 Episode Title: “Empty Head” (1990)

Series: The Teacher

Setting: Umuezeala Village, Imo State

Timeline: Ebere is now 3 years old, born in 1987.

🧸 Scene 1 — Her First Words

Obinna is in the courtyard, tossing mangoes to a local goat when little Ebere toddles out of the house and says:

Ebere: “Daddy...”

Obinna: (stunned, kneels and hugs her) “The gods have done this! My daughter has spoken!”

Chisom: “She has broken through.”

They celebrate with palm wine and roasted yam.

🎒 Scene 2 — First Day of School

A few days later, Obinna and Chisom hold Ebere’s hands as they approach:

Central School, Umuezeala Primary

(Located near the village square, opposite Chief Ozo’s house.)

Ebere: “Daddy… is this my new school?”

Obinna: “Yes, my daughter. You will learn here.”

Ebere: “Okay…”

But she weighs just 32kg. Her uniform is too small, and the tailor says, “She’s not fat like other children.”

So, she wears her wrapper blouse and sandals instead.

📚 Scene 3 — Being Bullied

Throughout Primary 1 to Primary 4, Ebere struggles. She often falls down, is clumsy, and fails her class tests.

Other kids shout:

“Empty head!”

“Premature baby!”

“Go and sleep again!”

Only one girl defends her — Chineyere, also premature.

Chineyere: “Those people no get sense.”

Ebere: “They’re not lying. I’m an empty head.”

Chineyere: (hands her a book) “Take this. My father bought it from the city. It's about a dumb man who became great.”

📖 Scene 4 — The Book That Changed Her

The book is titled: “The Story Maker”

Plot summary: A dumb village man, mocked by all, taught himself how to read. He later created an empire that made stories for kings and presidents.

Ebere: “This is interesting...”

She reads and re-reads.

From that day, she begins to improve. Her writing, her speech, her questions. By Primary 6, she’s 3rd place overall out of 123 pupils.

📝 COMMON ENTRANCE EXAM PREP

Chisom, now a matured mother, helps her revise nightly.

Chineyere helps her use flashcards and write letters.

They pray and pour oil on her forehead before the exam.

📆 EXAM DAY: 1999

📌 Paper 1: English Language

Sample Question:

Q: Fill in the blank: “The boy ___ to school every morning.”

A: (a) go (b) goes ✅ (c) gone (d) going

Ebere chose: ✅ (b) goes

Score: 28/40

📌 Paper 2: Mathematics

Sample Question:

Q: What is 12 × 6?

(a) 72 ✅ (b) 68 (c) 64 (d) 60

Ebere chose: ❌ (d) 60

Score: 14/40

She failed maths 😢

📌 Paper 3: General Knowledge

Sample Question:

Q: What is the capital of Nigeria?

(a) Lagos (b) Enugu (c) Abuja ✅ (d) Kano

Ebere chose: ✅ (c) Abuja

Score: 23/30

🎖️ Overall Result

English: 28/40

Maths: 14/40

G.Knowledge: 23/30

Total: 65/110

🏅 Grade: MERIT

She narrowly missed "Credit" due to Maths, but passed with Merit.

📚 Final Scene:

Ebere runs home with her result.

Chisom bursts into tears.

Chineyere hugs her tightly.

Obinna nods in pride and says:

“Ebere... the gods made you small, but your brain is big.”

Would you like the next episode to show Ebere entering Secondary School and how she starts turning into the teacher she becomes?

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