-6-
The examination started just like a joke to all students. The day they were all expexting came in and was like a dream. Students started studying so hard to make sure they attain excellent performances. It was on Monday, they had chemistry practical which was an alternative to practical. Fortunately and happily, Tomisin and Tope were in the same center, in fact their seat numbers are not so far from each other. They both read on phone that midnight through mid-night call. They read the salt analysis so well and didn’t follow their mates that were browsing for the likely questions on the internet. They were serious and God-fearing.
They both arrived early at the center, they agreed to meet at the junction not far from the school to be able to get to center so early. They’ve always thought in their minds that”the early bird catches the worm. They arrived there, it was a public school, actually not painted and there was a tree near the fence around the entrance where they sat to revise. It was their first time writing an external examination. The two prayed before reading the books.
The school had a black and weak gate at the entrance which was wide opened. The school was not that neat with the liters from the students that were attending the school. The floor was full of leaves around. They sat and watch them on the assembly. The assembly of the senior students was at the front of the senior building which was not so big. They had a wooden funny staircase and a flat landing which was not so tall that the chapel prefects did sing every morning. The had a base drum and just 1 rolling, they were not organised with the drumming at all. Tope watched them and was attracted, he laughed within him and said ‘father thank you’. He got back facing his book, and reading when the two were attracted by the prefects again who held a cain each and flogging the late comers. It was so funny to them that the prefects had a cain each to beat any student, they were amused and wondered. The teachers had a spot they all stood and were looking at how the assembly was going on before a teacher stepped forward to give a word of advice and aftermath prayed for the. It was such of amusement to them especially the organisation of their assembly.
They ended the assembly and students started arriving, Tope and Tomisin decided to sit near where all the candidates were sitting not to be out of place and order. The sat on a pavement in front of the staff room of the school, serious students were revising while other unserious ones were gisting and not at all organized. The two were attracted at a boy there, Fola by name. He hasn’t been revising and was dressed as if he was on his way to welcome the President’s daughter as a wife-to-be. He was putting on a pencil jeans and a T-shirt of wine colour. He was putting on a canvas also and a big designed chained.
Tope and Tomisin laughed.
He hadn’t been reading rather he had been going to and fro, welcoming girls that entered. He was so jobless.
‘I’m tired of reading jare!’ Tope uttered, brought out his photocard and reviewed it.
‘Abi oo, since midnight’ Tomisin replied trying to close her textbook, also brought out her photocard.
‘So na only three people wey go be for our middle’ Tope winked.
‘Yes ooo’ she replied laughing at her passport photograph used on the registration slip.
‘You are also laughing at yourself, see how you be’ he laughed.
‘Na u sabi’ she replied and inserted it into her clear bag back.
**************
Ghana…..
Tonia entered into the house, she was looking so worn-out. She saw her mum on seat, smiled and went to greet her kneeling down.
‘How was the exam darling’ she smiled at her, drawing her up to sit down beside her.
‘It was so much fun, met different people and. The exam was so simple.’ She replied.
‘That’s good, may God help you’ she prayed.
‘Amen, that guy em…. Tope, he is also writing this exam too abi?’
‘Tope, who is…. Oooooh! My friend’s son, yes Jumoke told me that he is writing the exam too’ she replied.
‘Okay’ she smiled and stood up, trying to move in.
‘Why the did you ask?’ She smiled opening just an eye to tease her daughter.
‘What mum, don’t turn this to another thing oo’ she laughed.
‘Hmmn, na u sabi’ she concluded.
Tonia walked in getting her jacket off on the way.
Timileyin, the mother of Tonia and Lucia. She got married some months after her best friend, Jumoke. She relocated to Ghana with her husband before giving birth to Tonia who was her first born. She had always call them husband and wife. Tope’s pictured was with Tonia sef. She loved him seeing him from the photograph, ‘he is handsome, with a white teeth’ she had always thought, falling in love with someone she usually speak to on phone.
What a life!
Tope also had her picture in the house at home but has never like her despite his mum’s effort to make sure he did see it everyday. He loved Tomisin so much even at secondary school level.
The paper ended, Tope and Tomisin were gisting about the paper they just finished.
‘What a beautiful one, if the marker isn’t insane sha o, I must get at least 48 out of 50’. Tope boasted.
‘Same here jare dear’ Tomisin replied.
‘can you imagine that the jobless boy, that guy roaming about with girls was sitting with me in the exam hall’ Tope frowned.
‘I saw him na, he was even disturbing you’ she laughed.
‘Is it fu….’ He was saying when some masked guys rounded them and dragged them into the bush
…..
