LAST DAYS IN HIGHSCHOOL

The third semester examination usually put pressure on students, but this time, it was cancelled.

The ministry for education, United States had decided that Grade 2 students in colleges would seat for a mock examination as their promotion exam to their final class in high school. It came as a surprise, everybody had prepared for the normal exam, and I was going through my notes we had English oral that morning.

Suddenly the vice principal showed up, and us to follow her, everybody was stunned as we followed her under the big apple tree, we saw other students waiting anxiously, probably she called us last.

Everybody gathered forming a large circle in which she was in the middle. Mrs. Mitchell Madison began and everybody kept quiet hoping to hear good news.

“Unfortunately, your exam has been cancelled and you are up to a new system, you will be the first set of students to witness this, the ministry of education has decided that you write a mock exam as your promotional examination.”

Pandemonium filled the air, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, several murmurs started between the student’s but the V.P’s voice brought them back and they concentrated again hoping to hear more.

“The mock examination is starting on August 8, 2019, so you have up to two-three months to prepare don’t waste your time, now that there is more time to read. Let every single bit of distraction get away from you, no one knows where the questions are coming from, but probably it won’t be any easy task, that is all I have to say.”

The Vice principal left us, leaving us to our own fate, as I tried to assimilate all the words the vice principal said someone tapped me; it was Wilfred Suleiman my closest friend.

“Ooh Suleiman what’s up?”

“What are you trying to do?” He asked ignoring my greetings.

“Nothing” I replied.

“Good I thought you were thinking what others were thinking”

“What is that?” I asked, looking anxious,

“Most of our class mates are planning to apply for the upcoming GCE (General Certificate Examination), with that certificate, they can also get into college instead of waiting for our high school certificate” He replied.

“It’s their choice I said.” I had also thought about GCE too; it would be interesting writing it.

I couldn’t believe we were the only students now under the tree; we have been talking for some minutes.

“Let go back into the class”

I heard Suleiman saying, already heading towards our classroom, I followed him not minding my thoughts, I was also planning on doing GCE, i wondered what Suleiman was thinking as I stared at his expressionless face.

As we entered the classroom, everyone were murmuring about the topic, Abigail ran to my desk asking same questions Suleiman asked earlier, I replied in a more reluctant way saying I don’t know, then she looked at me in a sought of way that told me she was angry, I looked away, I don’t have time for your silly behavior this time, I said in my mind

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Back at home, I later told my dad the latest news in school, all he told me was to read and prepare well for the exam, he never talked about GCE and since my Dad’s words were final, my hopes of doing GCE drowned like titanic.

Christian was the only son of Mr. Bailey, his mother died at child birth, he was taking care of by his aunt, Mrs. Linda, but when he was six, he went to live with his Father.

Mr. Bailey was the owner of an old small grocery store in Texas, he was a retired soldier, but due to the corruptions in the country, he didn’t always get his pensions, the grocery store was all Mr. Bailey had.

They lived in a one room cabin, down in outskirts of Texas, Mr. Bailey was doing all he could to give is only son the best education and with the hope that one day his son would become a great person and changed the world.

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