MUST READ:- ONCE A LOVER
{LIFE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL}
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:. Written by: Olamilekan Afolabi
:. 08121297467
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♦ Season 1
�� Episode 2
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CONTINUED FROM THE LAST EPISODE
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(FEW MINUTES LATER)
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I was in the school hall with the rest of the students. The hall is moderate in size, which I guess can occupy at least 500 students. Students were rushing to be in the front sits. I sighted a sit at the back and I walked majestically to the sit and sat down quietly, I could see some set of students staring at me mocking and laughing, I looked at myself from head to toe but I couldn’t fish out my blemish, I dressed like a normal and sane student, so what’s wrong? I thought rhetorically.
“Na them sabi jare.” I voiced out silently in Pidgin English. I could see other students chatting and discussing.
“Do they know one another before?” I asked emblematically.
“Look at how they are chatting and laughing as if they had known themselves for years.” I serenely voiced out.
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Few minutes later, Mr. Chorus and four teachers (two female and two male) entered the hall.
“Good morning sir.” We greeted in chorus but on our feet.
“Good morning, how are you my students?” Mr. Chorus asked smiling.
“Fine, thanks you sir.” We responded in unison.
“(clear throat)… I welcome you all to Comprehensive High School. I am also using this medium to congratulate you all because here are the only selected candidates that gain admissions into this school. Over 2000 candidates apply for this school but I’m using this medium to announce to you guys that we only selected 356 candidates that are being admitted into this school… I think by now you should all know the rules and regulations of this school … according to an old adage ”a land without law there is no offence”, there are severe punishments for any students that break the rules and regulations of this great school. My being here is only to let you know your respective class and your respective class teacher; you will be put into your respective class according to your performance in the entrance examination, you will be classed into four classes, the A class will be the science class, the B class is for the commercial class and the C and D are for the art classes, listen to your name and your class carefully because I am not repeating myself, is that clear?” Mr. focus concluded as he brought out a higher education note book.
“Yes sir.” We replied in chorus.
Mr. focus started calling the name, he was so fast and steady, students were rushing out as they heard their name being called… no 300, “my name haven’t being called, or I wasn’t admitted here… or has he called my name and I do heard him? Or did I fail the exam? No I confirmed I passed the entrance examination, so what is the problem?” those are the thought that were pounding in my mind. … 350, my name haven’t being called … I was becoming restless and impatient because he is now calling only Art students, the truth is that I want science to be my discipline because I wanted to be an Agriculturist, I was thwarted and frustrated. “What will be my fate now?” I asked metaphorically.
“And these are the list of the students admitted into this school, other go back home you are not admitted here, thank you.” The principal concluded after he called the last student, he further in closing the higher education he was holding, I was like “‘ehn’ hope it is not what am thinking? I am not admitted here or what?” I thought, I was dumbstruck and flabbergasted… I felt like the ground could just open and swallow me, I don’t know when I started yelling and crying like a baby. “This is Daniel (my neighbor) on the science queue, I think I have a higher score than any other students, so what’s wrong?” I thought yelling.
“Sorry my dear, you’re not admitted here, you can try your luck next time or you search for another school.” A teacher consoled a boy sitting next to me.
“But I tried my best to be admitted in this school, I score 198 in the entrance examination, I think I score a good mark, so what’s wrong Madam?” The young crying boy enunciated.
“I’m so sorry my dear, 200 is the cut-off mark for any student to be admitted into this school and you did not make the cut-off mark so you can’t be admitted here, all the students that their names are called they are able to meet-up with the cut-off mark.” The consoling teacher explained, the boy busted and cried out loud.
“Ma, you just made mention of 200 as the cut-off mark, right?” I asked facing the consoling teacher.
“Yes, I guess you did not hear your name, right?” the teacher riposted.
“Ma, I didn’t hear my name to be called and I got 321 in the entrance examination, here is my result.” I replied as I hurrily search for my result from my polythene bag, I was able to bring out the result and hand over it to the teacher.
“Wow! I can’t believe you score 321 in the entrance examination, let go and meet the principal, I think there is a mix-upsomewhere.” The teacher expressed and commanded.
“Yes ma, I replied as I hurrily pack my book inside my polythene bag, I leave the hall for the principal’s office, as I was about stepping out of the hall, I mistakenly collided with a girl who was holding her breakfast, the food fall from her hand and decant on the ground.
She landed three thunderous and deafening slaps on my face; I staggered a little and everywhere became dim and duskyon appearance to me.
“I’m sorry ma.” That was the only statement that came out from my mouth, I went on my kneel begging my mate because I know the money with me can’t be enough to pay for the food.
“What are you begging me for? You’d better pay for this food if you don’t want my trouble.” The girl blasted and yelled; this called the attentions of some other students, the students form a circular queue watching the drama played by the girl and me.
“I don’t have the money for the food, please I’m sorry, I will foot the bill later, I have something important and significant to attend to right away and it is more important to my life than any other thing right now, please I will be back.” I replied and excused myself, I took to my heel and head for the principal’s office, some students were about to chase me when Daniel (my neighbor) called them back.
“Hey, how much is the food?” Daniel asked facing the girl.
“Are you paying for him?” The girl asked with a scorn face.
“Okay, I’m paying for him, how much?” Daniel replied
“Okay since you insisted to pay for him, just pay #1000 and I will forget everything.” The girl enunciated confidently.
“Am not paying for the wound he cause on you, I am only paying for the food he mistakenly decant, answer me and please stop the expensive joke.” Daniel replied disappointedly.
“Mr. man, you volunteer to pay for his misdeed, must you ask me question? I bought the food for #1000, pay now or you guys will face my wrath.” The girl bragged moving closer to Chorusman.
“I think we have to see the chef that sold the food for you for #1000.” Daniel suggested.
“You better foot the bill and stop saying trash and garbage.” The girl lashed and yelled with all her energy.
“You idiot…” Daniel uttered angrily but couldn’t finish off with his statement.
“Whether you like it or not, I am leaving here with 1000 naira, else I doubt you are going to go home completely today.” The girl blasted smiling.
“What’s happening there?” Mr. focus yelled from a distant. ‘peew’ all the students were well sited inside the hall.
“Good day sir.” The students stood up and greeted the principal.
“I am using this medium to plead on behalf of the whole staffs and I to this wonderful student, Olamilekan Afolabi by name, he is the student who score the highest in the entrance examination with 321 marks, 97 marks more than the second, it was a mistake made by a 9-man admission committees, in which they wrote his name on the next page of the note I held earlier because he is the only student to ever reach 300+ marks in this school entrance exam, so therefore he is hereby offer admission to be a science student in this school, please congratulate him and also emulate him. As from now on, he will be the class captain of SS1 science, please can he get a standing ovation from everyone of you?” The principal enunciated and started the clapping; the whole hall was rented with clap and applauds. I couldn’t hide my joy, I keep on smiling. “What a wonderful u-turn.” I exclaimed, I sighted the girl that I decanted her food, our eyes collided and I touched the cheek feeling the pain from her thunderous slaps, she looked away in disgrace and scandal.
“This is a small gift from me to this young scholar.” The principal uttered and brought out 1000 naira from his shirt’s pocket and handed over it to me.
“Thank you sir.” I uttered bending down as a sign of respect.
“My pleasure, see you later.” The principal concluded and went out of the hall.
“Scholar!” A boy barked from behind, I turned to look at the boy and the boy appear to be Daniel.“My guy, that witch deyvex o (pointing to the girl), she even dey demand 1000 naira…” Daniel uttered unfinished.
“Let me go and pay her.” I replied and turn to leave.
“I swear they no born you well, give her 300 naira make you forget level, you appear to be a mugu to her, maybe that’s why she is demanding much.” Daniel concluded warily.
“Let me go and pay her, if she collect the whole 1000 naira, God knows what he will give me in return but if she didn’t collect the whole 1000 naira, I will give my mother the remaining change.” I concluded and head for the girl sit.
“Ola! Ola!!” Daniel barked as he hurrily followed me to the girl’s sit.
“Here is the money for the food I mistakenly and erroneously decanted.” I uttered as I stretched my hand forth holding the 1000 naira note, she looked straight into my eyes and …
T.B.C