GRASS TO GRACE, A NOVEL Cont'd

CHAPTER THREE

THE CHALLENGE

      It was barely a week to the certificate examinations. The timetable was already out and the studious three had long covered their syllabus and were already prepared for the examinations. They’ve been attending extracurricular classes lately, which Abayomi’s parents arranged for them, and this had gone a long way in aggrandizing their knowledge in the core subjects like Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This also gave them the confidence they were going to be recipients of the scholarship award sponsored by the Oxford University.

      However, for the boys, Gbenga, Kole and Eze, things were relatively different and easy going. To them, it was like three months to the exams because they were still playing and lazing about, jumping from one compound to the other causing mischief. For Gbenga he was sure his father was going to pull some strings in ensuring that his son gets whatever he wants in the examinations. But for Kole and Eze, a boy from Igbo, one of the major Nigerian Ethnic groups, that formed the eastern part of the country, they hoped in Gbenga to provide them with materials they would use in cheating, during the examinations.

       Monday, July, 17, was the examination day. For Kunle and Bisi preparations were not very easy coupled with tedious household chores they had to carry out on a daily basis. However, determination they taught brings success. They were thus determined to get what they desired. The day before the examinations, Bisi and Kunle had rounded off their chores in good time and went in to sleep. They got up early the next day and took an hour in going through some possible examination questions. It was really stressful for the serious minded students, but if it is rewarding, then it was worth doing they thought.

        It was time for the examinations and all preparations had been made by the school’s examination board. The paper to be written on the first day was Mathematics and the papers had arrived earlier than expected. Finally, the examinations commenced at about 9 am in the morning. Bisi, Kunle, and Abayomi were brainstorming and providing solutions to the questions being time conscious as well.

       On the contrary, it was hell for Gbenga and the others. Gbenga’s hope was shattered because his parents had embarked on a business trip to Lagos state, a state on the western part of Nigeria, which used to be it’s capital. But the two will always find a way out. The day before the exams Gbenga had copied a number of Mathematical questions into a sheet of paper and mad three copies. They were stealthily copying out the solutions into their answer sheets when the eagle-eyed Mr. Inyang, a supervisor from the examination council spotted them from the front of the class.

                  “Stand up you fool” he shouted.

                  “M-m-mee, do you mean us sir” they stammered and shivered.

                  “Yes! I mean three of you’ he replied looking berserk.

                  “Give me that paper” he said. They handed him the paper with shaking hands.

                  “What? Malpractice, Get out of this hall now and go straight to the principal’s office” Mr. Inyang, a man from Calabar, a south-eastern Nigerian state, took the boys to the principal who became infuriated after hearing their offense. This was because he had previously warned that no student should bring shame to the school’s name by involving in any act of malpractice. But as it turned out, it appeared he was pouring water on a duck’s back by his warning. The boys were immediately expelled since failure to do this will mean cancellation of that subject for the school. Mr. Kwame was not willing to let that happened knowing that so many hopes were tied to this exam.

        For Gbenga it was like nothing had happened. He arrogantly walked out of the principal’s office without scruples over his actions or fear over his parent’s reactions. One would not blame the arrogant child; his parents brought him up that way. Little wonder, the good book says “train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he would not depart from it”. For Kole and Eze, it was like the whole world had come crumbling down on them since their parents were not well-to-do. They realized they’ve been misled and had wasted their time and parents little money all along. It had by now dawned on them they had jeopardized their future. Beggig for a secong chance was like building castles in the air, so the two went home sobbing. Just then Gbenga appeared.

                 “Come on boys. This is not the end of the world, we still have hope” Gbenga said trying to encourage them.

                 “Oh spare me that” Kole responded angrily.

                 “You caused it all. You can now go home to your rich parents who would probably send you to another school elsewhere” he finished up.

                 “And never you come close to us again” Eze added.

     The boys departed on different routes. Pitiably enough, they had to learn their lessons the hard way. However, the rest of the exams were successful for those geniuses, Kunle, Abayomi and Bisi. At the end of the examination they envisioned themselves students of the prestigious Oxford University. They were optimistic.