CAMARADERIE TROUBLES novel Chapter 8

"Gloria, I've reviewed the poem you submitted for the entry. I must say, it was okay... But it didn't fit the theme of this year's competition. Besides, the poem had a lot of grammatical errors and a lack of figures of speech. Like I said earlier, you are the major talent we are relying upon, the others are just backups. Take this new poem," she handed or piece of paper to me.

"I know you must have been cramming the one you wrote yourself earlier. Sorry, you would have to unlearn them and begin to get this one into your brain, rehearsals begin next week!"

I felt sad after Mrs. Stella turned down my poetry work. At least, she should have corrected the errors and fix in all the literary devices she wanted. Even at most, she should have told me to go and make up another poem entirely, not giving me the one someone else wrote. I believed that was plagiarism because I will be performing spoken-word poetry of a work I didn't compose by myself. Absurd!

" Sharon, are you going to be performing the poem you wrote by yourself? I mean did Mrs. Stella allow you to use the poem you submitted for the entry?" I asked.

"Yes, she reviewed my work and said it was nice. She didn't turn anyone's work down, did she reject yours?"

I eaved a deep sigh. "She did reject it. She told me it's lacked a lot of essential stuff. The painful thing was that she gave me this.."

I held the paper like a piece of trash.

"to cram. It isn't my work. I didn't make this up, and it would be quite difficult learning this." I said downcasted.

I checked Sharon's work. It wasn't even half as good as the work I submitted which got rejected. I checked Amirah, Ayodeji, Farooq, and Azizat's work. They didn't stand anywhere near mine, yet they were approved for entry by Mrs. Stella. I figured out this was because she wanted me to win by at all costs.

Weeks rolled by. The competition was by the corner. Mr. Samson the Drama teacher didn't take things lightly with the six of us. It seemed to us as if he wanted to kill us but he wasn't. He was stretching us to our fullest potential. The rehearsals became more rigorous. We rehearsed during short breaks, afternoon, and night prep time, during free periods and even weekends. The whole school knew there was a 'FANTASTIC SIX' going for a mission (The competition). During rehearsals, Mr. Samson denied us permission of making use of any microphone or any modern auditory enhancement gadgets. He implored us to speak on top of our voices so that our deepest emotions and actions would be expressed.

"Cut! .. Cut!" Mr. Samson ordered.

"Farooq, I like the emotions and hand gestures you were putting in that performance, but do you know you are fumbling big time? What is wrong with your voice? I could barely hear you audibly just a few meters away. How are you going to perform before an audience of thousands of people?

Everyone listen up! Dignitaries and professors from the University of Ilorin are going to come and watch you perform, and this competition is barely in two weeks. What's wrong with all of you? The other time, Sharon was mincing her words together, Azizat was mumbling. And you, Ayodeji you are not doing this from the depth of your heart. You performed the spoken word with a lackadaisical attitude as if you were forced to do it. Are you uninterested? It was only Gloria that did this to my fullest satisfaction. Her performance deserves my appraisal. Didn't you see the way she performed the spoken word with all manner of professionalism? The way she expressed her emotions in the poetry work was top notch! She even teared up when she said; 'CHARITY, YOUR ABSENCE MAKES THE BELLY OF THE DEPRIVED ONES WAIL IN HUNGER'. "That's the kind of thing I want. You all should emulate her. Good luck!"

I felt very proud of myself for receiving such great comments.

I would lock myself in the hostel room and would begin practice the way I'd deliver the spoken word poetry. I had no choice but to blend with the write-up Mrs. Stella give to me. I started loving it.

"O Lord, please help me to win this competition" I silently prayed, sweating profusely after a rigorous practice in my room. I would always talk to the doors, bunks, mattresses, chairs, wardrobes, buckets windows, and almost everything found in my room; imagining I was talking before a big audience. Most times, I would call a few of my friends together and perform the spoken word before them.

"Such a nice performance!" Noah said.

"I believe with the way you have performed this afternoon, you should be able to qualify for the grand finale and eventually bring home the trophy. Please don't forget me after winning this competition. I know that there is so much money attached to this competition." he teased, smiling.

"Yo guys, don't worry. Just pray for me to perform well in this competition and qualify for the next round. I believe if I do, everyone would benefit from this."

* * * *

Deji sobbed at a corner of the school public toilet like a baby. He felt too ashamed to go out. For the first time in his life, he wished the earth could swallow him up. The shame was just too much for him to bear. He had probably become a laughing stock amongst his classmates. He punched the wall with his fists, an expression of frustration. He was sore. Akanni had sneaked to meet him at the toilet to console him. He was such a great friend, a friend in need! He had rushed to the school hostel to go get him a clean pair of trousers. What happened? Find...

It was a Thursday. Exams had started at PATISA. It was the first examination for the term and students had been preparing hard for so long for their first paper, which was Chemistry. This was one important subject SS2A student's desired to have good grades at.

"Failing chemistry practically means not being qualified in the sciences," said Mrs. Ojo, the chemistry teacher.

Deji checked the time. He was quite shocked to see that he had barely two minutes left before the exam starts. He hurriedly wore his socks and pulled his shoes back on. This he was fond of anytime he read at the school library. He returned the textbooks and resource materials to their shelves and hiked out of the library. He had been there for over two hours, reading relentlessly without being tired. For reals, the passion in him triggered determination and hard work. He planned to become the best student in chemistry in SS2A that term.

"No one should bring in any book or sheet of paper into the exam hall. Mrs. Eshameh roared. Mrs. Eshameh was the Business Studies tutor at PATISA. She had been assigned to invigilate Chemistry because she was strict. She had harsh principles and students feared her. No wonder she wasn't married.

" I wouldn't repeat myself. There is no lending or borrowing of materials when the exam begins. No talking to anyone, no standing up, and above all, no cheating! Anyone caught cheating during my invigilations would be sent out! I would tear your scripts into two, meaning your exam would be forfeited and you would vouch for a F9 in Chemistry. Have I made myself clear?" she shouted.

Students hated her, most especially; her guts. She was rude at times to the senior staff. She had no respect for the SS3's. She had once told senior Ganiyu the labor prefect to crawl all around the junior school section, in front of his juniors because he didn't do her assignment. We grumbled as we entered the classroom one by one. She had instructed us to queue up outside the classroom for a thorough body search before the examination. She inspected us as if we were suspected drug barons trying to sneak some coc aboard.

We got settled in the classroom. I could see many students praying fervently. Everyone was desperate. I was also nervous. The lazy students got their hopes dashed because they thought a less strict invigilator would be assigned for our class, so they could cheat and 'giraffe' from the brilliant ones in the exam.

"Don't open the script until you are told to do so.

Hey Noah, go and lock that door!" she poked at him.

Everyone was frigid. It seemed like judgment day. The class was silent.

"Opening the script without instruction to do so attracts a 5-mark deduction penalty. I would write '-5' on your script so that your chemistry teacher will deduct that from your total score, and I'm pretty sure that would dash your hopes. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Start!"

Deji waited a few minutes before he turned over the questions script. He was a holy, godly, and intelligent guy, probably the only one. I mean, this was very obvious, coupled with the fact that he had a good character and humility. He was quite astonished, seeing that the questions set for the examination were from the exact part of the book he read. It was all the topics he perceived would be asked that were set in the exam. He leaped for joy, in his imaginations. Obviously, he dared not to. Not even in Mrs. Eshameh's presence.