THE SECRET RESIT; Woes of a desperate referred student

So I shot out of bed immediately, dashed into the bathroom sprinkled water on face, hands and feet like a young Muslim practicing ablution for the first time.In the twinkling of an eye, I was back to my room looking through my bag for something to wear. I didn't have time to even put pomade on my skin or even brush my hair and I was out on the streets buttoning my shirt, lacing my shoes, closing my school bag and wearing my belt, simultaneously. 

At the sight of the hawker selling P.K, I licked my teeth, smelled my armpit and realized I had not brushed my teeth nor used roll-on.  I had no time to waste so I let him go and I jumped into the Trosky that had just arrived. After all, what could be more important that the secret re-sit, Drew, my good friend had called me that Mr Duah, the logic and critical thinking the lecturer, was organizing?

The reason why I was referred in this particular course was not that I did not study hard for the previous end of semester exam but all the students in my class would bare me witness that the Logic and Critical Thinking paper was difficult. No! Very hard like Sudoku! My God! At the end of the paper, my new pen had reduced in length because I chewed it in search of answers, which never came.

I could not leave the exam hall immediately the paper ended. I was devastated. And when I finally did because the hall had to be prepared for the next paper I realized I was not alone in that state. I could hear other students lamenting; some even saying they would start saving towards re-sit because they dare not ask their parents for the money.

 I recall bowing at the bush canteen and instead of praying over a bowl of konkonte like I always did, I said the prayer below in my head.

''My dear father: not the one in Cape Coast whose one night excitement brought me to earth but the one in Heaven who  created me, I thank you so much for this new day, the lives of my family, friends and my unknown girlfriend. How I wish I could thank you for the paper I just wrote.

How are you? Well, I need not ask because you are always fine. You need not ask about how I’m doing too because you know perfectly well that I am not fine; not at all.

Father, where were you when I was murdering my pen with my teeth, ploughing my head with my fingers and abusing my brain all to get answers?

I invited you Father before the paper began. I said the Lord’s Prayer five times, the Apostles Creed three times and even though I am not a catholic, I said Hail Mary twice, but you still didn't come to my aid. Why Father, why Father!

Were you not the one who said in ... in ... in ...em ...em...  somewhere in the Bible that we should call on you in times of trouble? BUT DADDY GOD; WHY? BROTHER JESUS; WHY? UNCLE HOLY SPIRIT; WHY?

Hmm! I'm sorry Father for shouting. It's just that I am distressed. How will that girl I’m trying to woe feel when she sees my index number on the re-sit list? And the lecturer, how do I look him in the face especially when people say I resemble him. Does it mean I shouldn't use a mirror again?

Oh Father! If you love me that much then let the lecturer write 77 in an attempt to write?? (Two question marks), let him exchange may be Lilly or Lemuel’s marks with mine or let him... (I went on and on)… and in the end I will not forget to give you praise and honour in Jesus' name have I prayed with thanksgiving Amen''

So that was my prayer and thankfully, my God had given me a second chance to redeem myself by speaking to Mr. Duah to organize a secret re-sit.

Back to the secret re-sit. Immediately I arrived at the school gate, I called Drew and he told me they were in the seminar room.I entered and there they were all ready to re-sit.

Ei! So I was not alone; Gifty, Abrefi, Priscilla, Maxwell, Lydia, and all those who hardly sit in front had occupied the front seats. I panned left and right like a camera and found the seats Drew and Vida had reserved beside them for me.

Mr Duah entered soon after and gave us all an envelope each. We were all surprised and began murmuring. He cleared his throat and began to talk.

“'Thank you all for coming though the invitation was sent to only three students. Nevertheless, I knew this would happen so I brought enough question papers for you all. This is a clear indication that those three will be very good at information dissemination and I cannot wait to recommend them to Aljazeera, BBC, CNN and the likes.''We all cheered

“The envelopes” he continued, “contains the questions .Since they are so difficult and would not want to refer you all again, I want you to take them home and answer the

m at your own convenience. Do not open them till you get home. I repeat, do not open them till you get home '.Then he left.We all started cheering; “Duah oo! Duah! Duah oo! Duah!”.

Gifty, Leticia, Sarah and Eunice were already on their knees thanking God.

As for Comfort, she lay prostrate and started speaking tongues; hei! Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba.

After my own short prayer, I joined Vida, Drew, Maria and the other GIJ-Tema- station- foot -soldiers to start another journey.

We all began to wonder what was in the envelopes. As we talked and walked, I felt like opening the envelope. Vida warned me, Drew cautioned me but after a while they gave up. So I opened the envelope with my hand shaking.....“Aaaah Koko questions!” I exclaimed. The attention of the others was drawn to me. Immediately, they rushed over to have a look at the questions.But before they could read too I fainted. Wondering what the questions were? The box below has it all.

DATE:01/04/ LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING SPECIAL RESIT Answer all questions by filling in the blank spaces with 'oo' 1. Okomfo Anokye commanded down a Golden St_ _l. 2. Almost every child cries on his or her first day at Sch _ _l. 3. It is a requirement for a 5-star hotel to have a swimming P_ _l. 4. It’s 1st April, if you are reading this then I am sorry you are an April F_ _l.

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