So much for the whole noise all through the night. By the time we woke up, the girl had gone. I went inside Ivan's room to look
at my bed and I could swear it was looking at me with contempt."I will never forgive you" I could hear it say as I sat on it. Ivan
walked in and thanked me for helping him out. "make I carry am come your room?" he asked. "no my guy, let it still be here for a while so it can cool of " I replied. I knew I had to sanitize or anoint that bed if I ever wanted its glory to align with mine. We took a walk to the tap to fetch water and we saw some girls carrying buckets from the stream walk past us. "one of those girls would end up on my bed very soon" Ivan exclaimed as he looked at the behind of one of the girls. I laughed and responded, "dude, I don't want to be involved in any of that, let's be focused
on why we are in school" and I really meant that. My dad was one of those fathers that usually give long pep talks. The last one he gave me before resuming was two hours long urging me to be
focused and come out with good grades.
We got dressed and was set to leave for school, our lectures started by 10 am but we all decided to leave early together. It had been three weeks into lectures and I already knew my favourite courses, favourite lecturers and the ones I dreaded. Top of those I dreaded was the Professor teaching us mathematical economics, Professor Asamoah. He was a lanky, utmostly dark human being. His physical
appearance wasn't appealing and to top it off, it was always difficult to understand whatever it is or what he taught. Most of us struggled to pull through his classes except the really bright ones. I was an average when it came to mathematics but I always covered up with the theoretical parts. By 10am it was time for our lectures, Eco 104 with the dreaded Professor. Mark and I left Ivan o keep watch of our phones as we hurried to class. He was late today and as so, we all were chilling and discussing. As males, most of our arguments were football related, the constant throwing of banters and jibes amongst clubs was incredibly hilarious and totally mesmerizing with my course mates.
Then out of nowhere walks in the Professor. I would admit it, the whole lecture theatre was unruly and rowdy like a market place. "ehn! what's all these? do you all still think you are in secondary school?!" we all hurriedly ran to our seats and settled down. "I am so disappointed in you all, can't you comport yourselves in my absence? course rep where are you?"
Gabriel our rep stood up. He was older than most of us. " this must never happen again!" he exclaimed. "yes sir" Gabi replied as he took a bow and sat. We were all silent and nobody dared to say a word.
He took up his marker from his pockets, went to the board and was about to write when he paused with his back still
to us. "bloody hell" he muttered beneath his breath as he turned "tear out a sheet of paper, we're having a test"
The whole class burst into low pitched confusion "ahhhh" ..."Please sir" ...."Prof, we are sorry" "fuck shit" was my own response as I knew I was not ready for any test. We weren't due to have tests till three weeks time. What demon of a lecturer was this? All our pleas fell on deaf ears and that was it, we were going to write our first test. "you've all been given your ID cards, so put it on your table, without your card, you aren't writing this test" he further instructed. I opened my bag to pick up my card and just then I realised I couldn't find it. I checked my pockets, nothing. Where was my bloody ID card? This wasn't happening to me. I clearly could remember Gabi giving it to each of us yesterday after our last class. I put mine in my pocket and headed for the market to buy my bed later on. "Young man, your ID card?" the Professor stood in front of my table and I winced. "sir, I forgot it at home" I managed to muster in fear as I thought that would save me. "out of my class!" he screamed and I jumped off my seat and went outside.
Out of fifty of us, seven of us weren't with our cards and we stood outside the door. We pleaded and begged the Professor but he didn't budge. The test went on without us and I was grateful when I eventually found out it was just for "ten" marks. "whew, we could easily make up for that with the remaining 90" I said as I spoke to my fellow culprits. A girl amongst us was crying as she begged the
Professor to let her go home to go get it. In fact, we all did, but he told us if we left that spot, none of us should ever enter his class again and we all knew what that meant. I stared at my course mates and half of them were not even writing. I looked through to look for Ivan my guy, the pornstar to see maybe if during the sex or after, he had burned the midnight candle, not just his energy and semen. I was not suprised as I let out an audible chuckle at what I sighted. The idiot was sleeping right in the middle of the test, I couldn't really see his paper but I knew it was blank and I really didn't blame him. I'm sure if he had known, he would have even deliberately joined us outside as there was no difference between us and him. "time up!" the Professor called and he instructed Gabi to collect all test scripts. After collecting it all, he asked Gabi to bring it to his office as they both left.
As soon as the Professor left, the whole class burst into murmurs and mild lamentations.
"oh boy, which kind thing be this?!" a guy
disgustingly retorted. "no be easy ooo, chale so what we go face for this department be this?" another guy interjected. I walked up to my seat clearly unfazed by not writing the test but perplexed as to how I had misplaced my ID card. "Bro, make I no lie give you, we wey write the test and you wey no write am, I swear no difference between us" Ivan said as he walked up to me still trying to search for my card in my bag. "I can't find my card Ivan". I was really worried and he could sense it. He told me to calm down and that we would look for it together when we got home. He guessed that it might have fallen off when I was preparing for school.
By the time I got home, I searched everywhere for it but it wasn't there, I traced the path we walked through and yet nothing. I was in big trouble as I didn't want to think of how many more tests and probably even exams I would miss if I didn't get my card back. This was a Wednesday and another of our lecturers, Dr Mrs Theodie had told us to prepare for a 20 marks test on Friday on the course Mathematics History. Now this was a course I knew I would do well in, I needed my ID card before then as she warned that the school had zero tolerance for allowing those without Identity cards to take tests or exams. If I didn't get that card before Friday by 1 pm, I was fucked. Friday came and still I had no clue where the card was. Requesting for another card from the student affairs was a no show because they only issue the card once every semester and I would need a
police report to even have a chance of getting another one. The only other option I had was forging one. Mark had told me a course mate of his could do that for a fee and I figured I would pay. But definitely it was already too late for me to save today's test, I had to come to peace with the fact that l was going to lose this 20 marks.
The test was scheduled for 1 pm and still I was reading and revising because I believed and hoped a miracle would happen and Dr Mrs Theodie would allow me write the test by having pity on me. By 12 pm while I was in the company of Mark and some other course mates reading and revising, Gabi walked up to us. "Stylish, how far, your attention is needed in the student's affairs division" I was taken back, me? what for? was I in any more trouble than I already was? has the Professor reported us or something. "okay guys, I'll be right back" as I summoned up courage and headed to the office which was like ten minutes from our lecture block. I got to the office and introduced myself to the receptionist. "okay you can go in, the Dean is expecting you". I got cold almost immediately as I held the knob and opened the door.
"Good afternoon sir" I said and stood, trembling at the sight of the middle aged learned man in front of me. "good afternoon, have a seat" he replied and I took a few paces forward to have my seat. I noticed the other seat of the two chairs was occupied by a female figure who didn't look back when I entered. I sat down still feeling very cold and looked to my side to greet the woman seated.
"Good afternoon ma" I said shyly and she replied me warmly....."good afternoon Micheal Anoye" oh goodness lord!!!! l froze at the sight before me. How is this possible? what is she doing here? I couldn't believe it. It was Jane, Miss Jane Asare.