It's already five pm and Sophia and her mother with the doctor are in the room given to them after the registration.
Sophia is sleeping, while Mrs Owomorsale and Dr Donald discussed, " Dr. I am confused, if Sophia did not participate in this competition, how exactly am I going to tell her that she is disqualified? Sophia will really be disappointed, oh my God!",
" we can't sit here and watch this people do whatever they like, this competition is being sponsored by The French Big Company known as The Brains, a competition that is made to help develop the intellectual abilities of the students, never in their rules did they say that the physically challenged kids are not allowed to participate, so we go in there and register Sophia, it's either they agree or we make use of the media", Dr Donald said furiously, " honestly, we have to do something, we have to and the best time is now, because the competition is starting tomorrow, and my daughter can't afford to miss out", Mrs Owomorsale added.
After covering Sophia very well with the blanket, they left to the registration room in the 17th floor.
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At the 17th floor where registration is being made, people coming in with their candidate, after three hours, everyone who registered for the competition has been assigned to a room with hope to participate in the Brains competition the next day, while Mrs Owomorsale and the doctor are yet to be permitted to enter. After a long wait, they were asked to come in, "Good evening accurate panels", they greeted, " you are welcome, how may we help you?", Mrs Jeobor asked,( Mrs Jeobor is a a Yoruba woman and a professor who has won many outstanding awards and known for always wearing her glasses) "I am Dr Donald and here with me is Mrs Owomorsale, we came here since 1 pm all the way from Port Harcourt, to register a child", " wow! from Port Harcourt? ever since we started having this competition for three years now, we have never had a contestant from Port Harcourt, you are welcome", Mrs Jeobor said with a warm smile, " thank you", they both replied, " so what is the problem, if you came since noon, why then have your candidate not been registered?", turning to Mr Stanley, she asked, " you are in charge of the registration, so you must be in the best position to explain what happened", " well, I met them earlier, but I told them to go, the candidate they brought is not fit for this exercise", Mr Stanley said, "how do you mean not fit for the exercise? is she sick?", Mrs Johnson; a lecturer of English at the best private university in Lagos asked, " she is not sick, but she is crippled, and I don't think that a physically challenged kid like her can compete with other kids who are not physically challenged, and besides, we don't have elevator here, but use only stairs", Mr Stanley said defending his actions, " well, I see, ehm... Mr Donald and Madam, I suggest you go back, we don't accept physically challenged children", Mrs Jeobor said, " but there's no rules of the Brains that rejects the physically challenged, and Sophia was not born crippled, four years ago, she h
was a victim of a fire outbreak, an accident that happened in het school and since then, she have not been able to walk, she is mentally fit, she's intelligent and is always at the top of her class every term. Sophia is a bright kid, just give her a chance and you will not be disappointed", Mrs Owomorsale said pleading, " we are not arguing with you, all we are saying is that we can't accept you and your candidate, please excuse us", Mrs Johnson added.
Back at the room, Mrs Owomorsale went to Sophia's bed and lied beside her, weeping softly, while Dr Donald sat at the sofa near the window and stare at the wall, totally confused. Then he went to Sophia's bed, holding her hands, he said tearfully, " I am sorry that I couldn't do anything for you, I really wish I can help you", he sighed, just then, Sophia got up, the doctor surprised, wiping the tears in his eyes so that Sophia do not notice, asked," did I wake you up?", "no doctor, but I want you to know that everything will be alright", Sophia said, "what?", Dr Donald asked pretending not to know what Sophia meant, " everything will be alright", Sophia said, " whatever it is", she added.
Doctor Donald went back to the sofa and manage to sleep, but Sophia silently prayed to God, " my God, I do not understand what is going on or what will happen, but I believe in you, please take charge of everything, please take charge".