I burned the mid-night oil day by day, hour after hour, minute after minute. I placed my legs in a basin full of cold water hoping to keep awake until I could feel enough was enough. I became a regular customer to the coffee shop. “It keeps one awake,” a friend has disclosed to me. KCSE made me a humble and loyal attendant of books. I searched for the quietest places to free from noise and disturbances - I wanted a win. I even composed songs from Biology and chemistry text books. I sang the Physics text book, Abbot from page one to the last index. I was confident I had captured the dream into my hands. I saw myself a fresh man at Nairobi University, Faculty of Medicine, training to become Kenya's best doctor.
In this season, gift shops make more money than banks earn in the whole month. I received many words of encouragement, as it happens to everyone at this stage. Success cards flowed in from all directions with all types of wishes. The first card was from my mom. It had words I vividly remember, "Millions of people are behind you. Go for the best results. I know and everyone knows you can make it. Success is your brother." Signed mum. My elder brother too, gave me his success wishes by word of mouth, "Young boy," he started, "You are a great boy. Be confident and determined. So many have crossed the narrow bridge. You too can make it." As he talked, a friend of his on a visit to our home made a joke I didn't like, “Hey boy," he began. Thinking he was going to tell me sense. I gave him my full ear only to vomit nonsense, “Don't sweat your ass reading to madness,” he belched, "You won't be the first or the last to fail. And if you pass, still you won't be the last or the first." He laughed like a moron. If he was of my age and strength, I promise I would have given him a bloody nose that hot afternoon. I turned and walked away, determined to score an A, and shame two devils walking this planet. First, Omar my brother's friend. Second, Angelina, the proudest but sweet girl in my class.
Angelina was a beauty of my class. The whole school adored her; the male students desired her and the teachers did the worshiping. She was intelligent, tidy, tough and beautiful. In truth, female teachers detested her. I heard she was also a threat to her middle-aged mother who wouldn't keep her company especially when she was to meet her business partners. That's was why Angelina opted to join the boarding while she would have preferred to stay a day scholar. She rivaled her mother.
Every boy looked for a chance to talk to her. I wasn't an exception. The biggest fight was among the big bulls. The Head teacher had some interest in her but wouldn't openly express his feelings. His Deputy and the Dean of studies were already arch-rivals, having known each other's intentions; they manipulated their office in her advantage in order to win the trophy. The D.O.S got her examination papers before they reached the examination room. For sure, she kept number one, straight A’s throughout her stay at the high school. She won the awards for the best student, year after year. The bursary fund was entirely hers. She never touched a penny from her family since the second term of her form one. She was a golden girl. The parents committee attached to her a label, 'University material' to the envy of those parents who struggled to improve their children's grades. None of them knew her secret. Only a hand full in the whole school knew the story behind her success.
Therefore, I had no Precious Blood schools to defeat or compete with. I had near me a genius of the highest order. Angelina Moshee, she was my icon of super intelligence. One day at the parade, the Headmaster compared her IQ with that of Isaac Newton, it felt bad to hear him shower the beauty with praises, "We have Kenya's best brain. Angelina's IQ is above 140." He said forcing us to clap for her. I had a self talk, "It's barbaric for teachers to play dirt games with their students!"
The examination day dawned. It was the time each one proved their worth. Day one, it was English. I was less tensed this time. I spotted the golden girl making her final touches of mwakenya. She was panicking. It was to play a sadist but I was glad to see a golden girl sweat while everyone looked relaxed. What happened in the examination hall, I didn't notice. I was busy registering my A. After the paper, I could tell from the shock on her face - things weren't going well. I felt like going to her rescue, better to listen to her story. But I feared to be seen by the 'big men.' Small fish cannot swim in the same water as the whale - its risking life.
She was greatly distressed. Sincerely, she looked gloomy and ugly. If that was her normal appearance, not even a dog could ever have looked on her face. She sat all by her self. The boys joked, "Golden girl has eaten dust." She burst into tears.
I wonder how the word came to the Deputy that boys were making a crown of his idol. He summoned all of them to his office, reprimanded them with all crude words he knew. He accused them of harassing an innocent girl and he promised to withhold their certificates until they paid a fine of three thousand Kenyan shillings.
Angelina smiled when her only friend Teddy came with a message from the Dean's office. I was left in suspense. The last thing I ever wanted was seeing Angelina entering any of the houses of our male teachers. How can you trust hyenas with safeguarding meat! One hour later, she turned up. Excited. She and Teddy headed for another place. My heart started beating hard. Before they could skip my eyes, Jamo, a rather funny, stubborn and persistent boy went after them.
“Stop. Share with us what you have got from there." They knew he was a never give-up rogue boy. So they ignored him.
"Give me what you've got from the Dean," he insisted.
"Nothing Jamo. In truth nothing," pleaded Teddy.
"There's something."
"If there was, I would share it with you," said Angelina rubbing her eyelids.
"Then what the hell were you doing with that man. Does he want to suck your saliva?"
"NO...no. don't speak such careless and silly words. He's a friend. A family friend." Angelina explained playing about with her fingers. She looked down and her brown face turned pale."
"You see...you're cheating." Jamo glued his eyes on her.
It took Waweru, a former Head prefect to run to the rescue of the two girls.
"Why don't you give the girls some peace? When will you ever respect ladies?" he intervened.
"I respect only your mother." Jamo joked to the annoyance of Waweru.
"I'll punch your face." Waweru decreed as he struggled to contain his anger.
Jamo saw his opponent was turning red. He showed him the back and ran off citing a proverb,
"What you hide from a neighbor, it's the rat that uncovers it."
The next day was Geography. The sun rose quite early that morning. I thought it had risen for me. While I sunbathed, I passed through my summary notes for the last time. The supervisors were punctual. The policeman stationed himself at the door. We lined up for the check up.
"Bring in only your pens and geometry set. Nothing more." She announced rather in a male voice. Nobody laughed. She looked like a tough lady, capable of bullying anyone even the strongest among us. She searched everywhere to the extent of touching the untouchable. Reason she gave, "I'm looking for mwakenyas."
"If I get you dubbing," she warned, "I'll straight away cancel the exam. Start."
Barely three minutes passed, Angelina's hand was up.
"What's up girl? Don't tell me you want to go for a short or long call!"
"No madam," Angelina said in a pleading voice. All our eyes were on her. Somebody whispered to a neighbor,
"Golden girl is through."
That wasn't the case. She continued.
"Madam, this is not the paper!"
"What?" the madam begged pardon.
"This is not the set exam."
"You mean, it is not Geography?"
"No. It's Geography but the paper is different." Angelina betrayed herself.
"How do you know that?" the supervisor interjected.
"Aaaaa..." she stammered. She wasn't able to finish the word. Angelina collapsed on the floor. The examination hall went into commotion. Angelina's skirt tore exposing her thighs. Boys looked closer. The thighs were not her orange skin. They were blue.
The policeman saw her first. Moving closer she pointed to the fallen girl calling out to the supervisor.
"See madam. This girl is a crook number one."
The blue ink explained the mystery behind the changed paper. She had written an exam on her thighs. But none of the numbers were in the given papers. "That was the secret of her flying A’s," noted somebody in the corner.
The supervisor fumblingly called for the headmaster.
"I'll give you a lesson. Dubbing, rather copying is an offence. A crime of the highest degree," she shouted on top of her voice as she walked up and down.
"I told you. Didn’t I?" she reminded us.
The headmaster came in trembling.
"Look at your girl." She pointed a finger without covering poor Angelina's nakedness.
The headmaster froze. He got into his pocket pulling out some cash. He handed it to the lady. The madam got it with her two hands. Looking him in the face, she tore it into pieces. She then ordered the policeman to have him cuffed. She got her mobile phone. Rang the District Education Officer. We were on fire. The night closed on my dreams. I couldn't say a word. I felt like going for a short call - I don't know whether it was supposed to be a long one. Then I changed my mind. I was afraid I might faint before I reached out of the door.
"The exam is cancelled." Madam supervisor announced bluntly without a dose of mercy in her voice.
I was sweating all over my armpits. It was as if I was facing a death squad. So many questions rang into my mind. "Shall I ever make it to the university?" I closed my eyes. I also didn't want to hear anything until I heard a familiar voice of courageousness. It was Jamo standing on his two feet.
"Madam," He called out angrily, "you must be joking. You can't mess up our lives and get away with it because of this stupid girl. We can't pay for the sins of one person. It is not fair."
"My decision stands young man," she replied.
"That's why you're wrong. You won't mess up our lives." Jamo persisted.
"So what?"
"Madam, you'll regret it."
"Don't threaten me, boy. What will you do?"
"A tooth for a tooth. An eye for an eye. Okay?" Jamo said emphatically to which all of us supported. We broke into noise that brought the whole school inside the hall.
The policeman shot some bullets in the air. All of us were disbanded. The D.E.O came for the supervisor and his policeman. He put them in his car and drove away with the Headmaster. I never saw that car again.
I held Angelina responsible for our fate. I looked out for revenge to her. I sought out for a chance to avenge the loss. The more I sought out for her, the more I discovered she was in danger of other assailants. After much reflection, I was converted. "All of us were losers," I thought, "why then victimize one person." I decided to become her protector although she cost my place in the university. We went on a run without saying good bye to anyone. We started a life together.
She has fully paid the price of my dream. She pays still. She confesses to me her grave mistake every Tuesday, a day she collapsed. "That was a price for foul play" she says. I nod to console her. Revenge was turned into love. Today she is my wife. Ten children she has bore for me. We have a lovely home and comfortable jobs. She has made my life an A.
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