CHAPTER FIVE (REALISTIC DREAM 3)

Mr Abraham is our maths teacher but he also helps us in other subjects. We love his teaching technics and he plays with us alot not like the other teachers. His wife is also a teacher, she teaches agriculture in the junior classes but she is way different from her husband, she is very harsh. "I wonder how he could marry such a woman. She also acts like a witch."

We went to the large Amina hall and found ourselves two seats among the other debaters.

The principal came into the hall to inform us that the debate will commence very soon and that fellow debaters should please get ready and be comfortable in their seats. Parents were asked to sit behind, so that students will be able to see the debaters clearly. Prefects brought refreshments and distributed it among everyone in the hall.

The principal came back and asked everyone to sit down quietly as he introduce the important guest and judges. The principal started calling names from the programme and the people came in one after the other, one of the important guest was the governor of Lagos State and also some big politicians and Alhajis. After calling the names of the important guests, he introduced the judges to us. The judges included Mr Samson the school's exam officer, Mr Amos the discipline officer, Mrs Abidemi Banjo the vice principal, Mrs Ifeoma Obi the vice principal admin, Mrs Hadiza Ibrahim the school nurse, Mr Idris Mamuda the student cancelor and Mr Amusan the discipline master who is going to be the time keeper.

The debate started immediately after the judges were introduced. The topic of the debate was about private and public schools.

Between private schools and public schools which one has the best education system. I George and Miracle, a crippled girl from our physics class picked private schools, and had very good points made for the debate and we put in our best when we were debating.

I noticed that when I came out, people clapped very well. I was scared but I wanted to make mom and daddy Zee proud, so I kept my fear aside and spoke boldly carefully stating my points on why private schools has better education system then public school, i received a standing ovation by everyone. At the end of the debate we won and left our competitors far behind, in the excitement George gave me a peck. I was shocked and stood looking at him until mom ran all the way from the back seat to where I was and gave me a tight hug, daddy Zee also came and hugged me. Mom wispered into my ear, "I am so proud of you Tinu."

In the quiz competition we came second because of Aisha, a girl from class B who was jealous of the way George was getting close to me and also the way he kept hugging me each time we got a question right.

When it was her turn to answer the last question, she deliberately said the wrong answer because that question was so simple that anyone could answer it but she failed it. After the quiz, the principal asked everyone to go and have a delicious meal of rice and stew with meat before going to the school's stadium for the games.

At the large table arranged for students, I was about to sit close to George when Aisha came and pushed me away and she sat down. "That's my seat Aisha." Aisha looked at me in a wierd way and said. "Did you bring the chair from your house?"

"No but you saw that I wanted to sit there."

"I don't care. I sat on it, so get yourself another seat."

I wanted to start an agurement with her when George stopped me. He got up from his chair and took my hand in his. "You don't have to argue with her, c'mon let's get another seat."

We all left Aisha at the table and went to another table. We had our meal and went to the school's stadium filled with green carpet grass and tall palm trees and almost hundred chairs.

Some students were already seated there talking and the participants were busy preparing for the game. When everyone arrived the game started, first the egg race then the sack race and we did several other games too. We had lots of fun. After the games, the vice principal asked everyone to go to the assembly ground, where names of those who got first, second and third positions as well as those who passed their waec with flying colors from each classes will be called out to receive their gifts. We all got ourselves in a straight line ready to listen to our names and get those amazing prizes.

"I pray that I get first or second position because I really put in so much effort into my exams this year." The male line was different from the female line so I couldn't talk to George but I saw him talking to his friends excitingly.

The principal got on the podium, he was given a microphone and a paper in which the names of the students was written. He cleared his throat and started talking, "ladies and gentlemen, students of Great Royals Academy. You are all welcome to our 2021 end of the year's party."

The students started clapping and cheering, everyone was so happy. The principal stopped them and called their attention to the speech he was giving.

"I am also very happy to announce that this year exam results was one of the best results we have seen in many years. Now I shall call the exam officer to call out the names of those students who have made the school proud with their amazing performance in their various classes. If your name is not among those who are called out, do not feel sad rather use this failure as a way to success. Please keep quiet and listen to the exam officer as he calls out your names."