Resuscitated Hope - Episode 14

 

May 1997
Ifeoma sat for her West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations with the aid of the Government who always intervened on public schools behalf every year.
She always went late to the examination hall.
Mama Bola wanted her to miss an examination, so she will have a problem with her result even if she finally pass with luck.
But Ifeoma became smarter after she nearly missed the first examination but abandoned her work to write it, but she faced the wrath.
Most of her examinations were 10:00AM, but she lied they were 8:00AM and Mama Bola excuse her by 8:30AM to go and get done.
Bola couldn't enter University, and she finally settled with Catering while Bose settled for polytechnic with her 180 - 190 score she had managed to score thrice.

Ifeoma examination was over and she was so sure by herself that she will excel flawlessly.
But she knew Mama Bola and her children won't take it lightly.
One night, unusual of them, Mama Bola decided to switch to a news channel.
"A break from our normal nollywood movies", Bose said.
They all laughed, as Ifeoma whistled and sang while rinsing the plates in the kitchen sink
"I got some Regina Askia movie", Bola said.
"The Queen of Nollywood", Mama Bola said.
"Bring it let's watch abeg", Bose said.
Just then, NTA news headline read,
"West African Senior Secondary School Certificate" is out and 25% passed Mathematics and English Language.
"That's a poor performance", Bose said.
"Well, I'm sure it's only private schools students passed", Bola replied.
They all burst into laughter and looked at Ifeoma sitting at their back with eyes closed as she laughed.
"You'll go and check your result tomorrow, aunty", Bose mocked.
"Let's see your exaggerated intelligence", Mama Bola said and they all burst into laughter.

**********************
The next day,
"Good afternoon, Ma", Ifeoma said to Mama Bola as she was flanked by her two children
"Good morning, girl", Bose and Bola replied.
"You guys should calm down", Mama Bola said as she laughed hysterically.
"You appeared so timid?", Mama Bola chirped in.
Mama Bola continued, "what have brought you?".
"I want to check my WASSCE result and I need money for scratch card and to pay the cafe attendant", Ifeoma replied.
"Okay, one person should volunteer to see her", Mama said.
Bose raised her hand because she liked seeing juicy gossips in its fresh form.
Mama was so quick in giving her money and attending to this need because she was expectant of what the result would be.

They both left inside and started walking down to a cyber cafe down the street.
"Oya walk fast", Bose said.
A long hiss followed by Ifeoma.
"So, you are hissing at me? "You are lucky we are outside", Bose said and frowned at Ifeoma.
"Okay?", Ifeoma queried.
"See, I am occupied, let's go and see your failure", Bose shouted.
"I will surely pass and I won't be scoring between 180 - 190 as my jamb score and finally end up in polytechnic to resume next month", Ifeoma mocked.
"Urghhh!!!", Bose smirked.
She wanted to go back home and not help her with the result checking, but remembered her mother was expectant.

They got to the  cafe.
"Good morning", they both chorused to the cafe attendant.
"Good afternoon", he replied.
"I need WASSCE scratch card", Bose said.
He handed it to her and she paid.

"Pass your details, you fool", Bose said to Ifeoma.
"Don't call me a fool again", Ifeoma replied.
"And what if I do?", Bose said and went close to Ifeoma pointing at her.
Ifeoma pulled off her hand and a fight wanted to start whilst the cafe attendant separated them.
Ifeoma had always taken her own pound of flesh outside the sight of Mama Bola especially on Bose.
Bose was just two years older and, Bola, five years.
Ifeoma was seventeen.

"Pass me the scratch card", the cafe attendant said to Bose.
Bose did with a frown registered on her face.
"Pass me your details", cafe attendant said to Ifeoma.
She did with a smile.

He imputed the details.
Voilà, the result came staring at their faces.
Three C6's, five d7's and one f9.
Bose saw it first and laughed so hard.
"I knew it, what an unintelligent local champion", Bose mocked.
"That can't be my result, young man", Ifeoma said and came close but the grades were still showing there.
"Okay?", Bose said with a straight face and laughed so hard again.
Tears ran down from Ifeoma's eye.
The cafe attendant printed the result, handed it to Ifeoma but she threw it away.
He handed it to Bose.
Bose stared at it again and wanted to laugh, then something caught her attention.
Meanwhile, Ifeoma had already made up her mind on how to run across the busy road to be knocked down by a vehicle.

The name written on the result sheet wasn't Ifeoma's name but bore the same secondary school.
"This is not her result", Bose shouted.
Ifeoma didn't pay attention because she thought it was Bose trying to mock her.
"Whose own?" the cafe attendant asked.
"See the name written there", Bose handed it to the cafe attendant.
"Miss Olabisi Okuneye, it is. Isn't she the one?" Cafe attendant asked.
"No, I am not", Ifeoma shouted.
"But, that's the details you gave to me", cafe attendant frowned.
"Probably a mistake on your part", Bose said.
"But that's the centre number and registration number on the details you gave me and I imputed", Cafe attendant said getting ready to throw them out.
"Obviously a mistake, because we have same centre number but my registration number is 212 and she is 222", Ifeoma said.
"You guys should leave my cafe or bring another money for a new scratch card", he shouted.
"That can't happen

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. Who the hell do you think you are.", Bose asked and went closer to him.
"You want to fight me? This is not about being loudmouthed", cafe attendant said as he laughed at her action.
Ifeoma was looking at them like a confused old woman.
"Who is loudmouthed? My friend, you are a fool", Bose pointed and pushed him backward.
He wanted to give her a knockout blow, he quickly dropped his clenched fist as his "oga" entered.
"Oga" means master.