One of my friends shared his experience the first time he wrote a serious examination and the result was terrible. Fear gripped him that he contemplated not going to show the result to his parents, especially his father who was very strict. According to him, he had to decide whether to go home or remain on the street. He knew that the consequences of staying away from home were more grievous than reporting himself to his father. So, he decided to go home. The worst that his father would do was to kill him and he dared kill him.
Something must kill a man.
His father read his countenance and knew that all was not well.
Junior, is anything the matter?
Junior was so surprised to hear such words from his father. He had never been nice with words. In that statement, he saw an opportunity to spill the bean.
Dad, it's my result.
His father sat upright to hear Junior speak more.
Is there any surprise in your result?
His father asked. Junior wasn't expecting all the body language he was getting from his father. So, he responded:
Dad, it's a fair result. I only had a fail in Mathematics and an ordinary pass in biology but all others are credits.
His father rose and leaped for joy.
That's such a surprise, Junior. I wasn't expecting so much from a lazy student like you.
Now, Junior has become speechless. His father knew all his antics before, he only played along to see what became of Junior. As it stands, Junior can go nowhere with such a result. His father told him to prepare for the exam in the same school he had passed out from.
To Junior, this could be embarrassing. How would he be sitting in class with students who were once his juniors in school?
After much counseling, the young lad accepted to return to school and face his studies squarely. He got back to school indeed and became very serious with his studies. For the nine months that Junior had to study before writing the examination, he was hardly seen playing around like other students. He had learned his lessons.
One evening, his father returned from work and found the whole house quiet even though there was a power supply. He thought that Junior had one out to play or to mingle with his friend, a habit that he was fond of. So, he waited for him to return. His father started thinking of what kind of punishment he would administer on Junior when he returns.
He sat in the living room and waited and waited till about 10:00 pm. When Junior wasn't forthcoming from the doorpost, his father stood and kicked the door to Junior's room. He was surprised at what he saw. Junior was at his reading table, sleeping with his head on top of his Chemistry textbook.
Two things registered in his mind immediately. First is that his boy had turned a new leaf. He would not have to drive him much to get the expected result. And second is that the sleeping giant in the once in a while lazy and stubborn boy has woken up.
After that weekend, when his father was returning from work, he would branch tongue bookshop to get Junior some books. He was so encouraged by the boy's change of attitude.
One evening, while Junior was busy solving a mathematical problem in distance and bearing, his father called him out:
Where is the remote to the television?
Junior was taken aback. His father was in the best place to answer that question. Junior hadn't been watching television for over eight months.
Dad! Help yourself. You know where it ought to be.
His father was shocked at Junior's response. He walked briskly into Junior's room and said:
Oh! Now, it's hard for you to stand up from this seat and answer my call, right?
Junior looked up and told his father:
Dad, I would have enough time to answer your call, please allow me to concentrate on my studies.
His dad was so humbled. He left without asking anything.
After the examination, Junior passed in flying colours. The first thing he had to do was to allay the fear for his father.