Jennie’s Exam Result

Examination stress

Waking up at 7:30 in the morning was not Jennie’s routine but the jimjams for her ninth grade result were perceptible. She wanted her mom for an indulgent company but her dropping the plan for office rendered Jennie more nervous.

While she was entangled in her web of thoughts, came her dad’s voice, “We shall leave in 5 min”. It would be her mom who convinced him in the last minute, Jennie thought. Not that her dad was strict but Jennie was more frank with her mom and wanted her support during the result announcement. She could help anything but the exam anxiety which made her a nerd, aiming nothing less than to top the class. She rushed to the dressing room so as to not miss the deadline.

When Jennie reached her school, she witnessed a well-organized programme unfolding on the stage where entertaining events were rolling out in sequence. After an elated group of girls sang a patriotic song, a dance troop rocked the stage with cartwheels and head spins. Jennie spotted her class fellows in the middle of the audience and assured her dad that she could manage the results on her own. But he didn’t go even if that meant taking a day off from office. The two got seated adjacent to Jennie’s best friend.

First, there was prize distribution for the annual International Macmillan exam in which both the twin sisters in Jennie’s class got trophies for distinction. ‘Where have their brains come from?’ Jennie wondered in disbelief. Then trophies were distributed to the outstanding performers in cultural and sports events. Finally came the turn for the exam results starting from the first standard. Jennie’s body was drenched in sweat and her fingers fiddled with each other in a sheer state of agony until the time came. It was not her name that got the loud applause. One of the twin sisters came first with 83 percent, another girl second while Jennie was third with 80 percent. But the third rank was not announced on stage. She got to know her rank only while collecting her result from the class teacher. During all the time and until reaching home, she had feigned a reassuring smile and consoled herself, “Fine! Atleast I got a good score.” Her best friend and her Informatics teacher both congratulated her. But somehow, she was upset!!! She felt as if her hard work of the whole year has turned out to be a mere sham.

By the time the sun was setting, Jennie had cried several times over the result. When she looked towards the sky, she spotted two airplanes flying across. The setting sun was giving them a golden tinch and the streak of black smoke which trailed behind them appeared like the one left by a comet. Suddenly, Jennie wished if it were raining. And as if on cue to heal her innocent agony, the bulbs in their dining room started blinking during the night. Her dad opened the door to find the pre-rain storm taking place outside.

Jennie announced, “I will be back in two minutes” and rushed upstairs. The cold wind blew while the lightning flashed between the clouds. Jennie felt so awesome in the thunder that she lied freely over the wooden ladder for some time and opened her arms towards the moon in the starless sky which would hide behind the drifting grey clouds and emerge again. It was giving Jennie sweet feelings that made her forget all the troubles – the pressure of studies, the bullying by her classmates, the daily quarrels of her parents, everything. And now she was lost in the black world for eternity.

She sang many songs while having that lovely walk unperturbed by lightning and played some happening ones on the I-pod with her feet tapping on -“You stole my heart”. She started to dance as if it were a different day when she was so upset about the result.