Dumbstruck or thunderstruck. CNF #96

It was almost the end of the school session, with the graduation ceremony coming up in a month's time. The school was alive with buzz, aa students were seen in groups gisting about their holiday plans or planning their get up for the ceremony.

I was in SSS 3 Brilliant, a science class, trying to come up with fresh ideas for the science presentation that the chemistry teacher had asked us to prepare. The best presentations would be selected and presented to the whole school on the graduation day.

"Hey Becky, have you been in here all this while?" That was Linda my seat partner and friend.

"Yes Lin, I've been here trying to finish my draft for the science presentation which Mr Austin asked us to do. You know the deadline is just one week. I don't want to be behind. Are you not going to present yours?"

"Oh don't worry about me girl, I'm already working on something and I hope to finish before the deadline. I hope my presentation gets selected, how lovely will that be?"

"My dear, I hope mine is selected as well. I can't wait to finally share my passion on the stage for all to see" I said with a gleeful smile on my face.

"Sure, who doesn't know you're in love with science, crazy girl" she said as she ruffled my hair.

" Hey stop that you brute, go find someone else to bully ok" I pushed her away and continued to scribble on the A4 paper on the table with my lucky ball pen.

Later that night

I was sitting at the dinning area trying to finish my draft. The time was already half past seven and my stomach was already grumbling. A timely reminder that I need to settle the war within my stomach infrastructure. Standing up to go grab some chips and orange juice from the kitchen, the ring of the door bell altered my steps. Sighing frustratedly, I went to open the door only to find Linda standing there.

"Linda!, What brings you here at this hour?"

"Good evening to you too. I'm here to study with you. Hope you don't mind?"

"Come in drama queen, the house is all yours" I moved aside for her to step in and we both giggled like five year olds.

"Hmm, seems like you are through with your presentation She held one of the A4 papers in her hand, perusing through it.

"I'm almost done, I just need to correct some errors and add some finishing touches" I replied.

*"So you want to present on "Molecular expansivity?"

"Yes, why ?"

"Oh nothing, it's just that you know how voluminous the subject is, how are you going to pull it off?"

"Don't worry, I'll simply summarize the main points using practical illustrations".

"Alrigh,t it's your call" She finally opened her bag, brought out her notebook and began to study. One hour later, we finally finished studying and called it a day. I walked Linda halfway and quickly returned back home. Never did I imagine that she would try to steal my thunder.

Two days later, after I and Linda's study seesion at my house. I went to the chemistry lab to speak with Mr Austin but he was not on seat. I decided to wait a while and peruse the charts displayed for any clues that I could add to my presentation as a finishing touch. I walked to a large table filled with new bottles of chemicals, intrigued I decided to read the labels on them. One bottle read ammonium chloride, the other one read dilute hydrogen sulphate (vi) acid as I tried to read the next bottle, my eyes fell on some pristine white papers piled neatly on the table.Thinking it was the full list of chemicals bought, I picked them up and decided to read them but what I saw left me dumbstruck, no scratch that, I was thunderstruck.

Turns out the papers were entries for the science presentation and a presentation on Molecular expansivity was already submitted. I quickly checked the initials and discovered that it belonged to Linda. Immediately a plan began to hatch in my head. I took away the presentation and hurriedly left the lab and went back to the class. My demeanor was calm but inside me was a raging tornado.

I got home after school hours and quickly went to my room to study Linda's work. Although hers were tacky without depth like my presentation, the titles were still the same and so I decided to change her tiltle with something else while mine remained as planned. The next day, I submitted both our presentations to Mr Austin. It was unbeknownst to anyone except me about the changes made. One week later, Mr Austin selected the top three science presntions and mine was part of the selections. When Linda heard the title of the presentation with my name on it, she felt wronged and wanted to go see Mr Austin but I quickly diffused her bomb by letting her know that I caught what she tried to do.

Seeing no way out, she became sober and apologized whilst asking me to keep it a secret. For the sake of our long term friendship, I obliged her but with a sound warning of no repeat. All was smooth sails from there.

Thank you all for reading.

Image by Ejov Igor

Image by Pat Whelen