Joyce

Back to school

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    It is a bright Tuesday’s morning. After the morning devotion, Joyce and Mrs. Evelyn are preparing to go out for their daily engagements.

“Joyce, make sure you close the door when you are leaving the house for school. I am off to work,” Mrs. Evelyn said from the sitting room.

“Okay mum, I will. You will have many clients today,” Joyce said.

“Amen Dr. Make sure you behave well in school today,” Mrs. Evelyn said.

“Okay mum. Thanks for the piece of advice. I will accede to it,” Joyce said as she walked to the sitting room and sat on a sofa.

“I trust my treasure. I am gone,” Mrs. Evelyn said as she exited the sitting room.

“I am blushing mum,” Joyce said and went to take her food flask.

    Soon, Joyce was out of the room. She walks quietly to school.

“Joyce! Wait for me,” a voice said from behind.

“(Turns backwards) who knows Joyce’s name? Oh! Maryam, it’s you,” Joyce said.

“It’s been a while. How have you been? You have been away from school for days,” Maryam said.

“I am fine Maryam. You are right. I have been engaged in domestic chores and assisting mum in shop,” Joyce said as the two friends walked to school.

“You are a cultured girl. Mum is now aged and needs much assistance. What one sows, he reap,” Maryam said.

“Yeah. All my body parts are aching me,” Joyce said.

“Sorry Dr. You can administer some ointments when you get home. I hope mum is fine?” Maryam said.

“Yes, she is,” Joyce said.

“Good. The principal walked to our classroom yesterday,” Maryam soliloquies.

“Are you serious? What was his mission?” Joyce said.

“He said our WASSCE time table has been placed on the notice board,” Maryam said.

“Wow! I am thrilled. What’s the first subject,” Joyce said.

“It’s physics practical!” Maryam said.

“In that case, I am in line too,” Joyce said.

“I don’t get you. Can you buttress your point?” Maryam said.

“I have seen the soft copy of the time table via someone’s Android phone. The subjects are obviously in correlation,” Joyce said.

“That is good wit,” Maryam said as the two girls entered the school gate.

“I am happy we are not late, after all the series of discussions,” Joyce said.

“(Smiles) We are lucky,” Maryam said as the two girls walked to the classroom.

“The prodigal daughter is back!” Peter yelled referring to Joyce.

“(Turns to check who just entered the classroom) Oh! Prodigal girl indeed,” the other classmates chorused.

“(Smiles and sat down) I am not a prodigal girl,” Joyce said.

“Okay. I've compromised. Where have you been?” Peter said.

“Well…, I have not been indolent and idle. I only stayed at home to help mum in the domestic chores and assist her in her artisan work,” Joyce said.

“Mmm…, we missed you,” Michelle said.

“I am blushing. Thank you everyone. I missed you all. I also missed the school at large.

“That’s reciprocating. The teachers and the school management were worried about your absenteeism. The principal asked of you yesterday in the course of his discussions with us in the class,” Jude said.

“Yes,” Jack and Michelle chorused.

“What did the archaic man say?” Joyce said.

“He said we should go and check the scrutinized WASSCE time table on the school notice board,” Jude said.

“I am not ignorant about that. Maryam told me as we walked to school. Am I right Maryam?” Joyce said.

“Yes, you are,” Maryam said behind Jude.

“You and this your basket mouth. God will safe you,” Peter said.

“Don’t mind her. She is garrulous natured,” Janet chipped in.

“Hey! Be careful. Don’t be stereotyped about me,” Maryam said in smiles.

“English scholar. That was how she pronounced hitherto as hiraro the other day. Cheap blunder,” Jude chuckled and everyone laughed sarcastically.

“Let me be!” Maryam said.

“It’s okay everyone. What else did the principal say?” Joyce said.

“Let me disclose everything. The principal said he won’t allow us to seat for the examinations if we did not pay all outstanding school bills,” Jude said.

“He dares not. Who does that?” Joyce said rhetorically and everyone laughed.

“You and this your mouth,” Janet said.

“(Smiles). What did the principal intend to do, after he has told us to pay our school fees in peace meals? Let's call a spade a spade,” Joyce said.

“Joyce always behave like a lion. Remember that the walls have ears to eavesdropped our speeches,” Jerry said and everyone laughed.

“We have enjoined sweet conversations, until this traditionalist, Jerry chipped in from nowhere,” Jude said referring to Jerry.

“You are always on my nerves,” Jerry said and the atmosphere was rented by smiles.

“it’s okay dudes. Did the principal say anything else?” Joyce said.

“That is all,” Jude said and the bell was giggled.

“It’s time for morning devotion,” Maryam said and everyone trooped out of the classroom.

    The assembly prefects for the Christian students started singing songs. The Muslim students are aligned to a separate place from the main assembly ground.

 “We give you Glory Lord as we honor you.

Don’t be through with me yet Lord

You came from heavens to earth

There shall be showers of blessings,” the assembly prefects led the students in worship and then rolled into praises.

“We have come to say thank you Lord.

On the mountain.

You are good and your mercy is forever. Hallelujah

Under the canopy.

Do you know there is another fellowship in heaven?”

    Soon, the vice principal academics walked to the podium.

“Let’s close our eyes for prayers. In Jesus' name. Our heavenly father, the I am that I am, the everlasting invisible God. We thank you for the gift of life, we say be thou exalted in Jesus’ name. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We pray that you will forgive all our trespasses and shortcomings. We also pray that the atmosphere will be conducive for teaching and learning today. We come against every form of accident, death and kidnap, in Jesus’ name. We cover the vicinity and classrooms with the precious and abiding blood of Jesus. We start today in the name of the father, son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you because you have subscribed to our petitions and heart desires. In Jesus’ name we have prayed.

    The whole students made resounding Amen. They recite the Lord's prayers afterwards.

“Good morning to you all” the vice principal academics said.

“Good morning sir,” the students chorused.

“Good. (Faces John) please, Go and call the Muslim students. I want to give some announcements,” the vice principal academics said.

John walked to where the Muslim students gathered and disclosed the vice principal academics' message. Soon, John and the Muslim students walked to assemble with the other students.

“Good morning once again students,” the vice principal academics said.

“Good morning sir,” the students said.

“How are you doing today?” the vice principal academics said.

“We are fine sir,” the students chorused.

“That’s nice. I am given the privilege to give out some pieces of vital information by the school principal. The principal has gone for a board meeting among secondary schools principals. As a mouthpiece of the principal, I want you to listen attentively as I give you my pieces of relevant information. I don’t want your hearings to be impaired,” the vice principal academics said.

“Okay, vice principal academics,” the students chorused.

“Good. I know I have students that are well-groomed, well-cultured and patriotic. Now, I start. Firstly, since you know this is second term in this session. Am I talking?” the vice principal academics said.

“Yes sir,” the students said.

“Good. As I was saying, this is second term in the session. Also, you are aware that second term examinations will start very soon, right?” the vice principal academics said.

“Yes, we are aware,” the students chorused.

“Alright. What am I trying to figure out? Defaulters won’t be allowed to seat for the examinations if the outstanding bills are not met and the current ones. Remind your parents at home. And I pray the living God will answer them at the very point of their needs,” the vice principal academics said.

“Amen!!!” the students said.

“Good. Ensure you are radical in your manners of approaching them and don’t be conservative. (Faces the WASSCE candidates) Secondly, I want you all to pay up your three terms school bills. Else, you won’t be allowed to seat for the external examinations. You know what I can do,” the vice principal academics said.

“Okay sir,” the WASSCE students said.

“Good. Also, to the WASSCE candidates, ensure you prepare very well for your examinations. The school will not condone examination malpractices and cheats from anyone of you. You know our policy, “cheat and repeat,” the vice principal academics said.

“Yes sir,” the WASSCE candidates chorused.

“I pray God will allow you to come out in flying colors and grand styles,” the vice principal academics said.

“Amen!!!” the students chorused.

“(Faces the whole students) I also want you to accede to the school etiquettes. Don’t fight. No rough play, no eating of junks before break, no chewing of gums, no disturbances and speaking of unacceptable languages in the classrooms, no assaults and bullying, no wearing of wrong clothing, no roaming about, stay indoors and the host of others. Can you hear me,” the vice principal academics said.

“Okay sir. We succumbed,” the students chorused.

“I trust you, Patriots. In the absence of no other information, you can go to your classrooms,” the vice principal academics said.

“Okay sir,” the students chorused and moved to their classrooms.

    Soon, the bell was giggled for the commencement of teachings. The Biology teacher walked into upper basic 3 (Joyce’s classroom).

    She wrote a topic on the board in her fine and legible handwritings.

“What’s is on the board?” the Biology teacher, Mrs. Brown asked.

“Adaption,” the students said

“Good. We started this topic yesterday. Am I correct?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Yes, Mrs. Brown,” the students said.

“Good for the sake of those that weren’t in school yesterday, though we didn’t oust any student, I will start from the outset. I said hitherto that adaption is defined as the possession of special structures or features which improve chances of an organism to survive in its environment. In a layman's definition, adaption is when an organism get used to it’s environment. Are you getting something?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Yes, Mrs. Brown,” the students chorused.

“Can I proceed?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Excuse me ma. I have a question,” Peter said.

“Yes, let me hear your question,” Mrs. Brown said

“Thank you ma. Is Adaption part of the acronym, MR.NIGERDAC?” Peter asked.

“Yes, it is among. Let me divert a little. MR.NIGERDAC means movement, respiration, nutrition, irritability or sensitivity, growth, excretion, reproduction, death, adaption and competition. All the aforementioned are the characteristics of living organisms. Have I answered your question?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Yes, Mrs. Brown,” Peter said.

“Any other questions my learnable students?” Mrs. Brown said.

“No ma, the students said.

“In the absence of no question, I shall continue. Adaption can also be defined as the ability of an organism to live successfully in a particular habitat: arboreal, land and Marine habitats. It is expected that every organism adapt to its environment in order to survive. Now, let’s go to competition,” Mrs. Brown said.

“Okay, Mrs. Brown,” the students said.

“Who can define competition?” Mrs. Brown asked.

(The students raised theirs hand up)

“You, Janet,” Mrs. Brown said.

“Competition is the process whereby living organisms struggle for survival,” Janet said.

“Good. A clap for her. Alright, let me give out my own definition. I want you all to be silent,” Mrs. Brown said.

“Okay, Mrs. Brown,” the students said.

“(Sneezes) competition is defined as the process by which living organisms in a habitat struggle or compete with one another for limited essential needs in the environment, e.g. food, space, nutrients, shelter, mates and light. Do you get that?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Yes, Mrs. Brown, the students chorused.

“We have some factors responsible for competition. Some of these factors are: inadequate light for plants, inadequate space for plants, inadequate nutrients for plants, insufficient water for plants, inadequate food for animals, inadequate space for animals and inadequate mates in animals. Are you following?” Mrs. Brown said.

“Yes, Mrs. Brown,” the students said.

“Alright learnable students. Competition is much pronounced when environmental resources needed for the organism's survival are limited. During competition, few organisms which are well adapted control the scare resources which enable them to grow and survive while the others neither grow nor survive, leading to their elimination. There are two types of competition, namely: intraspecific competition and interspecific competition. Let’s draw the curtain for the day. Any question?” Mrs. Brown said.

“No, Mrs. Brown,” the students said.

“Now, let me give you a short note,” Mrs. Brown said.

    Mrs. Brown. copied the notes on the chalkboard and left for the staffs' room afterwards. Soon, the bell was giggled for break and every student headed to the canteen to buy foods and junks.

    However, the bell was giggled for the close of the day. All students left for their homes afterwards.