Indeed examination malpratice is complicated. Read this intriguing short story below, in few minutes, and get a glimpse

CLOUDED

Jonathan has sat for an exam that he knows he will not pass. And so, he has gone to see Dr. Miller with N10,000, hopeful that he and his friend will get a B each. The lecturer is very kind.

The wicked lecturers will not allow students to see them. The next exam is on a course whose lecturer cannot be seen.

They walk into the exam hall forty minutes late. Jonathan is supporting Dominic who seems to have had an accident. Everyone turns towards them. The led leans weakly on the one leading and, is supported to raise his legs, one after the other, through the stairs, into the hall.

“Stop there!” Mr. Isaac, the assistant to Prof Joseph, says to them.

“Good day, sir,” Jonathan greets, still leading Dominic into the hall. “Good day, Prof,” he also greets Prof. Joseph who has started moving to the front of the hall from the back where he has been. Prof Joseph cannot be seen after an exam.

“Are you supposed to write this exam?” Prof Joseph asks wondering and, concerned.

“We are very sorry that we are late, Prof,” Jonathan begins. “We are your students, and are for the exam. My friend fell down from the stairs yesterday’s afternoon and ruptured some bones. We are coming from the hospital right now, Prof.

“You should have left him to get better. He can be given a makeup exam later,” the professor says.

“You.are.very.kind.Prof,” Dominic struggles to speak. “But.I.can.write.now.if.I.am.allowed.to.”

Jonathan remarks, “My friend is stubborn. He insistently said he was fine. Please Prof, let us. We can catch up.”

“Alright,” the Professor agrees.

“Prof, they are lying!” Mr. Isaac says at once, trying to stop them from moving further.

“What?”

“What?

Prof. Joseph and Jonathan say simultaneously. Jonathan continues, “What, Mr. Isaac?”

“Shut up, you liar!” Mr. Isaac rebukes.

“Mr. Isaac, please do not make things tough for my friend. We are not lying,” Jonathan pleads.

“Let them go,” Prof says solicitingly to Mr. Isaac.

They are let in, given answer booklets and question papers which they get busy with. The class settles down. But Caro keeps her gaze on them. She is one of the few students who know that Jonathan and Dominic are acting. She is also the one who sees Dominic, while pretending to be massaging his leg, bring out sheets of paper and gives one to Jonathan. She watches, very patiently from behind, as they write.

She has hoped they would come to sit close to her because she knows they would definitely come in with something. And now she hopes they would just get her signal. They eventually get her non-verbals that they should share, and send her the other. They do.

An hour after the intrusion, they are almost through. The class is reminded that they have twenty minutes left.

“Bring out that paper,” Mr. Isaac shouts.

Dominic knows at once that he has been caught but since the alarm seems directionless, in a speed of light, he exploits the situation and hides the paper. Caro also quickly hides hers, though she knows that he is not coming for her.

Mr. Isaac goes straight to Dominic’s bandaged calf and pulls violently, saying, “Bring it out!”

            “Ah,” Dominic cries.

            At once, Jonathan jumps out to the rescue of his friend, pulls Mr. Isaac away, saying, “You wan kill am?”

“What is happening?” Prof. Joseph intervenes.

Mr. Isaac will not allow Jonathan to out-wit him. Answering, he says “This young man is…”

“…is badly wounded.” Jonathan completes. “And you almost broke off the remaining bones he…”

“Quiet. Go ahead, Mr. Isaac.” The Prof says, to Mr. Isaac’s satisfaction.

“Prof, I saw this young man writing from a sheet of paper. Immediately I asked him to bring it out, he wrapped it into his bandage.”

“What!” Jonathan says. All the students are enthralled now. “Prof, my friend has nothing on him. Mr. Isaac simply hates us. He aims at seeing us feel more pain than we already have. I will loosen his bandage for everyone to see.” He holds Dominic gently and says to him, “Be strong. This will hurt.”

“I.will.try,” Dominic says. But as soon as his friend begins to untie the bandage, he swerves and slumps.

 “Dominic…Dominic…Dominic…!” Jonathan c.r.i.e.s, trying to resuscitate him. At once, he lifts Dominic up, and carries him out of the building, still crying, “Dominic…Dominic…! Someone call the ambulance!”

Some students submit and crowd behind them. Caro collects their answer booklets and submits them to the dumbfounded Prof. Joseph who collects them.