HER WASSSCE RESULT ( A Thrilling Short Story)

Uncle Musa closed from work very early to break the news he call "charming" to her proud niece, Siboo, the news bearing that the 2018 West African Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination ( WASSSCE) results are out. There was excitement on his face as he sanguinely anticipates a brilliant result from his niece.

The " charming news" was not charming to Siboo. Her mood changed instantly. To Uncle Musa, it was time to shame their neighbours.  " By Monday, they'll understand that Siboo is not who they think she was. They will know that she deserved all those awards she received in the graduation day, and unmatched to their backward children."

Such was the concept of Uncle Musa whose joy ia rallying rather too uncontrollable.  Siboo won three awards on her graduation day- which left their neighbour's tongues wagging. Within the school, there was a rumour rumouring that she doesn't deserved all those awards. To them, Siboo's awards were based on her relationship with some teachers teaching in the school. Interesting! Isn't it? Her internal examination results were always awesome. She always scored the distinction mark and on top of her classmates to the amazement of many.  To uncle Musa, the talks going on are baseless- and they have been developed out of jealousy.


It was on a Thursday that the news was revealed to her.  From that moment, she developed into a new breed. Despite her Uncle speaking in supercilious accent towards their neighbours, Siboo stationed herself in her room . Expectations were high on her as a result of her performances in the internal examinations.  Inside her room, she was like a fish out of water. She glued her hands on her head and opened her eyes on the surface.  " what would happen on Monday?" She would soliloquyse in her room. Despite her Uncle's high hope and supercilious behaviour; she, Siboo, herself knew that her result would not correspond to the expectations on her.  On Monday won't be like other Fridays in the school when Mr. Dem, Bax and Barry would give her A1.  Whilst doing that mediation in her room, outside was the reverse. Uncle Musa  started to calculate things that will be bought for Siboo. Indeed, he was like a dog with two tails while Siboo was kaleidoscopically turning her head like a fish out of water.

In their neighbourhood, there was a battle for superiority. Their immediate neighbour's daughter, Aisha, was also expecting her result.  It was who would come out with the best result between these two girls.  The supercilious voice of Uncle Musa was everywhere.  He would proudly boast that his Niece did what none of their neighbours' children did in the internal examinations, and she will do more than what she did during her internal examination.

Aisha, Siboo's classmate, citing her image in the society was a cool girl.  They were in the same class but their relationship was not as close as it suppose to be due to a fierce competition that their parents developed.

Days were going so fast for Siboo. With less than 24hrs to go and collect her result, she remained stationed in her room arguing with her mind.  " At least, I will have four credits...Or, no- maybe,.. five, or six ...but Maths....." This was what she was constantly doing on Sunday evening. Despite being so pessimistic: she was so intelligent to hide that from Uncle Musa.


Uncle Musa failed to observe Siboo's behaviour between the lines.  For him, Monday will be a celebration day to celebrate Siboo's indivisible  academic superiority in the society.
At about 5pm on Sunday, he drove to the market and bought stuffs to celebrate the achievement of Siboo.

If Uncle Musa can read Siboo between the lines and drop his ego, he wouldn't have wasted his money for the celebration.
Siboo's hands were under her cheek meditating knowing that failing or scoring a result under the expectations of Uncle Musa, would be calamitous.
  " had I known, I wouldn't date my teachers. I was fooled. Look, none of them call me these days. Should in case things went on the other way, what am I going to do or say? Is it possible to forge the result? No, this is not an internal examination.", she murmur to herself in a lack of self-confidence. At this point,  she was crying in her mind.  At some point, to tell Uncle Musa that she won't make it as expected of her, but telling him would also be a bombshell after all the noise in the vicinity.

Well, on Monday morning arrived. Siboo woke up very early. Uncle Musa, before going for work told her that he will be closing early for the celebration to shame their neighbours, because their daughter will come out with all-failed. He proudly handed over two hundred Dalasi note to Siboo to go and collect her result.

Aisha , their immediate neighbour's daughter, went to school as early as 8:30 a.m. As tradition, good students' go to collect their results first and the lazy students' later because they will not want them to be asked.


As usual, Siboo put on her swanky clothes and majestically walked to the school.  Lot of things in her mind....knowing that she might be called, she switched off her mobile-phone.   In the school, good students' were going in and out with smiles. For Siboo, she stationed herself outside like a divorced woman with 7 children to take care of.  
There was no Mr. Dem, Bax and co-.  While standing outside, Aisha's name was heard. She got Nine credits. Incredible was her result.   Lot of good remarks on her by classmates and some staff.
 With that result, she rushed home and left Siboo there.  Even before going in the IT lap to collect hers, she started to drop tears....


At home, Aisha's result was aired over the radio at the Sarjo Barrow's news. Happy her parents were.  Siboo was not visible in the society. After hearing Aisha's brilliant performance, all eyes and ears were waiting for Siboo's result.

By 2 p.m, when Uncle Musa closed from work, before asking for Siboo, Buba, his 5 years boy told him that Aisha came out with 4A's 3 B's and 2C's.   Nonplussed. " How about Siboo?", he asked-and his son told him that siboo wasn't around yet. It was at that time that he called Siboo  and a friend received his call and said.......


To be continued!

Author: ML Drammeh Csay ( PRO,  The Young Writers' Association of The Gambia )