A Rift Between Us

Chapter 56 - Down To The Wire

Alfie's head snapped around, desperately searching for the nearest invigilator. An elderly man approached, his back seemingly bent forever. Each step was laborious, requiring considerable effort for even a modest stride. Alfie puffed out his chest, his arm flailing wildly. The old man shuffled forward, futilely attempting to hasten his pace. Alfie's gaze darted between the ticking timer and the advancing figure. Less than a minute remained. Every second was critical.

He came to a stop, turning in place and squinting. He took a moment to collect himself before speaking.

"Yes, young man, what do you need?" His hands hung loosely in front of him.

"I urgently need a pen. Right now." Alfie's throat was rough, as if coated with sand. "Please hurry!"

The man's hands explored his oversized trouser pockets, swirling around as he mindlessly gazed around the hall. The suspenders on his shoulders tightened as he pushed down further. He pulled out a pen and handed it to Alfie, who snatched it with haste. The tip made contact with the paper exactly where he had tried to write before.

Yes, it's working. Come on now.

The timer read twenty seconds. Twenty seconds before it was all over. There were no re-sits here. This was no mock exam. Letter by letter, words formed in quick succession, a sharp pain emerging from his fingers as he wrote. That wouldn't stop him. This had to be done. The final group of letters squiggled onto the page, followed by a full stop. The pen dropped as three beeps filled the hall. It was over. No more time. His chair creaked as his back collapsed onto it.

He looked up at the lights on the ceiling. Their brightness was oddly comforting. His shoulders decompressed as he exhaled. He'd done it. He'd finished the English paper. The aged man picked up his pen before wiping his moist lips with his sleeve. Alfie's eyes trailed him as he made his way back towards the front. His gaze darted to Ms Camdyn, who was now back at the microphone. A low-level rustle lingered around the hall, as if all the tension from the past hour had been released. The cracking of knuckles surrounded Alfie, accompanied by a profusion of stretches, as if everyone had just woken up. Ms Camdyn's finger tapped the diaphragm several times before she spoke.

"Year elevens, the English exam is officially over. I noticed many of you finished before the timer ran out, which gives me confidence that you didn't find it too challenging. I hope everyone put in their best effort. As you know, there are more exams throughout the day. Our invigilators will now be collecting your papers. Please remain seated as we prepare for your ICT exam."

ICT exam? We were supposed to cover this with Mr Dodge yesterday in the library. I didn't even get to revise it properly when I got home. Damn it!

Alfie's eyes covered every angle of the space like a meerkat. Nothing could be done. His bag and phone had been thrown to the staff members before he entered for the exam. They both sat in colourful boxes towards the back.

I'm gonna need to figure something out. English was one thing. ICT is another.