Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 39: 'I can explain'

“Did you know Samuel was actually framed?” Michael asked as we walked back to the hostel the next day.

Today was English Language and Physics. It turned out to be quite an interesting day because I got to witness a student being caught in the act of cheating.

Samuel was a very timid-looking boy who wore glasses. He hardly spoke to anyone unless he needed to ask for permission to use the toilet. The exams had made everyone jittery, but Samuel had always remained quiet, calm, and collected.

Today, however, he seemed different.

On our way into the examination hall, I noticed him shoving pieces of paper into his clothes. He probably thought no one was watching.

He was wrong.

As soon as the examination started, the invigilator walked straight to his seat and ordered him to bring out whatever he had hidden.

He must have noticed him too.

“There’s nothing on me, sir,” Samuel said, his voice trembling.

The fear in his voice was obvious.

“Young man, don't make me scatter your head with this cane. Bring out the papers now!”

Samuel hesitated.

Eventually, he surrendered.

He pulled out several crumpled pieces of paper from his underwear. Then he reached into his shirt and brought out more. And more.

I honestly began to wonder if he had an entire textbook hidden in there.

When he had finally brought out everything, the invigilator gathered the papers and led him to the vice principal's office.

I watched them disappear through the door.

“Why do you say he was framed?” I asked Michael.

“The papers he was carrying weren't for his class.”

I frowned.

“They contained topics from our class syllabus.”

I stopped walking for a moment.

“So someone from our class probably forced him to do it?”

“Exactly.”

I looked back in the direction they had gone.

That explained why the whole thing hadn't felt right to me. I didn't know Samuel well, but from what I knew of him, I couldn't imagine him coming up with something like that on his own.

“That's terrible.”

“Yeah.” Michael sighed. “And now he'll probably face all the consequences by himself because he can't expose the seniors who put him up to it.”

“But can't you do something?” I asked. “You're on the Student Council for a reason, aren't you?”

Michael gave me a look.

“It doesn't work that way, Doyin.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it's one thing to report a classmate for something they did. But when it involves a junior, things get complicated.”

I frowned.

“So skipping classes is a problem, but framing a junior isn't?”

“I'm afraid so.”

“That's just unfair.”

Michael shrugged helplessly.

“I know.”