The Final Mark

Chapter 14

     EXAMINATION DAY

     The day was finally here. It was examination day for Mai. It was her time to shine. It was her time to become who she wanted to be. It was now or never.

     Mai refused to get out of bed. Mai’s parents, Ayaka, and Aiko all tried to get Mai up and ready. Mai was very troublesome this morning. She did not want to leave.

     “Mai,” said Aiko, “please get up.”

     “No,” shouted Mai, “I’m just going to fail.”

     “You’re acting like a silly American,” said Mai’s father.

     “I’m not an American,” said Mai.

     “Stop acting like one and get up.” Mai got up and got ready. She didn’t want to make her father angry. She hated making people angry.

      “This is it,” said Ayaka. “This is your big moment.”

     “Oh joy,” said Mai.

     They arrived at the college. The enormous mass of buildings towered over them. Mai felt even smaller and hopeless than she already did. There was a man standing at the front doors.

     “Welcome,” he said as Mai and her family got out of the car. Aiko pulled up behind them in her own car.

     “Nice to see you,” said Mai’s father.

     “Where is our testing girl,” asked the man.

     Mai popped out from behind the crowd. “Here,” she said.

     “Ah,” said the man, “Misaki-san. Pleasure to meet you.”

     Mai just nodded in response.

     “Follow me,” said the man. Mai followed the man into the school. They were led down a collection of hallways to a lone room which had another man it in. Mai walked in.

     “Hello,” said the other man.

     “Hello,” said Mai.

     “Today you will be taking our entrance exam,” said the man. “You will be given 5 hours and you will receive a ten percent deduction on your final mark.” Mai nodded to signal that she understood. “You may begin.” Mai looked down to see the test and a pencil in front of her. She picked it up and started.

     “So,” said Aiko. “How do you think she is doing?”

     “I think she is doing well,” said Ayaka.

     “Only about ten minutes left,” said Aiko.

     “Correct,” said Mai’s father. “I bet she is doing amazing.”

     “Any minute our little girl will be walking out those doors,” said Mai’s mother.

     “You can do this Mai,” Aiko whispered into the wind.

     In only a few minutes the doors opened and out walked a girl. This girl was Mai. She had a pencil tucked behind her ear and a bottle of water in one hand. In her other hand she held an envelope.

     “Mai,” said everyone in unison. They all walked up to greet her.

     “When will you get the results,” asked Mai’s father.

     “I have them,” said Mai.

     “Already,” asked Ayaka.

     “They had like twenty grades grading this afterwards,” said Mai.

     “That’s good,” said Aiko.

     “So,” said Mai’s mom, “What are we waiting for?”

     “Mom,” said Ayaka, “don’t rush her. She just tested for five hours.”

     “I know.”

     “It’s okay,” said Mai from the group, “we can open it now.”

     “Alright,” said Mai’s father, “now is the moment of truth.

     Mai held the result envelope in her hand. She was very nervous. This was it. This was the final moment. Whatever resided on this paper would be her make it or break it. She crossed her fingers and hoped for the best. She let out a deep breath and slowly opened the envelope. In her hand was one piece of paper: a crisp white sheet of paper. She started to unfold the note when her mom stopped her.

     “Here,” she said, “I think I know something that will help.” She nodded to Mai’s father and the both went behind Mai. Mai could feel their hands on the back of her head. What could they be doing?

     Before Mai knew it she felt a knot come undone. Her eye patch started to come off. She closed her eyes.

     “Open your eyes Mai,” said her parents in unison. Mai opened her right eye, but then she opened her left eye slowly. The sunlight came upon it. It was bright. It hurt her eye, but when she finally opened it things changed. Her vision was renewed. She could see again from both eyes. The colors popped and the world just jumped at her. She smiled harder than ever before.

     “Now open it Mai,” said Aiko. Mai took her grin and looked down at the paper she was holding. Her family gathered around. She let out a quick breather and opened the paper and she let out a huge smile.