A Loner's Journey Through Lemonade Making

Chapter 25|

One thing I liked but also disliked about RPSS was that in second term, we didn't write exams. In place of our end of the term examinations were projects. Teachers would tell us to write, create or perform what we had been taught throughout the term.

It was more stressful than writing exams because a lot more energy and time went into it. Sometimes, teachers would divide the class into groups and if you were fortunate enough, you would be grouped with sensible and studious people. If luck wasn't on your side, you would have irresponsible people who would eventually disappoint you and leave you to do all the work yourself.

Despite the fact that we were in JSS3 and had external exams coming up, the management still made us do projects instead of writing exams.

I hate this, I thought as I waited for Mrs Olotu to come to class. She had told us on Tuesday that she would group us today, Friday. Needless to say, the entire class was deep in thought and praying they would be grouped with reasonable people. But not everyone's prayers would be answered, and some of us would end up disappointed.

It was seventh week, the week we returned from our midterm break. I didn't like this arrangement at all because it was too stressful. I would have to juggle my projects for every subject I took, rely on my group members to get our projects done and try to ace all my subjects. But on the bright side, we would be able to spend a lot of time together and have fun while doing our projects.

She arrived ten minutes later with a plate of fried rice and a piece of turkey. "Sorry students." she apologized, dropping the plate on Mrs Iroha's table.
The SS3s had a Food and Nutrition practical class today, so I assumed that was what kept her busy.

She picked a marker up from Mrs Iroha's table and wrote Group A, Group B and Group C on the board. Under Group A, she wrote: Demidun, Safia, Mubarak, Maryjane, Adanna, Prosper, Joju, Banji and Khalil.

"Go and find out the members of Group A in the other classes. You all will be working together." she announced, pulling the bottom of her blazer down.

Under Group B, she wrote: Jemima, Ibidun, myself(I was grateful to be in a group with those girls. If they were asked to bring an industrial oven for a practical, they would), Arinze, Obaloluwa, Joju(I rolled my eyes at this), Munachi and Kariebi(I thanked God for answering my prayer).

I smiled satisfactorily. All my group members were very intelligent and serious minded people, meaning my grades were in good hands.

Group C had the rest of the class.

"Ma, what are we doing?" Jemima asked five minutes after Mrs Olotu went silent and started eating, something she wouldn't do if anyone in power was  around.

She dropped the turkey. "I taught you cooking methods this term, didn't I?"

"Yes ma."

"You're to make dishes with all the cooking methods I taught you. Your presentation and cleanliness while cooking is going to be judged along with the taste of four food. I'll bring the letters for your parents later." she announced.

We all froze.

She wanted to cook with all the cooking methods. Didn't she consider our other projects? It would be difficult for us to decide what to cook, and bringing the ingredients to cook too.

Oh God.

"The school will provide everything you need." she informed and stood up with her plate. "Good day."

Mad.

☆☆☆☆☆

Leilah, Doris, Prisca, Maro, Charis, Sugbomi, Yinka, Obinna, Dunsin and a few other people I never spoke to were in my group. I didn't like that Maro was in my group, but as there was nothing I could do about it, I accepted it. I wouldn't let whatever had happened between us and the fact that we weren't that close anymore affect our group and scores.