Family is Forever

Chapter 91 Exams

Al
Remember I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength...even Polish exams
Povodzenya
Love Elz
Povodzenya? Ali thought, what was Elsie on about? Then she realised she'd taught Elsie powodzenia, the Polish word for good luck the other week. Granted it was misspelled But phonetically it made sense.
Elz,
Dziękuje sweetie, how did maths go yesterday?
Ali
Ali really felt for Elsie,GCSEs were tough especially when you had missed so much school. But then, Ali thought, so were A-levels.
"How are you feeling Natalia?" Zosia asked in Polish making Ali look up from her phone. "A little nervous." Ali replied in Polish. It was the day of her first Polish A level. Zosia placed a bowl of  fresh fruit in front of Ali. "That's understandable have some breakfast." Ali had asked the previous evening if they could speak in Polish to get her in the right mindset for her exam her phone pinged again.
powodzenia na egzaminie Ollie had written then another text sorry got google translate to help me there so no idea if it makes sense. Good luck in your exam, not that you'll need it you little superstar.
Ali smiled as she ate, "you've really lucked out with your fiancée." She told Zosia who blushed "yeah, I know."
Her phone buzzed yet again
Hi Natalia,
Good luck for your exam today. Remember read every question twice, and relax.
Hugs from me and big squishy kisses from Ela
Col xxx
How lucky I am,Ali thought, to have so many people metaphorically cheering me on. Babcia had rang to wish her luck last night.
She finished her breakfast- brain power, she was doing a lot better with food during revision. The clinicians st rose hill said people either did really well around exams or struggled a lot but Ali was doing okay. She was still there most mornings but not today since her exam was at 9. "Let me give you a lift." Zosia said. "I don't want you getting the bus or walking today. I have to be at work for 9 though so can I drop you at half 8?"
"That would be great." Ali replied. "I'm hoping Agata will be free for some last minute tips."
As they approached the school in Zosia's car Ali went quiet. "Are you ok?" Zosia asked. "I'm a bit nervous." Ali replied.
"Oh don't worry." Zosia smiled "Polish is your first language. It'll be easy for you."
"It's not that so much.." Ali said biting her lip. "It's more that I haven't been in School for about 8 months."
"I can come in with you if you want?" Zosia asked. "No I'd rather not draw even more attention to myself." They stopped at traffic like and Zosia pulled out her phone and text Agata Ali's quite anxious. Can she see you when she comes in? "You'll be fine Natalia. Do some deep breaths." Zosia smiled. Ali's phone buzzed Come up to the language office once you get here. Keep calm you'll be fine. Agata.
Once she arrived she went straight up to the languages office. "Natalia," Agata smiled "how are you feeling?"
"Okay, just a little bit anxious being here after so long. I don't know what people will think I mean I Look so different. I've gained so much wait since last..."
Agata cut her off. "Natalia, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. What matters today is that you go into that exam feeling as calm and confident as possible. And to be honest most people will be focusing on themselves and their exams. So you know you'll be in with the people doing A level film studies since you're the only one doing Polish and it takes the same amount of time." She turned to another teacher And switched to English "Lorna can you take my form today, and wait in E213 with my year 9 French I should only be 5 mins late. I have to sort out some exams."
"Of course" Lorna (or Madam Greene as Ali know her) replied.
"C'mon." Agata smiled "we best go wait near the hall. Have you got a clear pencil case."
They were lined up and filed into the hall. Ali started to panic. "Natalia, breathe, it's ok, give me your phone." Ali passed the phone over. "You've got this Natalia, Polish is your first language, you are more than prepared for this, come and and find me when you've finished. You've got this." Agata Yates said Ali looked at her teacher and smiled "Dziękuję" thank you, as she followed the line into the hall.
"You may open your papers."
Ali was panicking she could feel her heart palpitating and her breath quickening. Squeeze your toes get yourself out of your head....breathe in and out in and out...now you're breathing too fast... squeeze your fists... count to 10, 1234... no slower count your breaths 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10 ok feeling a bit calmer, count to ten again, jeden, dwa..she mouthed the numbers in Polish in her head. Took a deep breath and picked up her pen.
Please stop writing. Ali placed her pen back in her pencil case, closed her paper and let out a breath. That was ok. Not good but not bad either.
She went up to the langage corridor and spotted Agata teaching a year 7 French class. Ali stood at the door unsure whether to knock or not. Agata spotted her and motioned for her to come in. "How did it go?" Agata asked in Polish. "Ok, I think!" Ali answered. "Go to the language office, this class finishes in 5.."
"Madam Yates. I'm stuck." Came a whiny voice from across the classroom. "Got to go, duty calls, language office in 5 minutes!"
Ali took a seer in the office and smiled. The first one is always the hardest, everyone was always saying. And she's done it!"