As Richard prepared to accompany his mother to her workplace, she informed him of her plan for him to participate in Common Entrance examination practice with the Primary six students at her school. Richard nodded in agreement, recalling his previous visit to his mother's workplace and the warm reception he received from her coworkers. He remembered how people were amazed by the resemblance between him and his mother, which resulted in him receiving plenty of gifts on that first day. Mrs. Oladapo was highly respected at her workplace for her dedication and hard work, earning appreciation from both the pupils and the school principal
Dropping the bucket of water at home, Richard's mother reminded him of his house chores emphasizing the importance of diligence and hard work in his upbringing. Despite his initial reluctance, Richard dutifully took up the broom and cleaned the entire house. On the first day of accompanying his mother to her workplace, Richard dressed casually and waited for her to finish her preparations. On arrival, his mother introduced him to Mrs. Adaramola, the class teacher for Primary six, marking the beginning of his new educational journey at her school.
Richard's day took an unexpected turn when he was summoned to the Principal's office during the break-time hour. There, a stylist awaited to take his measurements. The school where Richard's mother worked, Community High School, boasted with a prominent signboard placed about a kilometer away from the school building. The school's fence, standing at about four feet tall, enclosed a spacious compound with ample room for students to play. Occasionally, outsiders leased the field for ceremonies.
The school building itself was adorned with brown and cream colors, while the students wore white and blue uniforms, with white shirts and blue trousers or skirts. Despite being in Primary 5 and among Primary 6 students, Richard's level of assimilation was impressive. He had effortlessly tackled all the questions in the Common Entrance Examination textbooks provided to him. The subjects taught to Primary 6 students mirrored what he had already covered with his coaching teacher, Mrs. Bakare.
Richard's classmates esteemed him highly, recognizing him as the son of a prominent teacher in the school. They believed that children born to teachers were often impressive due to the rigorous training they received from their parents. Meanwhile, Steve, Ife, and Juwon resumed classes at Beautiful Star Montessori School, where they pondered whether Richard was still as idle as before. They assumed he would be relaxing at home.
Some other friends of Richard, asked Steve, Ife, and Juwon, to deliver a message to Richard to return to school the next day since everyone else had resumed classes except him. After school, instead of heading straight home, Steve, Ife, and Juwon went directly to Richard's house, expecting to find him there. However, on arrival, they discovered that Richard was not home. They waited for some time, but when Juwon left to change into his casual clothes, Steve asked Ife to accompany him home for lunch, with plans to return later for their tutorial session. Ife agreed, knowing they still had coaching sessions to attend.
As Mrs. Oladapo and Richard arrived home, they saw Steve and Ife leaving. They exchanged greetings, and Steve, playfully beating Richard, asked why he didn't show up in school that day. Before Richard could respond, Steve assured them they would return soon. Meanwhile, Richard's two younger sisters attended Best Foundation Nursery & Primary School, located in a bustling area behind Mr. Adenuga's compound in Bariga. The school was surrounded by various shops and petty traders, and the road leading to it was safe and well-traveled.
While Juwon was on his way to confirm if Richard had returned, he overheard Richard asking his mother for money to buy noodles and eggs. Excitedly, Juwon hurried to Richard's apartment, greeted his mother, and inquired why Richard hadn't come to school that day. Mrs. Oladapo responded to Juwon's question in place of her son, explaining that she had registered Richard for the forthcoming Common Entrance Examination at her workplace. She expressed confidence in Richard's abilities based on his current performance. Juwon enthusiastically acknowledged her decision. Meanwhile, Richard rushed to get noodles and eggs for himself and his sisters.
On his way home, Richard met Steve and Ife, who asked him where he had been to with his mother. Richard explained that he hadn't had the chance to inform them earlier, but his mother had registered him for the upcoming examination they had all applied for. She wanted him to participate in mock examinations and Common Entrance Examination practice with the Primary 6 students at her school. Steve and Ife were happy for him but also felt sorry for themselves, realizing that he wouldn't be coming to school anymore.
Richard did his best to console Steve and Ife, reminding them that they lived close to each other and would still see each other often. As they walked home together, Ife expressed his sadness that everyone in school would miss Richard, and he admitted that he had already been missing everyone too. They waited for Mrs. Bakare to arrive for their coaching session, but she didn't show up, which was unusual of her.
Despite Mrs. Bakare's absence, the children decided to make the most of the day and have fun together until Steve and Ife had to leave around 5pm. The next day at school, everyone was expecting Richard's return, but his mother called the principal to explain that he wouldn't be coming back. The news spread quickly, and Richard's absence was felt by everyone except Tunde, who was happy to think that his only rival had left, allowing him to reclaim his "championship."
It's impressive how Richard's talent continued to shine, with people preferring his sketches over Tunde's. With Ife, Steve, and Juwon acting as Richard's agents, they collected notes from people who wanted sketches and brought them to Richard. Richard diligently worked on the drawings in secret, even amidst his assignments. Once completed, he would return the drawings to his friends, who then delivered them to their rightful owners and shared the earnings with Richard. Despite his newfound responsibilities, Richard continued his coaching sessions with Mrs. Bakare alongside Steve, Ife, and Juwon.
Expanding on the situation between Chidi and Ife, we can delve deeper into Richard's internal conflict as he navigates this unexpected rivalry best artist. Despite his reluctance to engage in a bet, Richard feels the pressure from his new classmates and the weight of their expectations of him as a loser. He wrestles with the dilemma of whether to stand his ground or succumb to the peer pressure mounting around him. Meanwhile, Chidi's reaction to Richard's encouragement reveals underlying tensions and perhaps a hint of insecurity about his own abilities.
Chidi dismissive response reflects a desire to maintain his status as the top artist in the school and protect his reputation from potential challengers like Richard. As the tension between Richard and Chidi escalates, Pelumi finds himself caught in the middle, torn between his loyalty to his friend Chidi and his admiration see Richard's talent. His role in the rivalry adds another layer of complexity to the dynamic between the three boys, highlighting the complexities of friendship and competition in adolescence.
With the stage set for a showdown, the stakes are higher than ever as Richard and Chidi prepare to face off in a battle of artistic prowess, others altogether shows their trust in Chidi ability to win against by bidding all of their money on him while got no supporter but Richard refuse to be defeated. As the anticipation builds, the entire class watches with bated breath, eager to see who will emerge victorious in this clash of titans. Mrs. Adaramda's sharp eyes didn't miss the unusual behavior of her students during break-time. Sensing something amiss, she approached them, urging them to go buy lunch as usual. However, their reluctance to comply raised her suspicions, prompting her to inquire further.
When they confessed to using their lunch money for betting, Mrs. Adaramda's disappointment was palpable. She wasted no time in delivering a stern reprimand, making it clear that such behavior was unacceptable. With a heavy heart, she instructed the students to go on their knees as a form of punishment, hoping to instill in them the seriousness of their actions. Meanwhile, Mrs. Oladapo was informed of the incident, and she took swift action to discipline Richard for his involvement in the bet. Despite his protests, Richard received five lashes as a consequence of his actions. Feeling remorseful, he returned the money he had won, understanding the gravity of the situation.
The matter was escalated to the principal, underscoring the seriousness of gambling and its repercussions within the school. As Mrs. Adaramda and Mrs. Oladapo worked together to address the issue, they hoped to impart valuable lessons to their students about responsibility and the importance of ethical behavior. As the examination commenced, Richard dove into the questions with a sense of purpose and determination. His sharpened focus allowed him to breeze through the exam, answering each question with precision and confidence. His swift completion caught the attention of Miss Veronica, who praised him for his efficiency, acknowledging his diligence and preparation.
Meanwhile, in the staff room, Mrs. Oladapo received compliments from her colleagues, who commended Richard's performance in the examination. The proud mother beamed with pride, grateful for her son's dedication and hard work.
Despite Richard's initial excitement and confidence, his mother gently reminded him that while completing the exam quickly was impressive, it was the quality of his answers and ultimately the results that would determine his success. With this sobering reminder, Richard refocused his mindset, understanding the importance of maintaining his academic standards and achieving his goals.