Straighten it out
A message from the Dynamites – Romancia Gaymes, Phylicia Frederick and Kamale Charles
It was around two o’clock when Philmancia glanced out of the psychology class. Behold the sun was shining in all its glory beaming on the luscious grass below. The cool breeze blew her long black hair leaving it with not choice but to embrace her spinal cord. Her hair fell on her back like a cascade of water, like a waterfall travelling down a river to get to the mouth. Her eyes, so bold, so beautiful, wandered around with Alice in Wonderland. Her neck made a ninety degree turn to the left and eyes back into the class. Her mind was held captive by the kiss she received yesterday from her boyfriend. Her hand taking a trip to her lips as her delicate fingers slightly caressed those pink borders of her mouth tracing the lines around them. The way in which they had been traced was like walking in a field of roses, no where to go but to lose yourself in their scent, their touch, their presence.
“Miss Frames, isn’t Philmancia here?” asked the teacher quite abruptly.
“Yes, Miss” shouted her friend, Sandy and her voice made a squeaky sound that bounced on the walls that towered over them and enclosed them so that the classroom seemed packed. On hearing that sound the whole class began to laugh; everyone except Philmancia. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she missed the opportunity to show her glistening white teeth that always made the sun hide in its sacred Neptune chamber. “Phil, Manci”, said Sandy to Philmancia trying to reach her in Mars even though she was still on earth, but Philmancia still did not hear her name ring out of Sandy’s mouth like a song ready to be heard.
Pow was the echo of the lash which was planted right on Philmancia’s back like an explosion. It awoke everyone’s attention. In that little instant, she was brought back to her senses like the dead come back to life. “Girl, you want to kill me?” cried Philmancia in great pain. “No but I’m glad my mission’s accomplished, you are back on earth and that will change all the suspicions that were arising in the class. Go for your test paper”. Taking her time, she stretched her long legs to go up for the paper. She braced herself so she would not feel so bad when she saw how low her mark was. By now it was a custom of her failing psychology, her favourite subject, because she was not mentally equipped or prepared for College. Her priorities were in disarray. But no matter how strong her weapons against disappointment they were not enough to protect her from the mark she got for this exam. Finally she reached the desk.
“Young lady, what were you so caught up in?” asked her teacher, a little mockingly. “Miss, I was thinking about the ex for tomorrow” was her reply. “Okay, concerning your ex, you can do much much better than that. You are too easily distracted. When you just started doing this subject I saw so much potential in you – a true psychologist but your stars are fading away so time for improvement”.
Once again seated, she shoved her paper in her bag so no one would ask how much she had got. All around her people wailed, laughed and had mixed emotions because of their marks. Philmancia waited to leave the class last. On the way out she took out her paper and searched it to analyse her failures and mistakes. Many may think that she should not have been surprised with the mark she received but she was astounded. Her brace grew loose, her weapons fell and her guard died. All that was left was a feeling of guilt. There was something holding on to her heart squeezing al the life out of her, she began to get pale and head towards the bathroom. Her mind walking on glass soon became battered, bruised and abused. Her shoulders slumped, her head bowed and there was this little voice within her repeating to her that she was a nobody, that she was worthless. All the times she wasted at school, Tokyo and home flashed before her eyes. It now dawned on her the benefits of having a study timetable to guide her and actually studying.
The route to the bathroom seemed to have stretched and, just as she was about to fall, there appeared Prince Charming to hold her up. “Babes, how you strolling like if you are sick?” asked Jay-C. On seeing her eyes fill with water like a volcano about to erupt his happy mood evaporated and was taken over by concern. “What’s wrong” he asked but there was no reply so he knew something was bothering her. “Philmancia ,sweetheart” he said, escorting her to their favourite liming spot, “you know, may be you can fool Sandy or all your other friends but my well runs deeper than theirs. Look baby I know something is bothering you and if I can’t be of any help to you then us being together would be all wrong and I’ll be a big distraction to you. Maybe this is not the best time, but I came looking for you because I wanted to talk to you about your studies. You’re not doing as well as Sandy and I expect you to and we want you to do better, I want you to do better. I am not moving on in life without you”, said Jay-C, quietly concerned.
She raised her head in slow motion, looked up at him and handed him the psychology paper with its two out of sixty four written on it and waited patiently for his reply. Her eyes now entwined with his looked for signs of scorn but there were none.- only signs of love. “I don’t…….” was all Jay-C managed to say before she cut him off. “Shh” she said to him, “I feel like dirt, I feel wasted, I feel a stupid, senseless dunce. Look for the worst works you can find and they will express how I feel. I feel as I the whole universe has been crumbled up and thrown on my shoulders”. By now her face was like a landslide as her tears made all her Face Nutrients run off and soak her shirt and jacket or fall on the desk between them. “I have never scored such a low mark in my entire life until now. Back at secondary school I was the top student in my classes, back then I walked with some pride because I knew my stuff, but now it’s like I can’t keep up. I can’t work at the level everyone expects me to and this uniform creates such a hot environment and makes it uncomfortable to study”. Jay-C, not accustomed to see her so unhappy, went to her side and massaged her back as an encouragement for her to go on and so she did. “I remember the times I sat down and knew I should have been studying or reading or doing something constructive with my time but no - I’d rather hang with my friends and waste time with them while you go home and study. I can’t study at home because there is so much going on; Mum and Dad are filing for divorce, money is limited, my grandmother just died and more. I try to study in my room but before an hour is up I’m already asleep. When I am at school and I try to study there is no place to study. If I go to the library to study read or do unfinished home work I have to leave after 5 minutes because my bones get too cold and there are only 6 study booths in the library for 1000 students in the school. You know, when I started to get to know you I used to burn a few classes because I felt I needed your presence like I finally belonged. I’m going to stop because I‘ve realised that you want me to be somebody. It’s sad because you are the only person that cares so much about me”. She began to weep again. This time Jay-C held her to his heart - to hold her, to protect her, to give her a friend and not just a boyfriend – and he began to speak.
“Look darling I was once like you not sure of what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong I always wanted to be an engineer but I didn’t start from day one at College to accomplish my goals. However, it’s a good thing I got a hold of myself before it was too late. If I didn’t get through with that I might not have found you. What I like most about you is your kindness, your intelligence – you speak at such a high level. Baby, if you want to be a psychologist as you say then go for it. Let everything have their time. I shouldn’t take up all your time. Here are some ideas: make a study guide, write down your homework in a special book, study a portion of a subject a day and write down encouraging statements to study”.
“Straighten out all the creases in your life. Let God be your number one, family number two, education number three and me and Sandy can settle for number four”. Jay-C summed it all up.
“Thanks, boo. I feel so much better. Like if you have cut me open and washed all the germs away. Thanks for being there for me. I love you”, said Philmancia with red eyes.
“I love you too” was Jay-C’s reply as he planted a kiss on her tempting lips and she forgot her pain. He promised to help her in her studies and so he did. They became partners even in study.
What about you? What about me? When are we going to set our priorities straight? Girls – don’t let boys become a barrier to your success. Boys – don’t let the girls be a barrier to your success. Instead let their love be an encouragement to you to be successful in life. Forget that there are problems, ignore them, don’t let them come between you and your studies. Ignore the problems of the library, the uniform, wasting time and television. If you just try, you can achieve your goals in life.
Note from Mrs John: This was written before the opening of the new Learning Resource Centre at Community College.
It was around two o’clock when Philmancia glanced out of the psychology class. Behold the sun was shining in all its glory beaming on the luscious grass below. The cool breeze blew her long black hair leaving it with not choice but to embrace her spinal cord. Her hair fell on her back like a cascade of water, like a waterfall travelling down a river to get to the mouth. Her eyes, so bold, so beautiful, wandered around with Alice in Wonderland. Her neck made a ninety degree turn to the left and eyes back into the class. Her mind was held captive by the kiss she received yesterday from her boyfriend. Her hand taking a trip to her lips as her delicate fingers slightly caressed those pink borders of her mouth tracing the lines around them. The way in which they had been traced was like walking in a field of roses, no where to go but to lose yourself in their scent, their touch, their presence.
“Miss Frames, isn’t Philmancia here?” asked the teacher quite abruptly.
“Yes, Miss” shouted her friend, Sandy and her voice made a squeaky sound that bounced on the walls that towered over them and enclosed them so that the classroom seemed packed. On hearing that sound the whole class began to laugh; everyone except Philmancia. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she missed the opportunity to show her glistening white teeth that always made the sun hide in its sacred Neptune chamber. “Phil, Manci”, said Sandy to Philmancia trying to reach her in Mars even though she was still on earth, but Philmancia still did not hear her name ring out of Sandy’s mouth like a song ready to be heard.
Pow was the echo of the lash which was planted right on Philmancia’s back like an explosion. It awoke everyone’s attention. In that little instant, she was brought back to her senses like the dead come back to life. “Girl, you want to kill me?” cried Philmancia in great pain. “No but I’m glad my mission’s accomplished, you are back on earth and that will change all the suspicions that were arising in the class. Go for your test paper”. Taking her time, she stretched her long legs to go up for the paper. She braced herself so she would not feel so bad when she saw how low her mark was. By now it was a custom of her failing psychology, her favourite subject, because she was not mentally equipped or prepared for College. Her priorities were in disarray. But no matter how strong her weapons against disappointment they were not enough to protect her from the mark she got for this exam. Finally she reached the desk.
“Young lady, what were you so caught up in?” asked her teacher, a little mockingly. “Miss, I was thinking about the ex for tomorrow” was her reply. “Okay, concerning your ex, you can do much much better than that. You are too easily distracted. When you just started doing this subject I saw so much potential in you – a true psychologist but your stars are fading away so time for improvement”.
Once again seated, she shoved her paper in her bag so no one would ask how much she had got. All around her people wailed, laughed and had mixed emotions because of their marks. Philmancia waited to leave the class last. On the way out she took out her paper and searched it to analyse her failures and mistakes. Many may think that she should not have been surprised with the mark she received but she was astounded. Her brace grew loose, her weapons fell and her guard died. All that was left was a feeling of guilt. There was something holding on to her heart squeezing al the life out of her, she began to get pale and head towards the bathroom. Her mind walking on glass soon became battered, bruised and abused. Her shoulders slumped, her head bowed and there was this little voice within her repeating to her that she was a nobody, that she was worthless. All the times she wasted at school, Tokyo and home flashed before her eyes. It now dawned on her the benefits of having a study timetable to guide her and actually studying.
The route to the bathroom seemed to have stretched and, just as she was about to fall, there appeared Prince Charming to hold her up. “Babes, how you strolling like if you are sick?” asked Jay-C. On seeing her eyes fill with water like a volcano about to erupt his happy mood evaporated and was taken over by concern. “What’s wrong” he asked but there was no reply so he knew something was bothering her. “Philmancia ,sweetheart” he said, escorting her to their favourite liming spot, “you know, may be you can fool Sandy or all your other friends but my well runs deeper than theirs. Look baby I know something is bothering you and if I can’t be of any help to you then us being together would be all wrong and I’ll be a big distraction to you. Maybe this is not the best time, but I came looking for you because I wanted to talk to you about your studies. You’re not doing as well as Sandy and I expect you to and we want you to do better, I want you to do better. I am not moving on in life without you”, said Jay-C, quietly concerned.
She raised her head in slow motion, looked up at him and handed him the psychology paper with its two out of sixty four written on it and waited patiently for his reply. Her eyes now entwined with his looked for signs of scorn but there were none.- only signs of love. “I don’t…….” was all Jay-C managed to say before she cut him off. “Shh” she said to him, “I feel like dirt, I feel wasted, I feel a stupid, senseless dunce. Look for the worst works you can find and they will express how I feel. I feel as I the whole universe has been crumbled up and thrown on my shoulders”. By now her face was like a landslide as her tears made all her Face Nutrients run off and soak her shirt and jacket or fall on the desk between them. “I have never scored such a low mark in my entire life until now. Back at secondary school I was the top student in my classes, back then I walked with some pride because I knew my stuff, but now it’s like I can’t keep up. I can’t work at the level everyone expects me to and this uniform creates such a hot environment and makes it uncomfortable to study”. Jay-C, not accustomed to see her so unhappy, went to her side and massaged her back as an encouragement for her to go on and so she did. “I remember the times I sat down and knew I should have been studying or reading or doing something constructive with my time but no - I’d rather hang with my friends and waste time with them while you go home and study. I can’t study at home because there is so much going on; Mum and Dad are filing for divorce, money is limited, my grandmother just died and more. I try to study in my room but before an hour is up I’m already asleep. When I am at school and I try to study there is no place to study. If I go to the library to study read or do unfinished home work I have to leave after 5 minutes because my bones get too cold and there are only 6 study booths in the library for 1000 students in the school. You know, when I started to get to know you I used to burn a few classes because I felt I needed your presence like I finally belonged. I’m going to stop because I‘ve realised that you want me to be somebody. It’s sad because you are the only person that cares so much about me”. She began to weep again. This time Jay-C held her to his heart - to hold her, to protect her, to give her a friend and not just a boyfriend – and he began to speak.
“Look darling I was once like you not sure of what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong I always wanted to be an engineer but I didn’t start from day one at College to accomplish my goals. However, it’s a good thing I got a hold of myself before it was too late. If I didn’t get through with that I might not have found you. What I like most about you is your kindness, your intelligence – you speak at such a high level. Baby, if you want to be a psychologist as you say then go for it. Let everything have their time. I shouldn’t take up all your time. Here are some ideas: make a study guide, write down your homework in a special book, study a portion of a subject a day and write down encouraging statements to study”.
“Straighten out all the creases in your life. Let God be your number one, family number two, education number three and me and Sandy can settle for number four”. Jay-C summed it all up.
“Thanks, boo. I feel so much better. Like if you have cut me open and washed all the germs away. Thanks for being there for me. I love you”, said Philmancia with red eyes.
“I love you too” was Jay-C’s reply as he planted a kiss on her tempting lips and she forgot her pain. He promised to help her in her studies and so he did. They became partners even in study.
What about you? What about me? When are we going to set our priorities straight? Girls – don’t let boys become a barrier to your success. Boys – don’t let the girls be a barrier to your success. Instead let their love be an encouragement to you to be successful in life. Forget that there are problems, ignore them, don’t let them come between you and your studies. Ignore the problems of the library, the uniform, wasting time and television. If you just try, you can achieve your goals in life.
Note from Mrs John: This was written before the opening of the new Learning Resource Centre at Community College.
posted by Miz John at 6:35 AM
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