Maths Test

Sanjay was horrified. He had a math test tomorrow but had completely forgotten about it . He had only just remembered, he was lucky he remembered at all but he almost wished he didn’t. But that was difficult since his tuition teacher kept reminding him of it. His friends from the neighborhood had called him to play a game of football but he had to regretfully decline. His math teacher has threatened to expel him if he failed in math again. He got fine grades in almost everything else, it was just math that he had trouble with. Oh how he loathed this subject! He could just about throttle the genius who invented math and wouldn’t he just LOVE to drown the hero who thought of exams? Sighing, he looked out of his study room window where he was currently sitting. The weather outside was just too perfect to stay inside. He was sure not even John, who scores perfect marks on every test would stay inside and study for a stupid math test. But then he had probably already revised for this ages ago. Sanjay tried to gather his non existent self control together. His mind was having a battle of wills. He should gather every bit of his will power and concentrate. Just this once. He sure as hell won’t fail for another math test this year. Maybe the weather will favor him tomorrow evening when he’ll finally be a free man. Now he was starting to sound like a prisoner or something. If he manage to scrap a passing mark then he wouldn’t have to worry about getting yelled at in class. Ms. Honey would probably be proud or maybe she would faint seeing her long term student finally pass a math test after tutoring with her for eons. His mother might even let him go to the town to watch that instant hit movie that was released just a couple days ago. Right. He should start now. He didn’t even remember the portions. So what was it? Mm.. Profit and Loss, excellent! He didn’t even complete the notes of that chapter. It had gotten so boring, he had zoned out and instead diverted his attention to watching a small bird outside the window who was showing off it’s flying skills. Grumbling sulkily, he opened his textbook and started reading the theory. Ms. Honey had told him that understanding the concept made math a whole lot easier although for him it didn’t make much of a difference. He had never been able to make it past a couple pages before he either fell asleep or just toss it away in frustration. But if he let that continue, he’ll probably have to sit in eighth grade for another year and that's just plain embarrassing besides his mother will probably kick him out of the house if that actually happens. He just had to do this. If he actually mess this one up that nightmare just might come true. He concentrated hard. He read for half an hour and oddly it wasn’t as horrible as he anticipated when he started picturing the concepts in real life situations. Ms. Honey had given him a revision for this chapter long before it was taught but that was ages ago, he had forgotten most of it. She Did say he was showing signs of improvement. Sanjay practiced late into the night. He got most of the questions wrong in his first try but was able to correct it after several tries. The more difficult questions however was lost to him. When he woke up next morning, Sanjay was feeling a lot more confident than he did the previous night. In the exam hall his teacher sent him a look that clearly said ‘You better have prepared or you’ll be out of my class before you can say ‘mathematics’ ’. Swallowing nervously he took his pen and looked at the question paper. It looked really difficult. An hour later a relieved looking Sanjay walked out of the exam hall. Man! Wasn’t that difficult! Ms. Honey wasn’t stretching then. He had absolutely no idea what to do with a few questions but he attempted them anyway. Anyway no point worrying now is there. He then skipped back home. When the teacher corrected Sanjay’s answer sheet, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her worst student had actually passed with a decent grade. She beamed at him as she passed him his answer sheet. Sanjay grinned when he saw his marks. 17/25. Wow. He was proud of himself. This was so much better that what he used to get. When he got home he ran to his mother and showed her his paper. She was happy to know that her son was finally getting the hang of it. She let him go to the movies. Ms. Honey actually took him for ice-cream. Sanjay was very pleased with himself and so very proud. He wanted to feel like this again. Needless to say he did work hard for his next tests. While the marks weren’t always perfect, it did have a lot of space and a definite promise for improvement and perfection. He then understood how working hard is the key for it all.