Spoke Too Soon-Part Two

After the graduation ceremony, we gathered infront of the head office for our transcripts. According to the Director, they were ready. However, after waiting for long, I gave up and just walked away. I planned to pick mine later within the week. Byron had plans for the day. He took me, his aunt and several others to a restaurant for a meal -his treat. Altogether, the bill was eight hundred thousand shillings.

Click to read the first part in case you missed it.

The following day, one guy from my class texted me. He was also a top performer. He too was facing the same challenge. He was sure he was getting a First Class.
“Let’s just wait for the transcripts”, he said. “Maybe the First Class will be on our transcripts”. That made me feel a bit better.

On Sunday, my mom and I had a simple graduation lunch. Due to budget restraints, I invited only representatives and people from my biological family. One person from work, two friends, my fellowship leader etc …the total was roughly fifteen people. Of the people I invited was my favorite lecturer. He was acting as a representative of the campus administration. For the first time since Friday, I asked him during our lunch meal what exactly had happened. I still didn’t understand. He didn’t have an answer. He just told me to wait for the transcript.

One of my friends and mentors had joked at some point that at campus, after graduation, there was another course called “Transcript”. True enough, I bounced about six times in a period of three weeks before I got my transcript. Apparently they were not yet ready. Eventually, I got mine. Instinctively, my eyes ran down to the bottom. I was demoralized when I saw what I was looking for. I had gotten 4.15 CGPA. This did not make sense. In my second -last semester, I had 4.25 CGPA. And now it was even less? What about the A’s I had gotten in my final semester?

Looking at the course units selected, I understood why. The course units considered prior were not the ones they had chosen for the final transcript. No wonder. I tried talking to the Principal and he was very helpful. But there’s nothing that could be done. The decision was made by the Board. I had to come to terms with what had happened.

In February, our guardians organized a grand graduation party. Honestly speaking, it was nothing less of perfection. It was like the event of the century. For twenty years, they had loved me, cared for me and supported me. For me, it was more than a graduation party. This for me was also a farewell and send-off.

At some point, I was ambushed to give a speech. My mom was there, likewise for my friends and several people that had known about my “First Class”. It was an impromptu speech but I used the audience I was given to correct the error. I didn’t give the details. I just said that I had expected a first class, but things didn’t work out. I added that instead, I had gotten a second -upper. Hundreds of people were present that day. My guess was that those in attendance would spread the word and that somehow, people would know the truth- even if it didn’t come directly from me. I couldn’t live in deceit. Though unplanned, several people walked up to me after the event and remarked what a lovely speech I had given.

I felt better after letting it off my chest that day. However, I still have a debt. Allow me to apologize to everyone that I misled with the half-baked information. I’m terribly sorry. My only mistake and greatest regret was speaking and celebrating too soon. I learnt from my mistake. Matter of fact, I nolonger celebrate or make announcements until something has actually happened. If there’s ever a lesson I learnt from my ex, then it’s to shut up. Lately I have become a person of few words.

The End.

Disclaimer: The names that feature in this story are fictitious. They were made up to protect the identity and privacy of those involved.

We would love to hear from you. Write tous: echoesovercoffee@gmail.com