Miracle Ukwueze @miracleukwueze

As the examinations approached, the load of fast approaching deadlines fell heavy on my shoulders. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get over the belief that I hadn't read enough to ace my examinations. Night after night, I studied textbooks and lecture notes, attempting to acquire as much material as possible. But uncertainties continued to haunt me, whispering that I was falling short.

This evening, when the campus quieted down, I found myself going towards the library, trying to squeeze in a few more hours of study before the day ended.
But as I reached the library, I noticed a tiny flash coming from one of the surrounding classrooms. Curiosity stirred up I ventured closer, captivated by the gentle murmur of voices coming from the cracked doorway. Peering inside, I noticed several of my classmates clustered around desks, heads bent over textbooks and notebooks.

I realized I wasn't alone in my struggle. There were others, just like me, dealing with the same anxieties and doubts. Without hesitation, I pulled open the door and entered the room, joining them for their informal study session.

We spent hours going over our notes together, discussing thoughts and quizzing each other on important subjects. The companionship and sense of unity lifted my spirits, relieving the tension that had weighed me down for so long. In that classroom, surrounded by friends and classmates, I discovered an educational and short escape from the constant pressures of exam season.

However, as the night progressed and exhaustion set in, it became clear that the library would soon close and we would be forced to leave. With a heavy heart, I grabbed my bags and said my goodbyes to my new acquaintances, glad for the little peace they provided.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Lily who had an insatiable craving for oranges. Every day on her way home from school, she would pass by the bustling fruit section of the market, her mouth watering at the sight of the vibrant, juicy oranges. However, she was always short of money, so she could never afford to buy them, much less any additional fruits.

One particularly sunny day, as she strolled through the market, she paused in front of the array of colorful fruits, silently longing for the oranges and other fruits she couldn't have. Just as she was about to continue on her way, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. To her surprise, two of her male friends, David and Jake, were waving at her from a nearby fruit stand.

As if answering her silent prayer, they motioned for her to come closer. Lily approached, her heart pounding with curiosity. With beaming smiles, the two boys handed her a bag filled with the most luscious oranges and an assortment of other fruits. Lily stared at them in disbelief, trying to comprehend the unexpected gift.

"Surprise! We thought you might enjoy these," Jake said with a mischievous grin.

Lily was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. She couldn't believe her luck as she accepted the generous gift. She was touched by the consideration and kindness of her friends in fulfilling her heart's desire for fresh fruits, especially the oranges she had been longing for.

With the bag of fruits in hand, Lily joyfully skipped her way back home. The load of citrusy goodness felt like a treasure, and she knew she would be greeted with a burst of happiness from her family. As she entered her neighborhood, her neighbors couldn't help but notice the radiant smile on her face and the bulging sack of fruits she carried. They could tell that something extraordinary had happened to Lily that day.

Uju was notorious for her uncanny ability to wake up in the middle of the night and sneak into the kitchen to steal pieces of meat from the pots that her mother had prepared for the next day's meal. Her stealthy meat raids were the stuff of legends in her household, and no one could catch her in the act.

No matter what precautions her family took, Uju always found a way to outsmart them. Her mother tried placing the pots in different spots, her father attempted to stay awake to catch her, and her older brother even set up intricate traps around the kitchen, but all their efforts were in vain.

One night, the family decided to come up with a plan to teach Uju a lesson. They devised a cunning strategy involving fake meat, a hidden camera, and a loud alarm. Little did Uju know that her days of meat thievery were about to come to an end.

That night, Uju predictably snuck into the kitchen and, with an experienced hand, lifted the lid of the largest pot. She reached in to grab a succulent piece of meat, completely unaware that her family was watching the entire scene unfold on their hidden camera with bated breath.

As Uju triumphantly raised the piece of meat to her lips, she suddenly heard a loud, blaring sound that echoed through the house. Startled, she jerked back, spilling the meat onto the floor. Alas, it wasn't meat at all – it was a cleverly disguised toy made to look like meat! Uju's timing couldn't have been worse as her family rushed into the kitchen, catching her red-handed, surrounded by fake, rubbery meat.

As they all burst into laughter, Uju realized that her stealthy escapades had finally come to an end. From that day on, she became famous in her village as "the girl who got outsmarted by fake meat." And as Uju's family enjoyed the real meat with the most uproarious laughter, she learned an important lesson about honesty and the consequences of messing with fake meat in the middle of the night.

Today, I lost my handkerchief in class. Again. It's probably the fifth time this semester, and it really gets me down. Here in Nigeria, the climate is hot and unforgiving. Walking around without a handkerchief during these times makes you feel like a faucet, just dripping water constantly. It's a simple yet essential item that I can't seem to hold onto.

It's frustrating to think about all the times I've had to go out and buy a new one. I always console myself with the hope that I'll find some extra money tomorrow to purchase a replacement. But then, when I stop to consider all the money I've spent on handkerchiefs, I realize that I could have built a mansion by now.

The frequency of losing my handkerchiefs is both comical and disheartening. Hopefully, tomorrow will bring better luck, and I'll be able to secure a new one without losing it so quickly. Can't help but shake my head at the absurdity of my luck with handkerchiefs!