I still remember that period like it was yesterday. It is one of those small school moments that did not feel small all when it was happening, this was during my secondary school days. Everything felt serious anything that had to do with exams.
We were preparing for our exams, un my school mock exams were not something you joked with. It was like a preview of the thing, everybody was on edge, teachers were shoutin, students were forming faces, everywhere just had that tension in the air. I had this notebook, this notebook was my everything at that time, I am not even exaggerating. It had all my summaries, points, things I had read over and over again. If you see the way I wrote inside that book you would know I was not playing, My notebook was basically my lifeline for that exam.
So imagine my shock when one afternoon I could not find my notebook.
At first I was not even too worried. I thought, "Maybe I kept my notebook somewhere and forgot." I checked my bag, .y notebook was not there. I checked my locker. My notebook was not there. I even went far as checking under my bed at home just in case. My notebook was still not there.
That was when panic started setting in. "Where is my notebook?" I kept asking myself. I went back to class the day and started asking people.
"Guy have you seen my notebook?"
"No check your bag well."
"I have checked my bag like five times already."
I even asked my seat mate, Dupe.
"Dupe please you did not see my notebook?"
He shook his head. "No why would I carry your book?"
At that point I was stressed. Not small stress. The exam was getting closer. My notebook had disappeared like that. I did not even know whether to be angry or just tired. After searching for days and not finding my notebook I just had to accept my fate. I told myself "You do not have a choice. Just use your textbooks.". That is what I did.
I started reading from my textbooks trying to remember everything from scratch. It was not easy all. I missed my notebook because my notes were simplified in a way that made everything easier to understand.. Life does not always go the way you plan so I just adjusted. Finally the mock exam came. I wrote it with what I had read from my textbooks. To be honest I was not even as confident as I would have been if I had my notebook.. I just did my best and moved on. Then a days after the exam something unexpected happened.
I came into class one morning. Dupe walked up to me holding something in his hand.
"Guy I think this is your notebook."
I looked at my notebook. My eyes almost popped out. It was my notebook.
"Wait, where did you see this?" I asked, already confused.
He scratched his head looking a bit embarrassed "I think I carried my notebook mistakenly that day. It was inside my bag all this while. I did not even know."
I did not even know whether to laugh or be annoyed "All this while?" I said.
"You mean I have been looking for my notebook everywhere. It has been with you?"
"I am really sorry " he said. "I did not check properly. I just saw my notebook now."
I took my notebook from him flipping through the pages like I was making sure it was real. Honestly I was relieved to have my notebook back.. At the same time I could not ignore the fact that it came after the exam I needed my notebook for.
I just sighed.
"It is fine " I said. "At least I have seen my notebook now."
Truly I meant it. There was no point getting angry, over something that had already passed. The exam was done. I had survived it without my notebook. That experience taught me something important. Sometimes the things we depend on much can disappear. We are forced to adapt. It might not be comfortable. You will still find a way to move forward.. Also I learned to always double check my things.. Maybe not trust "I did not see it" too quickly.
