...The promotional exams for senior cadre in this great company will be held in a fortnight by 9:00AM prompt. All persons concerned must be seated in the conference room on or before 8:30AM to allow for checks before the commencement of the exams. Please note that it will be a computer based test, so you don't need to come with any writing materials.... Those were the contents of the circular recieved by Kennedy a fortnight ago.
Kennedy read it over and over again and nodded probably in approval or to express disbelief. He went over to Ekene his immediate subordinate and handed over the circular to him. "what is it sir"? Ekene asked. "Just open and digest man". Kennedy said and characteristically dropped the circular on his table.
Ekene collected it and wasted no time to flip it open. He quickly perused it and burst out into laughter. "You see, he began, I told you beforehand. Go and acclamatise yourself with the way these things are done but you refused. Now look at that!" Kennedy was speechless. And after a while he began: "You know I cannot sit for that exams, he said slowly. I can't even boot a computer. I don't even know what to do with it. Now I need to write an all important exams with it. That's failure already knocking on my door!!!"
"No man. I'll help you, ok. Ekene cuts in. "What, you know you can't sit for that exam for me. They'll spot you out at once, said Kennedy." Ekene smiled. "That's not what I mean ok. I'll teach you the basics then we practice how to use the computer for days before the exam date". Wow! Kennedy exclaimed, that's very kind of you man. I am a fast learner and am sure I'll grab the much that will be enough to help me sit for that promotional exam."
The next day Ekene took Kennedy on some basics about the computer and its operations; and they practiced same for days before the date of the promotional exams. On the said date everybody was seated in front of his/her PCs. The supervisor instructed all to mind their PCs. Kennedy was sweating profusely. He managed to type in his access code to gain entrance and the questions started coming out one by one. The coast is now clear, he smiled to himself.
The exam was meant to last for forty five minutes. After about half an hour Kennedy's network failed and he lost his internet connection. He didn't know about this. He kept on clicking on the "NEXT" button but it was not responding. Everybody was busy with their systems. He got confused but kept on trying with no success. Soon other colleagues of his started leaving one by one. That was when he timidly asked for help but before help could come by his way the exam was over and the system automatically submitted the little questions he had attempted before the network failure. He became confused as he didn't want to create a scene and become an object of laughter. He quietly left his seat and made for the exit door...