To Love A Pauper

the scholarship

"Are you Donald Benjamin that participated in the just concluded LEAP foundation scholarship Mathematics competition?" The unknown visitor asked immediately Donald opened the door.

Donald nodded in agreement without saying a word.

"You are among the top 10 highest scorer and your presence is needed at front entrance 1175 W Baseline road Claremont, CA 91711, USA by 11am tomorrow." The visitor added as she hand over a file to Donald.

Donald became exhilarated at the hearing of the visitors' news. He wish to be among the top 10 from the onset but he wasn't sure he could actually make it. He ran to his mother and shared the good news.

***

It was a great arena; a representative from LEAP foundation scholarship was present.The representative presented some speech from the chairman of the organisation and congratulated all the top 10 scorers. He went on to declare that the LEAP foundation have decided to offer scholarship to all the top 10 scorers. On hearing the statement of the representative, Donald became extremely excited. One could see tears running down his cheeks as many thoughts run through his mind.

'Mother have tried all she could in the past weeks to gather up some money for my school fees, but all her efforts proved abortive. Before this moment, I use to think that my dreams to aim high academically have been long thwarted. Now, I believe divine has honored my desires,' Donald thought to himself. Donald jolted when someone tapped him to join the queue.

Each of the students among the top 10 scorers were made to line up and were given a document which confirmed their scholarships.

***

"Mother! Mother!! Where are you?" Donald shouted on getting to the balcony of their building.

"Yes son, you sound excited, what is it?" Mrs Linda asked while entering the sitting room.

Donald handed the document that was given to him by the LEAP foundation to his mother and she read through it

"This is a scholarship confirmation later from the LEAP foundation, how did you get this?" Mrs linda asked in disbelief.

Donald reminded his mother of the mathematics competition he participated in some weeks back, "So long as my senior secondary school is concern, you need not to struggle for my school fees again. I will be resuming in Webb schools in two weeks time," Donald explained.

His mother was so happy to hear this. Though she used to think that donald will make her proud some days.

***

'What kind of students are in this school, can I be able to compete with them? Will they scorn me because am from a poor home?' All these are questions running through Donald's mind while entering the school gate.

"Good morning sir!" the students greeted in chorus at the entrance of the mathematics teacher.

"Good morning students," Mr Caleb the mathematics teacher replied. "To all the new students, you're all welcome" Mr Caleb added.

He went on and write on the white board. "Can someone help us with the Pythagoras theory?" Mr Caleb asked.

"In a right angled triangle, the sum of the squares of the two sides is equal to the square of the hypotenuse," Donald answered.

The class went into a death silence as all the students turned to Donald, starring at him in amazement. Some of their mouth were stocked open at the brilliance of Donald.

"Excellent!" Mr Caleb exclaimed, "Can you represent the theory with an equation on the board?" He asked.

Donald came out with so much confidence. He got a maker from the mathematics teacher and represented the Pythagoras theory on the board. Loud murmuring could be heard among the students.

(Donald is a very handsome guy of average height, fair in complexion, has brown eyes and a pointed nose).

The students keep asking themselves who Donald was and where he actually comes from.

"I hate some people who claim to be too intelligent," Sandra told her friend clara as Donald returns to sit right in front of them. Donald clearly heard what she said but he actually have nothing to tell her.

Alarm for school dismissal was rung. All the students start going out. Sandra and Clara walked passed Donald and Sandra purposely stepped on Donald.

"Young lady!" Donald called faintly.

"Who are you calling?" Sandra retorted almost immediately while turning to face Donald.

"You of course, you just stepped on me," Donald confirmed.

"Really? Maybe I was just passing and mistakenly stepped on ..."

"Comm'n ... Sandra! Must you be always rude? Am sorry on her behalf," Clara said referring to Donald. On hearing this Donald walked out on them without saying a word.

***

Donald lied on his bed not knowing how to describe the lackadaisical behavior exhibited by the students in his new class. He saw the teachers performing excellently but some of the students are piece of insolent louts. Some students chat when the lessons are on and some operate their android phone during lesson period and all these attitudes are with impunity. Donald keep asking himself why they weren't punished. He also sense bullies among the students.

***

It was another day in the school, Donald majestically came to the class and sat down. A boy named jason walked up to him. "Hey! Are you not the one your mother sells fish in a dilapidated small shop along the road?" Jason scoffed loudly.

Some students burst into laughter while some are not pleased with this ridiculous question.

"And what on earth is your fuckin' business with that?" Donald replied angrily.

"How did you get into this school? I know your mother cannot afford..."

"Guys is okay," Jake snapped. "And if you must know, Donald was given scholarship by the LEAP foundation for his excellent performance in a mathematics competition conducted some weeks ago," Jake added.

Jason walked back to his sit after the interference of Jake. Some students wondered how intelligent Donald is. Sandra was deeply lost staring at Donald after the incident. Clara realized that Sandra was staring at Donald too longer than necessary.

"Staring at him?" Clara asked Sandra referring to Donald.

Sandra jolted from her God knows fantasy after hearing the question Clara asked.

"Wha... Who are you talking about," Sandra stuttered.

"Donald" Clara retorted.

"No and never, don't say that," she denied.

"Alright, I will be here to witness how it will go. You intentionally stepped on him that day," Clara said jokingly.

"Whatever you are thinking is up to up," Sandra said with a funny look.