The Examination

The Examination

Inside the hall numerous juvenile bodies bend over brown wooden desks, scribbling and scratching as they pour out like parrots the previous year's work. Over in the corner, near the front, one of the boys sneaks a side glance at his partner's work. It will gain him nothing and reward him badly, for his friend's answers are just as wrong as his.

The young invigilator walks slowly along the aisles, advising, helping - not too much - reprimanding and watching. His job is boring but necessary. He is the God, he controls these pubertal brains as they wade through question after question of German, and Russian, and General Classics. They don't know what they're writing; like robots they sit and translate mechanically without thinking, without comprehending the work that they are creating for their examiners.

Behind me someone shuffles his feet and coughs, only to be followed by another, and another, then silence. Only the clicking of rulers and scratching of pencil made margins break the heavy tension of the examination hall. Here as I sit writing I can feel the taut nervousness of those around me, every nerve strained, every memory bank of the human mind in operation.

I look to my right and see one of the workers rubbing his forehead and sighing in silent resignation as he reads a difficult question. Riddles and haunting voices run through his head as he struggles to find the answer. What does it say? What can I do? Is it past? Is it present? Ha! Dammit! Who cares? He cares. He worries. Strange fluttering sensations run around the walls of his stomach. Nerves, nothing but nerves. He doesn't feel it. He doesn't know that they exist. The only thing he's worried about is the examination. That terrible barrier between fifth and sixth form. That gut wrenching week when he must demonstrate his academic skills to the world. That one week when all those years of training and learning finally come together in one dramatic exodus.

Thus is the tension of the people involved...thus is the tension of the Examination Hall....snap!



	Inside the hall numerous juvenile bodies bend over brown wooden desks, scribbling and scratching as they pour out like parrots the previous year's work. Over in the corner, near the front, one of the boys sneaks a side glance at his partner's work. It will gain him nothing and reward him badly, for his friend's answers are just as wrong as his. The young invigilator walks slowly along the aisles, advising, helping - not too much - reprimanding and watching. His job is boring but necessary. He is the God, he controls these pubertal brains as they wade through question after question of German, and Russian, and General Classics. They don't know what they're writing; like robots they sit and translate mechanically without thinking, without comprehending the work that they are creating for their examiners. Behind me someone shuffles his feet and coughs, only to be followed by another, and another, then silence. Only the clicking of rulers and scratching of pencil made margins break the heavy tension of the examination hall. Here as I sit writing I can feel the taut nervousness of those around me, every nerve strained, every memory bank of the human mind in operation. I look to my right and see one of the workers rubbing his forehead and sighing in silent resignation as he reads a difficult question. Riddles and haunting voices run through his head as he struggles to find the answer. What does it say? What can I do? Is it past? Is it present? Ha! Dammit! Who cares? He cares. He worries. Strange fluttering sensations run around the walls of his stomach. Nerves, nothing but nerves. He doesn't feel it. He doesn't know that they exist. The only thing he's worried about is the examination. That terrible barrier between fifth and sixth form. That gut wrenching week when he must demonstrate his academic skills to the world. That one week when all those years of training and learning finally come together in one dramatic exodus. Thus is the tension of the people involved...thus is the tension of the Examination Hall....snap!