The First Time I Heard About Shooting Star

The First Time I Heard About Shooting Star

Photo by Matheus Bertelli

I was a very quiet boy while I was in senior secondary school (SSS1) most of my mates already knew I didn't like talking much so they didn't interact well with me except for Jane.

A chubby, dark-skinned average-height lady, She was also quiet and always stayed in the classroom like me.

During most break hours she sings. That has been her custom, when we started getting along very well, we were always together interacting during break hours. A lot of times I beg her to sing for me because of her sweet voice and she does it happily.

One of those days when the break hour just elapsed, I and Jane were still having a nice time, singing and teasing ourselves in the classroom while other students were running back to the classroom when Mr. Ben, our physics teacher, entered the classroom.

"Good morning sir," the few of us in class stood up and greeted him in unison.

"Morning students, where are the rest of you?" Mr Ben asked, moving his eyes around the classroom, while he dropped the book he was holding on the desk.

"They are coming sir," the class captain, Fred responded, looking at the windows by the left intermittently.

"Alright sit down," Mr Ben ordered. Well, I didn't come to teach today, I came to.

"Excuse us, sir," the other students distracted him at the door. It's the custom of the school for students to remain outside and take proper permission before entering the class once a teacher is inside.

"So, it's now that your break has finished, right?" He asked with his face tight, as he picked up his cane

"No sir, we are sorry," they replied in unison, some of them trying to hide by the wall.

Hmm, he sighed and dropped the cane on the ground. "Come inside, but ensure you don't eat while I am here," he instructed.

"Thank you, sir," they walked inside quickly and sat down on their two-seater desks.

"So, like I was saying, today I am not here to teach but to inform you that you will be having my test by 1:00 P.m., and it will be oral," Mr. Ben announced.

The whole class started murmuring, "order," Mr. Ben shouted, "what is the problem?"

"We have Agricultural science by 1 and.., and.. we are not prepared for the test sir," Fred stuttered as he responded.

"I already spoke with your Agricultural science teacher, he will use my time tomorrow. And don't worry the test won't be difficult, okay?" Mr Ben replied.

Most of us nodded our heads, and after passing the information, Mr Ben left. Everyone became serious while going through their physics notes.

When the time reached, we all left the class to Mr. Ben's office, he made us line up and entered one after the other.

Jane was the first person to be attended to, it was very brief, and she came out just a few minutes later.

"How was it?" I asked her on her way back to the classroom.

"It was fine, the questions were very simple, if I had known, I wouldn't have stressed myself to read that much," she replied smiling, shining her teeth like she just won an award.

"Where do you think I should concentrate?" I inquired, my heart beating fast and my hands shaking.

"I can't say for sure because he asked Peter different questions while I was leaving but don't panic, It won't be hard," she replied, as she walked away

"Okay dear, I'll see you as soon as I am done," I said, waving at her.

A few minutes later, I was at the front, "next" Mr Ben shouted from inside. As I walked in my heart kept beating.

It was a portable local office in the laboratory with a table and textbooks on it. Mr Ben was the only one there. I was so surprised, that he asked me cheap questions, I didn't hesitate, I answered and left.

While I was still rejoicing on my way to the class, when I got to our window, I started hearing a voice singing, "Brighter than a shooting star, shine no matter where you are tonight."

The song was sweet but that was the only line I could grab. I already knew who was singing, so I hastened up to the class.

And behold, my friend was deeply lost in the song, her eyes were closed and her head was just moving from left to right as she sang.

"Hey, don't you know you are loud? You might be disturbing the other students," I teased her, as I sat beside her.

Haa! She exclaimed, "What's my problem? I am just so excited about the test, you know," she replied.

"I can see it," I chuckled. By the way, that song was great, who sang it?" I responded.

"Oh, it's titled Shooting Star by Owl City, it's my favorite song. You should listen to it. should I sing it for you again?" She suggested.

I smiled and said "Yes." and She sang it again for me. That was the first time I heard the phrase "shooting star." After school that day, I downloaded the song on my phone and I enjoyed it. I later did research on what a shooting star is and I was so surprised that I have seen it a couple of times in the sky at night but always took it for something else.

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