Hamilton Academy~The Ink Well Prompt #97 Contest

He doesn't have everything at his fingertips but honesty is one virtue he possesses, he has to hustle before he eats. A life with his grandma has made him the father of the house.

Mark is the only child of his parents. Who grew up to hear the sad story of how his parents died in a ghastly accident and he was the only surviving.

Although he grew up with a mark sustained. A mark of memory as his grandma will always say. Mark's grandmother, although old but still very agile, took up the responsibility of training Mark.

Source

He signed him up into Hamilton Academy, one of the top schools in town. Mark, who life has taught to be focused, tried his best to be among the brilliant ones, combining hustles and academics just to make sure he doesn't lag behind because of school fees as he knows his grandma needs assistance as she can't do all the expenses alone.. Although it wasn't easy as his classmates discriminated against him because of his low background. He overlooked all that and kept being himself.

One day at school, the elite students who were known to be "the big boys" in school have been planning to plot evil against Mark to leave Hamilton Academy as he's not among the elites, John without the knowledge of his colleagues decided to go first so as to wear the crown of " king of doings" .

It was time for the football game and all the students were expected to leave the hostel to go to the field. Everyone did, including Mark. John, one of the Elite's kids, son of a business mogul and politician, who is well respected by teachers and students because of his father's position in the country and school. Removed his Rolex watch and slotted it into Mark's bag without his awareness.

After the game, he went to the Principal of the school, Mrs Harry and reported. A bell was rung and everyone gathered at the "Rectangle", a place where a culprit is being punished for any offenses that go contrary to the school regulations.

Mrs Harry announced the incident to the public and granted John the permission to begin a search by picking students one after the other. To avoid suspicion, he called up precious, his fellow schoolmate, searched her, then called other sets of students. Then he called Mark, he began searching Mark until he got to where he put in the Rolex watch, brought it out and the students shouted.

"For this act of pilfering and indiscipline, you will need to bring your guardian to school for this case to be properly addressed". Mrs Harry said .

After the principal pronounced her verdict, Mark tried all effort to prove his innocence and ignorance of what happened but to know avail. The compound master came up with to meet Mark so as to flog him as one of the disciplinary measures the school uses on those who break the school rules. Just when the cane was raised up.

I have something to say, and everyone turned their attention to Mirabel, a junior student.
"John purposely did this to incriminate Mark. I saw everything". She narrated the whole incident and brought out her portable camera where all evidence needed was captured by Mirabel.

John was called back to the "Rectangle" to apologize to Mark publicly. He was punished and expelled from Hamilton Academy. Just like the saying goes "news flies" The news of his expulsion and his evil intention flew all round town.
What looked like a disgrace to Mark turned out to be the beginning of his blessing.

Many influential people in the school picked up the incident and forced John's parents to compensate Mark for soiling his reputation. They had no choice but to comply, they paid hugely,an amount that went a long way to changing Mark's and grandma's status. The incident gave the school publicity in a positive way as the stakeholders' decision-making approach to the incident was applauded, many parents were pleased and enrolled their kids while John's parents had to arrange a flight for John to fly outside the country until the situation calmed.