Excerpt
t wasn’t bad at all.
“How do you guys feel about the chemistry test today?” Rena asked, reminding them they were there for a reason: the extra exams they had to write. But chemistry wasn’t on anybody’s mind at this time.
“I’ll sit with George,” Rena said, “he’s good with chemistry.”
“And I’ll sit with Lakis,” Litsa cried out as if someone was pulling her hair.
Thus without any conscious effort they had become two pairs and the odd man, the tall boy, with the acne, who seeing he was alone, he lit a cigarette, since the teacher hadn’t arrived yet and since the school supervisor was a good mannered man, he wouldn’t reprimand them even if they smoked in the school grounds, these high school boys and girls who had been left to re-do the chemistry course exam, which they didn’t pass during the June exams. So, they opened their books, there in the school yard, by the ledge of the fence wall, when Basil, the tall boy left as he wanted to go to the pool hall to play against Sakis, his usual opponent; these two young men were competing for the last year of who will be crowned the master pool player of the hall which came with recognition and respect from all local youths who frequented the place; after all each of the pool halls had their king maker, their best player who’d compete in various tournaments organized by the respective city hall as well as games they occasionally played against a player who would show up from a different neighbourhood to challenge their best.
The other four decided to go to their class. The exam was scheduled for about an hour, and the administering teacher could arrive soon; they sat at the end of the class. George with Rena and Litsa with Lakis next to her. It was when Litsa said softly to Lakis,
“Tell me now, back in June, I was sure you knew the subjects. Why did you fail to pass?”
“You know why. I’m sure you do, why are you asking me?” he replied.
