NOVEL SIMPLE ‘Four sisters’ No 34.
Tonight I was going to have some drinks, and watch movies with Enji.
Then my plans completely changed.
If Mo didn’t message me that I should finish the tests for tomorrow, I might’ve actually not done anything at all.
I looked at the clock and sighed from the burden I face. I have less than 12 hours until the tests, and I did not write down even a single question.
“Is there anybody on the frequency?” I sent a radio message to all of my sisters.
Not even a single response came back.
“At least say you are still alive?”
“We are.” (NJ)
“Then…”
“Nope.” (NJ)
“I did not even say anything.”
“You should’ve done everything while you had time. You reap what you sow.” (WI)
“You meanies!”
“Have fun~. When you’re done, you can come and watch some movies with us~!” (NJ)
The radio chatter stopped, and I was left alone to my misery.
I had no time to resent those three, so I started thinking hard on what I can use as a question.
If I make the tests too easy, the students will think I am lazy, or will resent my sisters for being too harsh.
If I make the tests hard, I will either run out of time, or make mistakes myself.
What to do…? What to do…?
“Oh, right, the library should still be open.” Though it will close in a couple of hours…
While the library was still open, I searched for books I can use as a basis for my questions.
When I had a good stack of them, I went to the librarian.
“Sir, I would like to take those books with me.”
“Miss Iowa, do you know that it will take a lot of time to register everything…? I am not going to stay overtime just because you wished to read something tonight. You can come tomorrow, and…” I knelt and hugged his legs.
“PLEASE! How about you just register everything tomorrow…? I need those books yesterday!”
“Do I appear to be a… No, do not you dare! STOP RIGHT NOW! The last thing I want to see today is a girl crying at my feet!” The honor of Iowa-class rests upon my shoulders. The threat to it from me not finishing the test is larger than from me crying in front of the librarian.
“Please…?” Puppy eyes are the lesser evil too.
“GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. IF TOMORROW YOU WILL NOT BE IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY BY THE TIME I COME, I WILL NEVER EVER GIVE YOU ANY BOOK.” I flew out of the library before he changes his mind.
With the books my progress became a bit faster. I still have entire 6 hours of time, so it should be fine for me to rest…
Just a couple of minutes of rest…
“Iowa, are you there?” Mo called me for an unknown reason.
“Yes, I am. Something’s wrong?”
“Have you finished the test?” (Mo)
“…” [Sweating buckets]
“Big Sis, you do know that you have only 2 hours to finish, right?” (Mo)
I went to the first aid kit to search for heart medicine, because I am about to have a heart attack.
I checked on my test draft, and had an actual heart attack. There are a couple of questions. Everything else was not done…
I just need 98 questions more to have enough for the tests…
“W-well… if it takes me a minute to make a question… then I have enough time, right…?”
“Oh, right, before I forget. Big Sis, the principal is going to have YOU put in charge of the summer camp, unless you make the test in time.” Ah, right, I rested more than enough…
“Out of my way!” I ran through the hallway towards the principal’s office.
‘Miss Iowa is not going to make it in time…’
‘Poor soul…’
Like a destroyer, I navigated the intricate network of hallways, without slowing down even for a second.
Finally, I saw the principal’s door.
“KEEP IT OPEN!” I shouted to a teacher, who walked out of the principal’s office.
I flew inside at full speed and my shoes left a long black trace of burnt rubber.
“Here.” I showed the test questions.
“Congratulations, Miss Iowa. If only you were a minute… later… And now, thanks to you I will have to search for somebody for the summer camp…”
I did it…!
