{"id":1114,"date":"2017-01-31T19:15:43","date_gmt":"2017-01-31T19:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theskrypt.co.ke\/?post_type=jetpack-portfolio&p=1114"},"modified":"2017-01-31T19:15:43","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T19:15:43","slug":"the-apartment-11","status":"publish","type":"jetpack-portfolio","link":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/portfolio\/the-apartment-11\/","title":{"rendered":"The Apartment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 11: Team Work<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today is the final audition,<\/em> thought Mary as she sat in silence on the cold stairs outside the dining hall alongside other highly energetic and apprehensive girls.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2026do this! I can do this!\u201d, squeaked a girl who proceeded to lower her petite body into the<\/p>\n

narrow space between Mary and another competitor.<\/p>\n

Mary spared a sideways glance then resumed her blank stare at empty space. She was pretty too.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look quite\u2026. un-energized\u201d, the girl started staring right at her, her head tilted and brow raised.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine\u2026\u201d Mary responded slowly her voice barely audible above the chattering of the other students.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t look it\u201d, the girl continued. She reached into her pocket and retrieved a shiny pink mirror and began fixing her non-existent makeup, and her already perfect collar.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a bit frustrated\u201d, started Mary letting out a short laugh, \u201cI can see why some of us are here\u2026.but\u2026some I just… don\u2019t… understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary stressed the last three words her eyes fixed on Esther. Esther, who was talking to one of the other girls animatedly, turned to face Mary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by that Mary??\u201d she asked her forehead creased and her voice icy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean…\u201d Mary got to her feet walked toward Esther stopping an inch from her face, \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve to be here\u2026 You are a cheater\u201d. She said, fuming and punctuating every syllable with a poke of Esther\u2019s chest using her index finger.<\/p>\n

Esther stepped back brushing Mary\u2019s hand aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally Mary!\u201d asked Esther, her eyes filled with disbelief, \u201cYou are such a\u2026. such a \u2026. Child! God!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? A child!!\u201d Mary stated, sneering. Her pitch heightened, \u201cAt least I don\u2019t cheat!\u201d The other girls were now listening to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what\u201d, Esther said moving in on Mary and staring her down, \u201cGrow. …UP\u201d. She said it slowly and deliberately.<\/p>\n

Mary started to retort but just then, The JV committee consisting of seniors and the Patrons arrived. She held her tongue as everyone stood up and gathered around.<\/p>\n

They were imposing. A deafening silence overtook them.<\/p>\n

The slender, fair skinned girl stepped forward. Her demeanor was imposing. In her hand she held a sheaf of papers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the chairlady, I would like to congratulate all of you for making it this far. However, the battle is still on, so, if you seriously want to join us and become an elite in Sifa High, ace this final technical audition.\u201d She paused and looked around. \u201cIf you, I guarantee that as a member of JV club you WILL become an Elite in SIFA high school and the envy of all other girls. We will make the rest of stay here, a dream come true…\u201d she concluded with a smile as her audience burst out in applause.<\/p>\n

The academic patron stepped forward, \u201cI can feel your excitement in my bones\u201d, she said laughing.<\/p>\n

She had a motherly appeal<\/em>, thought Mary.<\/p>\n

The applause died down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shall explain to you, the details of your final test. You have been divided into 5 groups of 4 each…\u201d<\/p>\n

Murmurs filled the air at her revelation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are we being grouped like this? I don\u2019t want people pulling me down\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Crap, I hope they don\u2019t put me with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush!\u201d said the Chairlady Firmly. The crowd fell silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll four members from the best group will be automatically enlisted.\u201d Continued the Patron, \u201cThe second group will get two automatic enlistments and the third best group will get one. \u201c<\/p>\n

She paused for effect. \u201cThere will be no automatic enlistment for the Last two groups\u2026\u201d she concluded and stepped back.<\/p>\n

Mary looked around at the others. Their faces were ashen. They too were shocked! She had done her research and this had never happened before. JV was never about group work.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t look so petrified\u201d said the farm manager, breaking the silence. He stepped forward smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the unselected Nine members, you will have an opportunity to fill the remaining three slots based on your individual strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

As always, only 10 of you will make it in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

A collective sigh went out.<\/p>\n

They were dispersed.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m in the same group with you\u2026\u201d Mary started. Esther rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Becky\u201d, one of their team members stretched out her hand to Mary then to Esther, \u201cThis is Anna\u201d<\/p>\n

Esther smiled at her, \u201cI\u2019m Esther\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMary\u2026\u201d Mary said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo. Now that we know each other, how bout we set a date to brainstorm\u201d, Becky started. Her eyes moved from Mary to Esther whose bodies angled away from each other. Anna stood detached from the rest her eyes on the ground, \u201cCome on guys\u2026. We cannot let our personal differences affect this project. I don\u2019t know about you guys but I\u2019m here to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mary smiled and moved to Becky\u2019s side wrapping her right hand across her shoulder, \u201cI think you and I can get along.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take that to mean all of us can get along\u2026\u201d Becky said. Anna giggled and Esther smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about at 9 pm\u2026.my cubicle\u2026\u201d Anna volunteered. They all turned to face her. She looked away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill your roomie be okay with that?\u201d Esther asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kinda\u2026stay alone. So\u2026\u201d she scratcher her head with a coy smile plastered on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk Then\u201d said Anna.<\/p>\n

They parted ways.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost\u2026.\u201d Esther\u2019s voice trailed off as she fought off tears, \u201cI\u2019m so… sorry\u201d<\/p>\n

Contestants from all but the winning team were gathered outside one of the senior classrooms. There was a group already in for assessment.<\/p>\n

Mary\u2019s team was seated nearest the entrance.<\/p>\n

Mary frowned, \u201cIt\u2019s you who chose to handle that section of the business plan. You\u2019re the one who decided to handle the making of the samples as well as the acquiring of permissions from the school departments by yourself. You cost us because you were too greedy for attention\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Becky took deep breaths her eyes downcast and her face black with sadness, \u201cIf you had helped her as I requested we would have finished the work Mary. Don\u2019t act like you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we were number three. That is pretty good. And our idea of using the club as a conduit for distribution of goods made by students as well as providing monthly services from outside the school to the students was the best idea\u2026 \u201cAnna interrupted with a smile though her eyes were dull.<\/p>\n

The second-best group walked out of the class that now seemed more like an interrogation room. You could tell the enlisted from those who weren\u2019t. Two of them stood tall with their eyes gleaming with joy and their lips curved in radiant smiles. The other two had their heads bowed and their eyes down cast.<\/p>\n

\u201cGroup three…\u201d said a senior who stood at the doorstep her eyes skimming the group of students.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere…\u201d Becky was on her feet. She turned to face them smiling, \u201cCome on guys. We\u2019re up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 11: Team Work Today is the final audition, thought Mary as she sat in silence on the cold stairs outside the dining hall alongside other highly energetic and apprehensive girls. \u201cWe can\u2026do this! I can do this!\u201d, squeaked a girl who proceeded to lower her petite body into the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"jetpack-portfolio-type":[],"jetpack-portfolio-tag":[],"class_list":["post-1114","jetpack-portfolio","type-jetpack-portfolio","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio\/1114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/jetpack-portfolio"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio\/1114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"jetpack-portfolio-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio-type?post=1114"},{"taxonomy":"jetpack-portfolio-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sqrypted.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jetpack-portfolio-tag?post=1114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}