The only short story I didn’t study came up

OK, so when did my little brother become a teenager?

Nobody informed me of this. Before sixth year, he was this cute kid who was definitely shorter than me.

Now, he’s just short of being able to bulldoze me if I threaten to rob the remote controls. When did he grow up? I wasn’t in my room that long, was I?

Karma, being the opportunist, came back to bite me today for not having worked hard enough for Irish Paper 2. Wouldn’t you know the only short story I didn’t study came up on the paper?

It’s my own fault though, had I revised it properly, it would have been a really predictable question. How I managed to write four pages about Lisín is beyond me. All I could remember were those bloody sausages and her extra fridge! Overall, I thought the questions were very fair, and most left the exam centre happy.

I’m sure most students will agree with me when I say that concentration is now starting to slip. I myself have most certainly “hit the wall” at this stage. Nothing seems to be going into my brain anymore, no matter how hard I try to make it.

I know it’s getting pretty busy in there, but surely there’s room for a few more French phrases for today? If only I could delete some of the Irish I had to learn for yesterday...

Until tomorrow, once again, Jess.

* Jess MacSweeney is a Leaving Certificate student at Christ King Secondary School, Douglas, Cork.