While we did all the aforementioned activities, we did not give up studying and Dad continued to tutor us. As our stay near the sea was almost coming to an end, only a month being left, Dad made up his mind to test what we had learned so far via a three-hour long exam, prepared by him. He fixed a date and we studied hard to prepare for it.
The big Exam Day arrived. I was a bit tensed but nevertheless I also relaxed myself within minutes. There was nothing to fear and I had prepared myself for it plus there had been countless exams I had appeared before in my life. I would make it.
Dad returned from work, refreshed himself and had lunch with us and rested for a while. The question papers were ready, and he had kept in a secret place. Soon it was time.
The question papers were handed out. The time we began was recorded. It was going to be exactly three hours. I read the questions carefully. There were Science, Math and English sections. I read the first section, which was Science. Too many a time, earlier in my life, I had ignored the top instructions and did not see the possibilty of choice in questions. Now I read the top instructions and yes, there was choice! So I figured out which ones I felt most comfortable with and having done that, I gradually started answering in my answer script.
It was a long exam. My sisters had their own question papers for their grade standards, and they also started appearing.
My hand started to ache from writing and writing. I soon had a headache. Three hours seemed to be a big deal. But easing and relaxing by pausing a little and then going on again, I made it. At the end of three hours, Dad took away our question papers and answer scripts, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
But my headache did not disappear; so I went out for some fresh air. Evening was dawning and I could see Dad going over our question papers and answer scripts through the open window. My heart beat two beats at a time and so I looked no more. I concentrated on the sea splasing waves, the twilight sky and my surroundings. Our neighbors were roaming about and I said,”Draste”. (actually spelled as zdravstvuyte meaning Hello).
It was not long before Dad came out of the door with a smile on his face and remarked, “You have done well, Rosina!!” They seemed like the sweetest words right that moment and wanted Dad to repeat them but he didn’t. So I said, “Really?” He then replied,”Yes, you have done well.”
I was overjoyed at the confirmation of Dad’s words. My headache disappeared instantly. My sisters’ performances were also good, and Dad was happy with all of us.
With one month only left, it was time to prepare for our new future that lay ahead of us but we were going to get lots of leisure times so that the ending was going to be a good one.