PROJECT PEN [SEASON III]

JUDGES REVIEW (BATCH TWO)

Hi Cribberssssss 🤭, It's time for the second batch of Judges Review ✨.

In this batch, we have the following contestants:

005 TRAFALGAR
007 DNA
008 SMERALDO
009 RISING SUN.

Without wasting time, let's call on the first Contestant.

005 TRAFALGAR

"On your marks!"

Lekan felt a lonely bead of sweat trickle down his neck, down to his already soaked, previously white, singlet. A yard or two away from him was a hastily made pile of uniform shirts and a pair of shoes with white socks stuffed in them.

"Get set!"

Lekan's back was arched against the hot, sweltering afternoon sun, his index fingers dug into the sand. His right foot was positioned behind his left, his toes squirmed in his shoes, and his muscles tensed and ached in anticipation of the call to start running.

He and his opponent and best friend, Chukwubuike, had been arguing about which of them was faster, and since neither would budge, they'd both decided to settle the score after school, in the field behind Mrs Toyosi's farm.

Sani, a friend of theirs had agreed to officiate the race on the condition that he, the agreed fastest boy in their grade, raced the winner.

"Go!" his voice boomed, as he brought down his previously raised hand.

Lekan took off as fast as he could, but Chukwubuike was already getting a lead ahead of him. Determined not to lose, he increased his pace, and sure enough, he began to catch up.

Halfway down the field, they were tied, but Lekan could see from the corner of his eye that Chukwubuike had fallen behind him. Grinning, he continued as Sani, who was at the other end of the field waiting to determine who the winner of this bout was, jumped for joy.

Somewhere before the finish line, Chukwubuike caught up and the race ended in a draw. Sweaty and out of breath, the two boys began to argue who won.

"I was the first to reach na. Ask Sani. Abi Sani?" Lekan argued, his hands on his waist, further staining his already filthy singlet.

"Ahh, you can lieeee! I reached you and passed before we crossed the line. This is what you like doing every time we race" Chukwubuike said, as he wiped the sweat threatening to get into his eyes.

"Stop shouting. Draw-Draw. You people should race again. Nobody won" Sani said.

"You see! I told you I caught up to you." Chukwubuike taunted.

"Abeg, it's because you started before me. I will dust you this time" Lekan said.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Lekan saw a familiar, bright-red car pull up down the street. His mother had come back earlier than usual. Suddenly his heart began to thump against his chest, harder than it did just after the race.

He bolted down back across the field, where his uniform shirt lay. Hastily, he slung it over his shoulder and grabbed his lunchbox and with his free hand his schoolbag.

"Lekan! Where are you going!" his friends called, but he barely heard them.

Luckily for him, his mother had parked the car just beside Iya Bola's kiosk. Quickly he ran towards his house, his lunchbox rattling.

Finally, when he reached the gate, he began to pound his fist on the gate.

"Tolani! Tolani! Come and open the gate. Pleaseee. Mommy is back." he pleaded.