The Presley Surprise Return

What do you all call it? Coincidence? Luck? Mistake? Power of the tongue like the priests say. Whatever it was, I'll forever be amazed by something that happened to me many years ago.

Presley College was situated by the common Westside road. To my surprise, the school was barely noticed. People used to ask me, "Where did you say your school was again, Presley?".

"Still on the same Westside Road, just keep looking to your left when you get to Meche junction. You won't miss it", I'll reply.

Leaving this same school after 3 years was surprising to some. They had expected that I would stay throughout my high school years which ran for 6 years. I had to leave due to issues best known to my parents.

I settled in my new school, adapted to new surroundings, new teachers, new classmates, new routine. I joined the football team.

During training sessions, I met a guy close to the training pitch. His name was Johnson. He was a senior from Presley. He wasn't expecting to see me in another school's uniform other than Presley.

"Why did you leave Presley?", he asked.

I never liked answering that question. I never had an answer to that question. I didn't want to leave. It was just circumstances beyond my control.

"I just left Presley for a year", I replied.

"When I'm done here in Watergate, I'll go back to Presley".

"Liar,'' Johnson shouted.

" I'm not lying". I shouted back.

Of course, I was lying. I was just saying whatever came to my head.

Watergate was a school close to my house. It took me a 20-minute walk from home to school. It seemed like this was my new home away from home. In my first two months at Watergate, I would never have thought that I'd leave the school let alone go back to my former school.

However, the sweet beginning turned sour. The teachers in Watergate didn't perform their duties as expected. They expected us to call them when it was time for their lesson. Even though all teachers were given a lesson timetable, most teachers didn't attend classes. They were also mean to us, students. They never ceased to whip us all in the name of corrections.

I didn't enjoy schooling anymore at Watergate. I wanted a change. I spoke to my parents about it and they agreed.

The question was; which school will Michael go to after finishing Grade 4?

There were no options to consider other than going back to Presley College.

Presley?

I had just left this same school a year ago. I never thought I would see this school in years to come. Here I was, on my way back to Presley College.

I completed my high school education at Presley College with distinctions in my external exams.

Anytime I remember telling Johnson that I'll be returning to Presley in a year, I just wonder how it came to reality. Some answers are mysteries and it seems I won't be getting an answer anytime soon.