Sixty Seconds

Sixty:

You had weeks to prepare for this exam, you have been going to lessons, and doing homework, and you knew this was coming.

Fifty-Nine:

All year you have been supposed to be doing your work, but you missed so much, playing games and going out.

Fifty-Eight:

You look at your watch you have less than a minute.

Fifty-Seven:

You thought you could cram last night.

Fifty-Six:

But the pub and drink were far more tempting.

Fifty-Five:

And when you got home there was that new series on television.

Fifty-Four:

And then a few hours on "Call of Duty"

Fifty-Three:

You know you should have revised

Fifty-Two:

If you fail this it will be your own fault

Fifty-One:

Your teachers and parents told you what you had to do

Fifty:

You didn't listen though, and now you're scared, looking at your watch.

Forty-Nine:

But you are intelligent, you can do this.

Forty-Eight:

That's what you tell yourself

Forty-Seven:

This minute seems to stretch out to eternity but you know the two hours for the exam will disappear like fairy dust

Forty-Six:

You are getting a headache but you have no tablets and can't even get a drink.

Forty-Five:

The clock fingers are moving so slowly. You always preferred analogue to digital.

Forty-Four:

You look around, your whole class are here, and the invigilators are wandering down the channels between desks.

Forty-Three:

You know they are checking for cheating and cribbing, but you know you are OK.

Forty-Two:

It's just that you don't know whether you have the answers.

Forty-One:

You want to turn over the exam sheet and check the questions, but you know the Invigilators won't allow that.

Forty:

Eyes closed

Thirty-Nine:

Deep breath.

Thirty-Eight:

It will be fine, you have confidence in yourself.

Thirty-Seven:

Then panic. What if you can't answer the questions?

Thirty-Six:

Slow down, wait until you see the questions, then you can panic.

Thirty-Five:

You wonder if your classmates are feeling the same as you.

Thirty-Four:

You are sure they have done the revision they need and they will just walk through this.

Thirty-Three:

Don't panic, not yet anyway.

Thirty-Two:

You're starting to feel hot, finding breathing difficult. You undo your top button and loosen your tie.

Thirty-One:

An invigilator glares at you.

Thirty:

Well, you think they are glaring at you, they might just be miserable.

Twenty-Nine:

This is not good

Twenty-Eight:

It really isn't

Twenty-Seven:

You should have revised, but you think, or hope your classwork will get you through this.

Twenty-Six:

Your mind is up and down. You think you can do this.

Twenty-Five:

Then you are sure that you can't.

Twenty-Four:

"Oh my God, I have screwed this up, I really have" you think

Twenty-Three:

"I'm going to fail, my parents will kill me" runs through your head

Twenty-Two:

You check your watch

Twenty-One:

Then you look at the clock

Twenty:

They nearly match

Nineteen:

This takes your mind off things

Eighteen:

For a few seconds

Seventeen:

Why did you go to the pub?

Sixteen:

And watch TV, And play "Call Of Duty"

Fifteen:

What a total wazzock you are

Fourteen:

It's nearly time

Thirteen:

You want to walk out but that is not an option

Twelve:

You look at the second hand on your watch

Eleven:

It is really the final countdown

Ten:

Your nerves are a mess

Nine:

Your mind is mess

Eight:

You want to scream

Seven:

But you know you can't

Six:

You are as prepared as you will ever be

Five:

You are calm in this second

Four:

But the calmness has gone

Three:

Tense

Two:

Very Tense

One:

The bell rings, the exam starts, and you take out your pens and pencils.

Your nerves are already shredded.