The Day of Reckoning

It finally came – yes – GCSE Results Day.  For the uninitiated, the kids are given a slip of paper some weeks in advance which contains instructions and a PIN which will enable them to log onto the exam board website from midnight the day before and obtain at least some of their results.  As you might guess, in our house the conversation(s) have gone something like this:-

2 months ago:-

Me:  Here’s that PIN thingy – why don't you register in advance on the website?  If you try and do it on the day, you’ll never get in because there’s too much traffic....

TD:  Meh.  Shu’up – Hollyoaks is on.

1 month ago:-

Me:  Did you ever register?  It would be a good idea to do it – that way you have the option of getting some of your results early.  You don't have to do it if you change your mind, but at least...

TD:  LIKE OH MY GOD!  JUST, LIKE, CALM DOWN?  I’LL DO IT IN A MINUTE, RIGHT? (points nose at computer screen containing images of a YouTube makeup video)

1 week ago:-

Me:  Um, about results day...?

TD:  Yeah I’ve, like, lost that slip of paper thingy.....(voice trails off disinterestedly)

What was actually worrying me was that our ultimate conversation would go something like this on the day the results came out:-

TD:  LIKE, OH MY GOD, WHERE’S THAT SLIP THINGY??  THIS IS, LIKE ALL YOUR FAULT!  IF YOU’D ONLY REMINDED ME ABOUT IT AT LEAST....NOW EVERYONE’S GOING TO GET THEIR RESULTS EARLY EXCEPT ME....

Me:  Meh.

But no, she and about 10 mates have gone to Reading Festival straight from getting their results and the planning, shopping and general hysteria surrounding their first ever trip to a festival has meant that GCSEs have been the furthest things from her mind.  She decided that she would wait until she got to school and open the envelope with me and the Shah hovering nervously at her shoulder.

This whole experience was made worse by the fact that, working at her school, not only does everyone know me and know her, I know that they have all seen her results already (schools get them a day in advance) so I was busy parking up and not meeting anyone’s eye in case they were unable to disguise their looks of pity/triumph/hilarity.  In the event, it was all fine.  We were delighted with her results but the most exciting thing was that she got an A in Maths!  And her school does the IGCSE which is harder than your average GCSE paper.  I cannot even begin to find the words to express the levels of trauma that I have suffered with Maths papers (with both children, but particularly TD) over the years.  They both hated it with a passion and have sworn never to go near another Maths book as long as they both shall live, so help them God.

So – that’s that ordeal over with and we can sit back and relax for a wee while.  Oh, but she’s gone to a music festival....she’s never been to one before....anything could happen....pass the Gin :-)