Tools stood for a very long time gazing at the men manning the seine. Some were swimming around and diving then raising their heads and gesturing excitedly. Others were frantically rowing boats helter-skelter around while on the shore the main largest gathering consisting of men, women and boys who were pulling in the ropes. Overhead flocks of sea birds were sailing and screeching, the entire scene was one of frenzied excitement. This had the appearance of a great catch. Everything pointed to a great catch.
The boy stood as if transfixed. Although he had witnessed similar scenes on numberless occasions previously, this one had cast a spell on him. He could not care about the reception he would receive in school for his late arrival. School had lost all importance for him. He was fed-up and bored. Everything bored him now. He had become restless and irritable. Even his regular 'side' no longer interest him. Their stupid talk about girls, movies, cars and music only served to turn him off.
Pablo, the most observant of his friends was the first to notice the change in Tools and remarked jokingly:
"Tools must be in love,"
to which all others laughed, and began asking him who was the 'sister'. He only frowned and glared at them, mumbling
"cool it."
Every one suddenly stopped laughing and began talking about the Third Test Match, and how those Englishmen just couldn't play Ambrose.
Tools was the best cricketer in Belmont Government and always led in any discussion on cricket, but that day he din't utter a word. The 'side' knew that something was definitely wrong with their pal, but they refrained from attempting to be inquisitive and nosy. In time they felt he would tell them what was on his mind.
But Tools couldn't even explain it to himself. All he knew was that nothing interested him anymore and he had even begun to hate school. He wanted to leave but he couldn't leave just like that. He had to give a good reason; he had to find something to do. His grandmother was very strict about school. and education and ever since his second failure in the Common Entrance Exam, she was harder on him. She felt personally responsible for his failure , and so she decided that he must pass the School Leaving Exam and get a Bursary to Secondary School.
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