Amanda Nagasha stood before the school assembly and said, "This election is important to all of us.” The crowd applauded and ululated. "I am here to assure you that if I win this election, I will be the best entertainment prefect you have ever had.” More applause and ululations. This boosted her confidence in getting a chance to wear a khaki skirt. Khaki skirts were worn by students on the school cabinet. By being on the school cabinet, you were entitled to break tea and you were above the law.

There were only three ways to become part of the school cabinet; being forced, being appointed and being elected. The trouble makers were forced to become leaders in the hope that leadership would be their salvation. The good students were appointed in the hope that they would be agents of change. But to be elected to the school cabinet was the greatest honour because it took tears, blood and sweat.

First, you had to fill out an application form. Next, you would stand before the teaching staff and exude confidence in answering all the questions they fired at you. But more important than confidence were an excellent academic history and an immaculate disciplinary record. If you made it through this stage, then you were free to start your campaigns.

It had been decided a long time ago that every girl who walked through the school gates would walk out having acquired confidence and integrity. It is because of this that there was a strict policy against bribing voters or trash-talking opponents. Further still, candidates were not allowed to hold public rallies. Like I said, it was tears, blood and sweat.

On the day before elections, all candidates would stand in front of the school community for a showdown in campaign agenda. This was called the general campaign. Amanda was undoubtedly the most applauded candidate during the general campaign. She was fooled into thinking that the applause had a lot to do with her popularity. But it was because she had repeatedly disregarded the difference between L and R while pronouncing the word "election”. By replacing the L in "election” with an R, she had given the word a different meaning.