They had been eating only the school food without snacks of any kind to supplement what the School gave them dally. This made that day and any other day when
the school permitted buying of edible at the Tuckshop special.
It took some time for the school authorities to come on board. We finally returned to the assembly ground again. By that time, the PA. system had been put in place. It was then used to communicate to me in the compound of our school. The people at the security booth, both the male and female
hostels, could hear what was Being said at the chapel by virtue of tne loud spezkers. Sir Carlos the Vice Principal, began the assembly. He instructed the students anywhere outside the
Chapel to run down to the chapel immediately.
While waiting for the Director, he kept sharing the value cards of the students to them as he called their names. The value card was for the students' purchases within the school premises as the use of cash was banned.
Finally, the Director arrived With his speech on the affair of the miscreants. He had not addressed the students at all concerning that issue from the day Sir Martins and his colleagues began their investigations. Everybody wanted to hear from he horse's mouth, including parents who had come to take their children homeo from the school.
Some of the soft-hearted miscreants began to shiver as their hearts smashed hard
against their rib cage and began to beat loudly like druns beaten by maverick drummers. Daniel and Antonio, who appeared to be the most stricken, were at that moment managing to hold themselves.

"Good morning staff and students of ZIC.
We are graterul to God who has seen us through yet another term and the beginning of a new academic year. It is my heart's desire to commend everyone, both staff and students, who contributed to the success of this term; May the Lord reward you in Jesus name. All that glitters is not gold, all those things that seem wonderful and fantastic to you are just a smokescreen to lure you into destruction. That
fruit which looked tantalizing and tasted sweet at the tip of your tongue".

"Amen, the people chorused.
"The holiday period is a time full of all kinds of entertainment, parties of various kind and visiting of friends but it is also a delicate and tempting period. Out there, there are a lot of sights that dazzle which aim at ruining the life of the youth. The world has a lot of unwholesome
things to offer which are not far from you. But it takes someone of strong character to resolve to
remain wholesome and be separated unto God like Joseph. In like manner, some people will
unfortunately fall victims of the glitz and glamour of the world. God forbid that any of you should be like Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who said, let
me go and see the daughters of the land, and before she knew it she was defiled. The days are evil, mind how you spend the holidays and be good students of ZIC" he admonished and then opened the file wnich contained some papers.
"Some people have been indulging in some nefarious activities. However, the Lord being so good revealed these evil practices and brought them to our notice. They are all miscreants and the Board has decided that they will not continte with us. From today, they cease to be students of
ZIC. As they travel, they will return to us no more.
Let them go to other places where their misdemeanor will be condoned. There are so many other schools in the towns and cities which may condone those things they like". The Director finally broke the news.
Antonio had nearly fainted when he heard this. The first name that the Director called was, my beloved friend, Benjamin. Many people were
trembling where they stood because they did not know their fate. About twenty four names were called in SS2, my class. While the Director continued calling the list, some people felt like crying while some actually wept as many of their friends were about to leave the school. Daniel literally died and resurrected as he sank into his chair. My friend, Ben, wept bitterly, his face in his hands. Antonio Samson, like Daniel, could not stand up from his seat again as shame and sorrow swept over him. It was a very sorrowful time indeed.

"Hey! So this is how they have finally succeeded in expelling all our friends", lamented someone bitterly.

After the assembly, every student looked for his form master or mistress to collect his
result as was instructed by the Director. He had told the miscreants that their expulsion letters were included in their envelopes which also contained their results.
Many students who had nothing to do with expulsion cried and felt bad as they saw
their results. It was very deplorable, many failed outright while some failed only mathematics.
Some of the people in my class said they would not return the following term since their
colleagues have been expelled.
"Where is the sweetness of staying in the school now, when such a number of people are
expelled just from a particular set? lamented the student.

Apart from expulsion, many were on probation for one misdemeanour or the other
and they were also given a letter for their parents in which they were requested to come to the
School with their wards to sign an undertaking and decide whether the child would continue in ZIC or not.
When we returned to the hostel, Daniel, Ben and samson, came to me completely hopeless.

"So after all the apology, these people still refused and did their wish", Daniel grumbled. I did not know what to say to that. All SS2 students wore sad faces. After discussing with some
people in my corner, I encouraged them not to lose hope and to trust God and draw nearer to Him anywhere they may find themselves outside
Zion International College.
"For everything under the earth, there is a purpose, "I quoted, "Try to discover the lessons that God want you to learn from this experience.