Ten Minutes in Nine

As the panel sits, eyes burning on me,

Mounting pressure on me,

Demanding intelligence from me,

I stand there

Their marking parameters defined

Seven marks for content, seven marks for presentation

Two marks for etiquette, two marks for audibility, two other marks

For I don’t-know –what

I stand there wondering how I should stand

Like that reasonable ideal student

If my hands be at the back, I am hiding something

If my hands be folded on my waist, I am tense

If I let my shoulders broaden, I am being brazen

If I fold them across my chest, that is rude and not in keeping

I feel like to pocket but I let my arms rest by my sides

In short ten minutes, they uncover me

Throw questions to gauge me

One minute flash of my mind

Law of Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Conveyancing

Succession, Commercial Transactions

Wait a minute…Giella Versus Cassman Brown

I think I heard this somewhere

They ask me for the principle it holds

The panelists aren’t serious, are they?

I am thrown off-balance, I am at a loss

I venture: Giella case is a landmark case in law

On Conveyancing, the case concerned a land transaction

Under the RLA…Now, Cassman Brown was the Owner

Let me use ‘Vendor’….Now, the principle, err, is on sanctity of title

As you are aware under section 143 of the RLA…

And as I mention section 143, I let it roll to exude my intelligence

And grounding on law

‘They are impressed’, I think to myself

Then my bubble is burst

‘Heard of restraint of trade?’ They ask

‘Yeah…err, yes dear panelists’

‘What are the three principles to be followed before granting injunctions?’

‘One, err, it depends on the time…if the court has time to grant it…

Two, if it has time, for how long will the injunction run and…and, three,

…whether it could as well grant mandamus, certiorari…but this depends on

Time mostly…you know there are backlog of cases’

‘They asked for it, I gave it to them’, I celebrate

‘Excuse me, student number 202809876, no hard feelings

But if you don’t know of the principles of injunctions

You could as well set off to Narok and be a herdsman

…I mean, you don’t know prima facie case?

Not even irreparable injury?

Not even balance of convenience?’

‘I know them, dear panelists’

‘Tell us, then, what a prima facie case is’

‘Well, a prima facie case is one which is on the face of the court

Let me explain, if that case, I mean the records, the files have been brought to

Court, then that is a prima facie case…if it is still in the registry, it is not a prima facie case’

‘Your time is up, student number 202809876,

We have serious doubts on how you qualified to be here…

You don’t belong here!”

I walk out, I see no one on the corridors

I hear distant voices asking, ‘what were the questions’

I am in no mood, I collect my books and head to

I don’t-know-where, it makes no difference

That a holiday awaits me

Image: google:dazzlejunction.com

C) Lorot Salem 2011