The Legacy of Seán – Part 1: The Orphan’s Plight

Chapter 4: The Wonder Boy | Episode 11

The much-awaited Mathematics Competition was held on Sunday next week. It was a highly anticipated event that drew a crowd of eager spectators comprising teachers, students and their parents. They were particularly interested to see how the thirteen-year-old prodigy fared in the competition against Gayle, the seventeen-year-old Mathematics genius. 

The tension in the air was visible as the contestants prepared to face off in a battle of wits and mathematical prowess. There were altogether fifteen contestants mostly from higher standards. Each was given a set of white sheets and a pen. They sat patiently at their respective desks, ready for the contest to begin.  

The moderator, the mathematics teacher Miss Morrison, began the first round of the tournament by assigning a series of challenging equations on algebra. The next three rounds were on geometry, differential and integral calculus.

One by one the participants were eliminated, failing to solve the tasks assigned to them until only two remained standing on the stage – Kevin and the reigning champion Gayle, who was renowned for his quick thinking and quantitative expertise. 

Both of them have scored the same so far. Tensions are high in the air as the next round is a rapid-fire round where the competitors had to solve the sum without even touching the pen and the paper. 

The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as Miss Morrison picked up a bunch of question cards and announced, ‘Alright, competitors, brace yourselves!’

‘What is the product of 788 multiplied by 42?’ She started firing off numerical challenges.

Before anyone could blink, Kevin’s buzzer gave out a loud honk. 

‘33096!’ Kevin answered promptly. Almost immediately Gayle was seen with an astonished face with his jaw dropped in disbelief. The others were just as stunned as he was.

‘Absolutely correct!’ As Miss Morrison announced the room fell into a momentary hush, the correctness of his answer sinking in. The crowd then erupted into astonished whispers. 

The next question asked was the square root of 923521. Kevin’s buzzer went off again with the boy blurting out, ‘961!’ in a heartbeat, again leaving his opponent and the audience in awe of his lightning-fast calculations.

‘Good heavens! He’s as swift as lightning!’ exclaimed Principal Anderson, acknowledging the undeniable prowess that justified Kevin’s prodigious status. The other teachers nodded in agreement.

Miss. Morrison posed one intricate calculative problem after another, and like clockwork, Kevin’s buzzer honked, solving each challenge with unfaltering precision. Meanwhile, Gayle found himself unable to even make a move towards his buzzer in the face of Kevin’s rapid-fire brilliance. 

It was now clear that in the realm of mental maths, Kevin was the undisputed maestro, leaving everyone, including Gayle, marvelling at his extraordinary abilities.

Securing a victory in the quick-fire round, Kevin had already established a score that Gayle couldn’t easily surpass. The challenge for Gayle was clear – he needed to provide correct answers to every calculus problem in the final round, with Kevin faltering to achieve a perfect score. 

In the final round, the questions became increasingly complex. As the clock ticked away, the two contestants remained focused with their brows furrowed in intense concentration. Both of them swiftly calculated solutions, their fingers flying across the paper. The hushed anticipation hung thick in the air as the audience, gripped by suspense, waited patiently for the outcome.

A few moments later Gayle seemed to get a little nervous. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead and he started to panic. But Kevin did not flinch. He was busy calculating and jotting down the last line of the solution to the baffling calculus problems. 

When the final bell rang, Miss Morrisson collected the answer sheets and after careful examination, announced the result.

‘The winner of this year’s Mathematics Competition is… Kevin Seán Allen!’ she declared. 

A peculiar hush descended upon the audience, rendering them momentarily speechless at the outset. Nobody thought Kevin to be smart enough to beat the all-time champion Gayle in a subject dreaded by most.

Annie and Sam were the first ones to give out a loud applause followed by a standing ovation in the hall as Kevin’s friends, teachers, and supporters cheered for his victory. That was the first time the whole school, students and parents alike, witnessed his exceptional academic proficiency and his steadfast determination to excel.  He showed the same level of unmatched prowess in the Chemistry Competition organised by the school a few days later. 

Principal Anderson was all praise to Kevin. Now and then he proudly boasted about how he had personally championed the boy’s scholarship and admission into the school community, proving to everyone that his decision was justified. Soon, Annie and Sam revealed to Principal Anderson that Kevin possessed another exceptional ability: teaching. This sparked an idea in the principal’s mind to further showcase Kevin’s exceptional talents in a different light. 

So one day after the school was over Kevin was summoned to the Principal’s office.

‘Good afternoon, Kevin. Please, take a seat.’ the Principal said. ‘I wanted to have a chat with you about something quite exciting,’ he added. Kevin noticed a faint smile on his face that suggested something good was awaiting him, for he had anticipated a good scolding after the little skirmish with Reynold earlier that morning.

‘Oh? What is it, Sir?’ he asked, trying to suppress his excitement. 

‘Well, Annie and Sam have been telling me about your talent for teaching, particularly in mathematics. I must say, I’m impressed.’ Principal Anderson smiled. 

‘Thank you, sir. I’ve always enjoyed helping others understand maths.’ Kevin answered.

‘Exactly, and that’s why I have a proposition for you.’ Principal Anderson leaned forward. ‘How would you feel about exhibiting your teaching skills by giving a few maths lessons to the younger students?’

That was certainly an unusual proposition for a thirteen-year-old to receive. 

‘Me? Teach maths to the younger students?’ Kevin was surprised. 

‘Yes, indeed. I believe it would be a fantastic opportunity for you to share your knowledge and inspire others. Plus, it would give you a chance to shine differently.’ The suggestions made by the Principal intrigued Kevin. Why not? Kevin was aware of his hidden talents, ones he had always wanted to showcase, and teaching was among them. This proposal presented an excellent opportunity to nurture his teaching ability. He agreed instantly.

So after his wins in the competitions, he was often invited to classes of lower standards for a quick demonstration of his problem-solving skills in Mathematics. 

However, some students remained doubtful. Kevin’s ability to guide and teach his older peers, despite being younger, raised eyebrows among some. While Annie, Sam and a few other younger students of lower classes went on benefitting from Kevin’s expertise, others were still hesitant to accept a thirteen-year-old as a credible mentor.

Within a few weeks, Kevin’s reputation as a maths tutor flourished, attracting parents of struggling students who sought his assistance in exchange for tokens of appreciation, loads of tidbits, and an abundance of hugs and affection. Soon, he became a familiar face in the neighbourhood, frequenting homes to tutor little children.

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