SATIRE | The prodigal son returns to the classroom for the first of the 42 papers he has to sit for in examinations.

His journey is no parable to draw an analogy with the son of Joseph. Then why use the phrase? Wikipedia describes a prodigal person as one who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; a spendthrift.

That, in a nutshell, relates to his first examination paper, which starts this afternoon. He had tried and is still trying to avoid sitting for the examination under various guises.

He has challenged almost all the (examining) authorities. He had previously used all kind of tactics, including expert advice from his top-notch teacher, who has been described as “high-flying”.

Nevertheless, the headmaster has decreed that the first examination, at least, should proceed as scheduled...