EEP!

Twenty-Four Hours to Go

I just got back from class. I am tired. I am in no frame of mind to worry about the effect of an increase in US Government spending on the Forex reserves of Guatemala. And I have the entire afternoon, evening and night ahead of me in any case. There's no need to panic and fall over myself memorizing the textbook. I think I'll do the crossword.

Twenty-Two Hours to Go

I have done three sudokus and four crosswords. There's no getting away from it now. I have to open the textbook. Such a nice textbook, too... It seems a pity to spoil it by underlining and writing notes in the margins. But no, it has to be done - Wait a minute. It's time for tea. I can't be expected to study on an empty stomach. It's bad for the kidneys, or the liver, or... whatever. I'm sure it's bad for something. And while I'm at it I might as well shower too, and start afresh.

Twenty-One Hours to Go

Now is the time to get to work. I am warm, full, and refreshed. I am also... sleepy? No. Something wrong there. Time out. I can't be sleepy. I have to study. I have - where's the syllabus sheet? - yeah, I have... er... let me count... Five, is it? No... six... seven... uh-oh. I have a terrifying number of chapters to finish. I can't be sleepy... I can't be...

Twenty Hours to Go

The blankets are so comfortable. Do I need to get up? Damn, there goes the alarm clock. Hit it... It hasn't stopped. Oh, no wonder, it's the cell phone alarm. It won't stop unless I push the right button. I'll have to wake up properly.

Eighteen Hours to Go

Finally I have done something productive! I have finished a grand total of... umm... three and a half pages. Inspiring, really inspiring. But don't worry, it's still not time to panic. It's just eight o'clock. There'll be plenty of time after dinner.

Sixteen Hours to Go

Right. Now it's time to panic. I have done... ah... never mind. And how much do I have left? One, two... flip a whole bunch of pages... OK, never mind that either. Keep calm. Keep absolutely calm. There's only one remedy for a situation like this - candy bars. Call CT and ask for some... [Several expletives deleted.] He doesn't have any. How do I survive the night without chocolate?

Thirteen Hours to Go

I have done four chapters. That's decent. On number five now... I have consumed enough tea to keep the Darjeeling planters laughing all the way to the bank. But it's a losing battle against sleep. No. I must read.

"You will recall from the previous chapter."

I don't recall from the previous chapter. I don't even recall the name of the previous chapter. I am in so much trouble...

Nine Hours to Go

The wretched alarm again. Going on... and on... and making the pillow vibrate. I have to get up. I have to avoid an F. Poke one finger out of the blankets. This is patently not the weather to get up before the crack of dawn and study economics.

Six Hours to Go

Ethical dilemma: Do I go to class and not study Economics and feel guilty, or do I stay in my room, not go to class, not study Economics and feel guilty? On the whole I think I'll go for Option Number One. Not that it's going to make any difference at this late hour.

One Hour to Go

A morning spent surreptitiously leafing through the textbook during classes, and feverishly turning pages between them. Lunch has been aborted. I have to learn all about economic policy formulation in sixty minutes. It doesn't matter how. Somehow. This is when those Matrix-style information downloads would come in handy.

And then... the inevitable!