IT WAS JUST A HARMLESS HANGOUT

It’s really vital that I begin the first paragraph with this biography because it will help you follow my story very well. Let’s begin.

I have six siblings, six girls and a boy, who happens to be the last born, in my family, I’m the second child. I come from a family where my dad is really strict and protective especially when it comes to his female children.

As a child, I had the privileges of doing the things I wish I did such as eating good meals, watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry, and Dora- the explorer, as well as going to school but there were things I wish I did but could not do them.

Most people believe that it is usually the end of a thing that should be celebrated and not the beginning. Therefore, if the beginning is to be celebrated then the celebration of a thing at the end of it should be louder than that of the beginning because e dey easy to start something but to finish am Na grace.

However, my own case was different.

It was during my secondary school days, at Fellowship High school, Idoro Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. After my just concluded external exams- WAEC and NECO. The Principal, had fixed a day for our (that is all the ss3 students) graduation ceremony and it was compulsory for all the ss3 students to attend because on that day, all the ss3 students were to receive their gifts as well and their certificates. The principal, the vice principal, all teaching and non-teaching staffs including the parents and guardians of each student, passers-by and all the students were present. I was duly awarded and my certificate was given to me. The ceremony came to a close after the M.C. had exhausted all the agenda for the programme. At the end of the ceremony, all the graduates gathered and we all agreed to hangout at a specific place. The aim of the hangout was to take a group picture in a comfortable and serene environment, if not for anything but for memories sake. Not that my school’s environment was not serene, it was, but since it was a busy day, we had people over all the place; we just needed time for ourselves knowing fully well that we may never get a chance to meet together as classmates .

As a good girl, I decided to sum up courage and inform my dad about the hangout so that he won’t be looking helter-skelter for me. To my greatest surprise, my dad replied with a “no”. That reply alone ruined my day. I was told to get into the car, that if it is picture I want to snap, that he will take me to a photographer who will take me pictures. Meanwhile, I thought he was about to say that I should enter the car, that he would take me to the location for the hangout but when I realized that my thoughts were just happening in my head, tears began to drop down from my eyes. I began to weep profusely. And it became more serious when my dad had drove pass where my classmates were standing, reason being that I did not have the chance of saying a proper goodbye to them, no hugs, not even a casual picture with them. Back then, I really liked the company of people, these were the things I wish I did but could not.

However, true to his words, my dad took me to a studio to take photo shot but as beautiful as the photo was I wish, I was a grown up and knew best how to communicate to him that it was not just about taking a photo shot all by myself. It was about the memories I wanted to create and have with my classmates.

Even as a grown up, I mean as an adult that I am (at least I’m above twenty years), I still have this attitude with me. What attitude, let’s find out in the next paragraph.

After, I graduated from secondary school, I was privileged to take up a B.Sc. degree in Psychology at the university of Uyo. During my university days, particularly, in my year two. It was on a Friday eve, when one of my female roommates announced to everyone in the room that she would be celebrating her birthday and would like us to join her at the club party. After the invite, I was really calm and quite, I gave the invitee no response. I was just laying on my bed staring at the ceiling.

https://pixabay.com/photos/artist-audience-band-concert-crowd-3480274/

My roommates started making preparations on what they were to wear to the club, some people who did not have the dress code for the club party, went in search of where and who they would borrow a short jean skirt, white tank top and pencil heels from, because this was the dress code.

At some point, when I realized that I was going to be sleeping alone in the room, I became scared and you won’t believe it. This young lady spoke up. I said to them “I would like to join you guys but I do not have the dress code” At once, it was as if they were observing one minute of silence because they knew me to be a very quiet and calm person and a lady who does not attend stuffs like that. After, the one minute silence, they started cheering me up, the whole room became “banger”. Night was approaching and the ladies were up and doing, fetching my own dress for me.

As we were about to leave because the bolt that the birthday celebrant ordered had arrived. Something happened, I began to feel uneasy. In my head, I was rehearsing how I would open up to the ladies that I was not interested in the pool part again. It was really a tough one but I summed up the courage to do so. As expected, they were not happy with me when I told them about my decision. I went back to my room and laid back on my bed.

Don’t blame me. Maybe if my dad had not turned down my request to go for a harmless hangout, things would have been different.

Meanwhile, the last picture used is mine.

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