This Morning

"knock knock"

I woke up to my mom's annoyance again. I glanced at my wall clock. It's 6:53 am

Shit!

I over slept. I am very used to waking up before six o'clock. In fact, since I was seven years old I've been an early riser. I don't really need an alarm clock.

For the past two weeks my time frame has shifted a bit. I go to bed very late and find it hard to wake up for Fajr.

Mum seems really pissed with my attitude and always bangs the door each time this happens.

I get up quickly and rich to the bathroom and wash up and performed my Salat. I rush down to do a little chores before preparing for school.

I met mom in the kitchen preparing breakfast so I help her set the table.

I watch her closely the whole time deciding whether I should apologize like I usually do when I'm late. She doesn't seem angry, or at least she doesn't show it.

My little brothers are already dressed. I see them walk over and take their seats.

The meal was rather quite. Hadi, the talkative wasn't saying anything.

As usual mom drove us to school and then went to work. While in the car, I suddenly remembered I didn't take my chemistry work book. We were already far gone. I knew I couldn't tell her to reverse but I still can't stand not submitting my homework.

"did you bring you home work?" As though she read my mind. How does she even know that. My mum has never really had time to care whether I'm doing well in school or not so why this? "Your teacher called me yesterday to complain about you Aliyah. Your grades and are little too poor, you barely pay attention in class plus your rarely submit your homeworks." I look anywhere but her as she speaks. I can tell she's not angry but I still feel disappointed in myself for giving he the chance to scold me.

"I mighta left it at home" I said while still looking away. She turn to me and gave me a i-totally-dont-believe-you-look "I kept my book to dry but..." I added seeing her expression.

"You have to submit that homework" She stopped the car. "Yeah you can drive back home, it's only about a few blocks away, isn't it?" I said obviously knowing it was much further than that.

"Aliyah" Now she sounds really serious. "Na'am. I..." I try to explain. "Did you even do the homework?"

"Yes I did. Why would I lie to you? When have I ever lived to you?" I said as memories of not so true things I said to her flashed through my head.

"Get down. Take a cab and go get your homework"

"Mum? How am I supposed to..."

"You have 15 minutes to get to school"

[Woman are you serious?]

As I came down from her car, I could feel the temperature drop. I was really suffocating in there. Mum emits a lot if heat.

"Get in" Mum said. I asked myself why she hasn't zoomed off yet.

Okay I knew she didn't mean it just now. What a relief. "Look mum I'm sorry. But believe me when I say I forgot it. It fell in water and I set it to dry." I explained "I wanted to put it in my bag this morning but..."

"Enough" she cut me off. "Aliyah grow up. What is wrong with you? You are seventeen for crying out loud stop acting like a foolish child. Your mates in some countries are already married and have responsibilities to bare, yet they don't get frustrated. If you got married is this how you would behave? It's not just about the homework. it's everything"

"Just stop" I said almost sobbing. I hate when she deliberately compares me with my cousins abroad, saying they are more responsible than I am. More worse, I hate when she tries to emphasize that a woman's role is to be such an such.

Oh look we are here, right at the school gate. Mum follows me inside not saying a single word. I can tell she wants to have a word with the principal. I ignore her and head to my class room, for I have even bigger problems. I now have to face the embarrassment of not doing my homework.

The last homework wasn't done and I had to make up an excuse. Now this time I did it but can't submit. What can I possibly say to defend myself? Who's gonna believe me now?