Chapter 16: Favourite artists

"Haya! you are not awake! we are leaving right now, did I not wake you up one hour ago?" my mom screamed at the top of her lungs then removed the blanket covering my body.

"I am sorry mom, I did not sleep. I spent the whole night packing a few things but I can just change and we will head out to the mall in a few." I replied getting out of my bed.

"Okay, you better hurry I do not want to spend the whole day at the mall." my mom replied walking out of my room.

I approached my wardrobe, took out some sweatpants and a casual t-shirt. These sweat pants seem to have gotten smaller or did I maybe gain some weight. I do not know because they are revealing my petite body, my ass looks super shaped and my stomach looks like I have been working out which I have not been doing in a very long time. I am surely taking these with me to Cape Town. I topped off my super simple look with my yellow flip-flops. I am so glad I nail-polished my toenails, I do mean to brag! I have cute toes and that is on period.

I washed my face, brushed my teeth then cleaned up my armpits and put on deodorant. My hair natural hair is a lot of work, I started growing it in grade 9 and you can imagine how big it is now that I am out of high school. I decided to put some spray on it and leave it like it is.

"Mom I am done, we can go," I said approaching the sitting room

"Here are the keys, go start the car." my mom threw me the keys.

"Good morning dad." I greeted my father who was making tea in the kitchen.

"Good morning Haya, you guys should come back home soon. I do not want to miss you too much." my dad replied giggling and I joined him too.

"We will be back as soon as possible do not worry," I replied turning to walk out of the kitchen.

I went to the garage, opened the garage door, opened the car, got inside of it then started it. My mom showed up once it was good to go then we both left our house to go shopping for everything I am going to need at the campus.

"So which mall should we go to?" my mom asked me once we were on the highway.

"Let's go to Kolonnade Mall," I replied.

"I knew you were going to say that, you always loved that mall ever since I took you when you were a kid. It seems some things never change hey?" my mom asked me.

"Yes, they do not mom," I replied looking at her then smiled.

She put on her normal church songs on the way to the mall. We finally got to the mall, we got out of the car then went straight into the mall.

We bought a lot of things I did not think my mom was going to buy so many things for my departure. It seemed she had a lot of money saved for a day like this, well to be honest I was not surprised at her effort. My mom believes so much in taking care of your children, making sure they get everything that is needed for their schooling, and also making sure they are presentable to other people. I wonder what it would have been like if she put effort like this into the things that I want for myself like getting music equipment or just paying for online art classes or even music classes.

It all would mean a lot to me because I would also be benefiting emotionally from her efforts. As much as I would like to go to school, have a career I would also have loved it if my mom was proud of the course I chose for myself.

"Mom can we go to that music shop I want to look at a few things," I said while almost jogging to the new music shop I was seeing for the first time.

"Haya wait for me!" my mom said trying her best to catch up with me.

I strolled around the music shop, looking at the amazing books and records by the most talented people in the world. I felt happy, I felt lost and I loved the way I felt. It was like suddenly the world had stopped moving and it was just me. I dreamed about my music career, where I wanted to go, the artists I wanted to meet. It all seemed so farfetched but it also felt possible, I knew I know that I can make it if I just fought for myself and my dreams.

"So Haya do you want to know who your father's favorite artists were from back in our days?" my mom asked interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes, I would like to know mom!" I said almost yelling in excitement.

"Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson." my mom replied.

I remember going to visit my grandparents where my dad grew up. My uncle which is my dad's little brother would have me watch and listen to many of Michael's songs. I would wonder where he got so many of his things, I thought he was the one who was the big fan of Michael Jackson but now it all makes sense. My uncle just wanted me to experience a piece of who my dad is from the inside. Something I have struggled to feel for many years.

"Really? Mom, I like Micheal Jackson's music, he was talented. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Oh and Mr. Vandross? Was he not the simp in your days? I love all his songs, they are all filled with so much love." I replied.

"Hey! you must have some respect for that man, he was not a simp at all. He was a romantic man the way I see it, I swear if I ever met him I would throw myself at him." my mom said.

"I can not believe you just said that mom!" I replied giggling while embarrassed by my mom's words.

"What? I am just being honest. I went very crazy when he dropped his song Your secret love. I was like damn who would want to keep you a secret?!" my mom said then we both laughed out loud making the people in the shop look at us.