CHAPTER THREE (REALISTIC DREAM)

"No wonder I have been experiencing lots of bad omens since morning apart from the fact that I met Loda after a long time. Sam of all people, the most annoying and terrible person I have ever met." Well that's my opinion of him.

"If you are looking for a very bad neighbor, Sam is a good example. He has lots of bad habits. He seems to be such a crazy person, always looking for trouble and being a nuisance to everyone around him including the other neighbors." Not that they have ever complained.

"They always give complaint about him every time but there is nothing we can do than to tolerate him." That's a conclusion I drew after seeing Mrs Anderson speaking to him angrily.

"To worsen the matter, he seems to have a problem with me every time, he pesters me alot. He's only been here for four months but for me it feels like it been a year." This one is true, I guess he has a chrush on me. Who wouldn't?

THREE MONTHS AGO.

Shockingly, today is the end of the year's party and farewell party in my school.

We celebrate this day by doing lots of fun things, students whose parents are willing to do something for the school would bring gifts for all the students or rather prepare food and share it among the students. Then the school will give gifts and awards to those students who score good grades in their classes.

There will be dancing and singing competition, quiz and debate competition, sack racing, egg racing, bottle racing and lots more exciting things to do.

According to what I see, every year my mom prepares varieties of food and take it to my school, my friends all love her food and always tell me how much they envy me for having such a wonderful mom who is also a perfect cook.

This year was going to be different because we have just written our waec and I know that I will pass very well.

I quickly got down from bed and ran downstairs to the kitchen to see what my mom had prepared for me. On getting into the kitchen I was shocked, the entire kitchen was just the way mom had left it last night, the stove was off, the pot and plates were in the basket.

"Surely mom didn't come into this kitchen."

I quickly ran upstairs to her room but I found her wrapped with her blanket sleeping soundly with Dad, he was even snoring. I was angry, "how on earth could they forget what today is. My farewell and end of the year's party. Ughhhhhh." I angrily jumped on them, startled they got up hurriedly.

They both looked as if they had seen a ghost, on seeing their scared faces, I burst out laughing. Daddy Zee looked at me angrily and I stopped (that's the name I call my dad).

"What's wrong with you? You scared me and ifemi."

"Daddy Zee, how could you forget what today is." I said sadly.

He looked at me and shaked his head.

"How can I forget what today is. It's your birthday, right?"

"Daddy Zeeeee." I called out.

"Mom, did you hear what he said?"

"Dear, today isn't Tinu's birthday. Her birthday is on the 23rd of May, maybe it's Loda's birthday."

"Mom, even you." I said and looked at her.

Mom looked at me wondering what was wrong.

"Okay Tinu. Please tell us what today is and let your dad and I sleep in peace."

"I can't believe this, none of you remember. Today is my school's end of the year's party as well as my farewell party."

"Oh my God, my princess don't be angry with your dad. You know I never forget anything important to you, your mom made me forget." Daddy zee said, justifying himself.

"So you're defending yourself and blaming me." Mom said in an angry tone. Daddy zee turned and looked at me.

"Oh my God, Tinuke let's run. Mama's angry."

We both laughed and mom also joined in. Then she got up from bed and wore her slippers. She said to me. "I can't prepare anything for you to take to school now since you are already late but I will make it up to you and your friends later on. Now quickly go and dress up, I will go and make fried yam and scrambled egg so that you can eat something before you go. Oya quickly go and do what I asked you to do."

"Yes mom."

I quickly went to my room, brushed my teeth and took my bath. I wore a blue jean, white top and blue jean jacket with a white and blue laced sneakers. Just as I stood looking at myself in the mirror, my mom walked in.

She kept staring at me, then she smiled and said "My baby is now a woman. You look so beautiful Atinuke mi but you will look more beautiful when you put on your glasses and headband."

"No ways. Headband is acceptable but glasses no, I am not putting on glasses today. I will look like an old woman and my friends will make fun of me again like they always do." Mom placed her hands on my shoulder. "But baby, you look beautiful in your glasses."

"No I don't and George won't want to speak to me in front of his friends and he might not like me enough to want to be my tight friend, friend."

"Who is George?" Mom asked suddenly.

"Mom it feels weird talking to you about it."

"C'mon you will have to tell me. You never told me about anyone named George before. So who is he?

"We are in the same class and he is very intelligent, you know that I don't mingle with dull people. When we wanted to have a quiz in class, I was teamed up with him and we won. That was the day I became his friend."

"And you didn't bother to tell me about it. When did you start keeping secrets from me Tinu?" Mom asked, it felt like she was sad.