"Sweet love, oh sweet love". I sang as I got in the house.
I was so excited about what had happened today. Verily, today is the best day of my life. I got to spend time with my friends in Trig class, Ryan offered to walk me home (which was bad at first but later turned out to be good), I got kissed by my cute crush and I have a girly date to look forward to. All of today's happenings was super exciting.
I dropped my bag on the couch and walked into my room to remove my clothes and have a bath.
I stepped into the bathtub soaked myself in rose and lemon fragrance. I was really scared and at the same time, I looked forward to the girl date with Kim. After the brief shower(by brief, I mean thirty minutes), I picked a pink jacket made of quality Egyptian cotton (my dad bought it when he travelled to Egypt) and a pink trouser which I wore with peach and white polka dots blouse and a pair of white fluffy sandals. I packed my hair backwards and held it with a Minnie mouse ribbon. I looked really cute in that outfit. I probably should not be matching clothes and looking cute since it was my dad's death anniversary yesterday and I was going to celebrate it today but seeing my dad in my dream had made me realize that he would want me to be happy no matter what. I looked myself in the mirror and was satisfied with my appearance.
"Cute you Marvel". I said to my reflection in the mirror.
I went to the sitting room to pick my bag from the couch and went back to my room to keep it on the shelf.
*Beep*
My phone rang. It was a message from Kim.
*Hey babe,c u @ 7* The message read.
*I thought we were supposed to meet earlier. Seven o clock is late* I replied.
If I was going to meet with Kim, it would not be late in the evening.
*No I meant The Seven's as in where we are supposed to meet*She replied.
*Oh sorry*. I replied.
*No probs,c u later👍👍*
*Can't wait 😛😛😛*
I wore a purple mascara and a red lipstick and set out. I went to blue heavens first to see mum.
"Hy mum. Good job you are doing here"I complimented. I felt bad about yesterday and didn't want a reoccurrence of yesterday.
"Hey Barbara, how was your day at school?".
"My day was splendid mum. Thanks for asking".
"Sit down and have something to eat". She offered smiling.
"No mum, I am going out with a friend and I thought I should let you know so you would not have to worry about me".
"Hmm, going out with a friend". She repeated suspiciously.
"Mum, "I said and smiled. It felt really good to be able to talk with my mum and smile like this.
"No, really you might explain who "he" is". She stressed the word "he".
"No mum, it's a she".
"Are you sure?". She was still curious.
"Very sure ma. She is a new friend".
"I am really glad you are making friends". She surrendered and let go of the issue.
"I was thinking if you would want to hang out later tonight".
"Baby I would love to but I am really busy with work". I knew she was going to say no. She was always busy. I didn't want to argue it this time because I did not want to fight with her. I was enjoying this newly acquired mother-daughter bond.
"Okay, how about tomorrow?". I asked again.
"Baby, I do not have the time".
"When will you have the time to hang out with me?". I tried my possible best to remain calm.
"I do not know but I will let you know as soon as I can". She said and turned to attend to the ever-increasing customers.
Oh, bummer! I was disappointed. I thought she would really want to hang out with me. I felt at ease talking to my mum, I didn't want the conversation to end.
"Mum". I called.
"What?". She turned back to me.
"I want to write this news article which is due for submission during the weekend and I have no idea what to write. Do you have any idea in mind?". I said trying to start a conversation.
"Barbara, you should learn to do your assignments on time. Rather than going out with new friends, your greatest priority should be your education". She reprimanded.
"It's not my assignment mum. It's is a news article I have to write for the Duncan Chronicles. The Duncan Chronicles is the school newspaper and I really need to get in to increase my chances of getting nominated for class president".
"I know Duncan Chronicles is the school newspaper, in our days it was Duncan appeal. Besides being the class president would really look good on college application especially since you need to get a scholarship. I am so proud of you".
Her word hit my face with cold brutality. Kyla McAllister was right.
"Wait, mum, did you say scholarship?" I hoped she would say no.
"Barbara, there are a lot of things we need to talk about later".
"Yes, mum, like why I need to get a college scholarship when I have millions in my education trust fund". Keeping calm was getting hard as I was struggling to keep my voice low.
"Barbara, keep your voice low. People are staring". She persuaded.
"I will if you promise to talk".
"When?". I asked not ready to let her off the hook.
"Soon".
"How soon mum?".
"Very soon".
"Be specific".
"I don't know. I can't promise you right now".
"How about tomorrow night". She looked at me and realized I was serious.
"Fine". She threw her hands in the air in surrender.
"Do not try to play a fast one on me mum. If you are not home by six, I swear I will come right here and create a scene. Trust me, mum, I will". I said in a threatening voice.
"Ok, ma'am". She was being sarcastic.
"By the way, mum what do you think I can write about?".
"I don't know, look around you and you will find something inspiring".
"You think?". I wasn't so sure about her idea of a good story.
"I know, Barbara. Apart from writing a piece of news about real happenings which would be really hard to find on such short notice, one could write an article on history like something that happened in the past or one could interview a popular person in the area. Apart from these, the only idea to the main story is an article on issues around us like nature and other things and put them in a way that is really exciting to the reader or writing an article based on category".
"Okay, you might want to give me an example of something based on category".
"Categories might include aviation, fashion, science, security and so on depending on your area of expertise and your research materials".
"I think I will go with the category thing. It should be easier".
"Yes it should but it isn't".
"And why is that?".
"You are a new writer and you need a front-page news article to get into a newspaper club, writing a story on nature or science may not help you achieve that and if you do, trust me it would be easy at all. Imagine a topic like "HOW CHICKENS LAY EGGS" or "THE PROCESS OF MAKING PAPER" on the front page of a newspaper".
"Gross". I cut in.
"Exactly, but what about something like "DANGERS OF TIME TRAVEL" or "HOW TO FLY A PLANE". Isn't that much more interesting?".
"Of course it is". I beamed in excitement.
"Make your choice Barbara".
"I can also write a topic on fashion. People love fashion".
"If you are going to do that, you will have to find a way to make your headline sound exciting". She advised.
"Okay, thanks mum". Her advise was quite helpful, I just didn't know how to make use of it.
"The pleasure is mine darling". She said and turned to attend to the customers. I turned to leave too.
"You want anything?". I asked before leaving.
"No, thanks".I left Blue heavens.
The sun was starting to set and the breeze was cooler than it was when I was coming home from school.
I walked down the street to section four before I realized that I didn't know the way to The Seven's to ask for directions from mum. I was about four streets away from Blue heavens and was at the last street in section four, I could not go back. I called Kim for description.
"Hey, Kim where are you?".
"I'm at home. Why do you ask?".
"I just wanted to ask you to direct me to The Seven's. I have never been there before".
She texted me and told me how to get there. I hailed a taxi to the city hall which was about thirty minutes drive from section four.
"Here girl, this is the farthest I can take you. I am already far away from home". He parked and I alighted. He requested money and I paid him.
I was afraid I would not have enough money to buy something for myself or pay for my taxi home but that was the least of my worries when I found out that the city hall was outside Duncan town.
"GOODBYE TO DUNCAN TOWN, HOME TO THE RAPTORS FOOTBALL TEAM. Population:3058."The sign behind me read. I walked further and saw the city hall a few feet away from where I was standing.
"Welcome to Honey wood city, the city of one hundred parks and two tourist centres. Population:66708". Another sign read.
I then remembered that Blue heavens were the only place for food and drinks in the whole of Duncan town. Fear gripped me when I thought that Kim might have tried to bring me here to harm me. I was sweating and dabbing at my face with my jacket.
I reached into my pocket for my phone.
"What the heck Kim?". I said as soon as she picked the call.
"I am so sorry I know it's far but you are going to enjoy it, trust me". She assured me.
"Whatever".
I walked to the city hall and asked for directions to The Seven's. It seemed the place was very popular as everyone knew the place. I walked into the lounge and felt at ease to see so many people. I sat down.
"How can I help you, madam?". A waitress asked after two minutes.
"Nothing, for now, I am waiting for someone".
She left and I was all by myself. I waited for another two minutes before Kim came.
"Hi, sorry I kept you waiting. I had to attend to something".
"I am angry". Truly, I was.
She apologized again and we ordered food and drinks. She ordered a martini and small chops while I had frosted milkshake with chocolate biscuits and cheese. We ate and barely talked.
"Try the peach cobbler, it's really nice". She offered and I hesitated.
"It's on me". She said reassuringly.
"I don't know". I didn't want her to spend too much.
"It's okay, I am quite buoyant this month".
We ordered peach cobbler and it was really good.
"I told you so". She said to me.
"Tell me something, Kim".
"What's that?".
"Why somewhere this far? We could have gone to Blue heavens and I can even get us a discount". She smiled but didn't answer.
"I am serious".
"Blue heavens will be full of many distractions".
"And you do not want to be seen with me".
"No offence". Kim apologized.
"None took".
"Why are you being friends with them if you have to get their permission and approval to do something?". I was curious.
She opened up to me for the second time and we talked for hours. We ordered cold water and fruit salad and talked more.
She told me about her relationship with her friends and the personality she has to put up. She told me all that it took to be a popular girl or boy and all they had to do. Most of what she told me took me by surprise and then...
It dawned on me, I had a juicy topic for my news article. Angie would be so thrilled and Ryan...he would be so proud.
I put my phone on record.