I finished my meal and joined my parents in the sitting room. Dad asked me how the exam went and I told him everything that happened at the exam venue. I skipped the part about me being scared because I didn't want him lecturing me on self-confidence again.
"That reminds me," Mom added. "Katie was here to see you."
"That gossip, I am sure she was just here to gist." I sneered. "I'll visit her tomorrow."
"That's okay," My mom responded.
We all watched a movie together for a while before my dad changed the channel so he could watch the news.
That signalled it was time to go to bed for us. Fred and I went to our rooms and my Mom went to put things in order before going to bed.
Fred and I played some games on Mom's phone before he slept off. I wasn't feeling sleepy because of the long nap I had, and it seems I won't be getting any sleep soon.
I went downstairs and peeped through the door of the sitting room. My dad was still awake but he left the television on and was going through his sales for the day. This was one of those things he does that annoyed me a lot.
He would leave the television on showing the news channel and sit in the sitting room going through his sales, instead of going upstairs to the study. It was now a custom and I am sure he does that to stop us from watching cartoons, but he would scold us if he sees us doing our homework or reading in the sitting room saying that the environment is not conducive for study and we could get distracted.
I sighed and went back to my room. I thought of reading a novel but after this stressful exam, I promised myself not to open any book for the next two weeks but only to sleep and relax whenever I had the time. Laying on my bed and not getting any sleep, I stood up and started arranging my closet. I brought out the clothes I would likely wear for church service the next day and for any possible outing.
After that, I remembered my graduation wear. It was meant to be a gown either yellow, cream, white or gold. Our teacher told us to adhere to the colour palette. I rummaged through my closet and found out that the gown I had intended to wear was of a darker colour than the colours we were given. I took note of that and planned to tell my parents about it as soon as possible. We were already halfway through June and my graduation was in July, I had to look nice for the occasion.
I spent two hours mindlessly rummaging through things in my room and putting things in order but I wasn't sleepy yet. I forced myself to sleep when it was already midnight and I hadn't slept.
I tossed and turned in my bed. I finally slept off and it was a series of dreams instead of a proper night's sleep.
I dreamt of my graduation, dreamt of Elite Academy, dreamt of passing the entrance exam, I also dreamt of failing the entrance exam and a smug look on Mira's face. I woke up with shivers in my body from the last dream, and I was worried and decided not to sleep again.
I stayed awake till the early hours of the morning before the gentle hands of sleep snatched me away.
***************
The next day being Sunday went on as it normally would. Fred and I had made a list of movies we wanted to watch that day on our way back from church.
"That's a lot of movies." My mom chuckled. Are you guys going to be able to watch them all today?
"We can go halfway if only Dad doesn't disturb us today," Fred replied.
"What!" My dad shouted as he burst into fits of laughter.
"You are always stopping us from watching movies saying we need to read. We are done with our exams." Fred added as he moved forward to the driver's seat to look at my dad face to face.
"Dad, please do not disturb us today." He said with a serious look on his face.
"Fine, I will not disturb you today and I'll also mind my business. My dad said as he raised his hand in surrender.
We all started laughing at his action.
"Elsie, do you also think I disturb you?" My dad asked me as I hadn't said anything throughout the conversation.
"Well, I can't say for sure but I know I'm not going to open any book for the next two weeks," I replied stretching and emphasising every word I said.
This was my way of saying that I agreed with Fred.
Dad turned and looked at me before he let out a sigh.
"This is a gang up against me." He murmured.
"It's not a gang-up. It's the truth." Fred retorted.
My dad wiped out imaginary tears from his eyes and we all laughed at him.
"Both of you can sleep On the television today if you like but make sure you finish your chores." Mom reminded us as she giggled at my dad's reaction.
"Yes, Mom," Fred and I chorused.
Dad gave Mom a serious look and she stopped.
She gave him a pat on the shoulder and told him that she felt his pain.
We all remained silent throughout the remaining part of the drive back home.
Mom and dad were both similar in one thing. They both nitpicking but not in an annoying way or in a way that puts so much pressure on us to do things in a certain way.
Mom will nitpick about everything especially about keeping the house clean and in order. Dad will nitpick about how we spend our leisure time and insisting we read a lot.