Growing up, we weren't allowed to do anything that wasn't connected to academics. We were so restricted to so many things that would have contributed greatly to our growth. Going out, for example, was a taboo to my parents. So, if anyone invited me for a sleepover or other going-out activity, I don't need to ask for permission from my parents because I already know the answer I would get would be a stern face and a firm 'NO' coming out from a mouth pouted in anger. Cheese and crackers! Their regular reason would be:
"People are not to be trusted. They might have plotted against you and must have laid a trap for you".
That's reasonable enough as a classically crafted excuse. Okay, I thought my parents might as well take us for an outing but as well, I was disappointed. Of course, there is no need to have your hopes high for anything when it comes to my family. My parents saw it as a precious waste of valuable time to do that. Thay only take pleasure in stocking our library shelves at home with books and more books to be read by us.
The most confusing part is that most strict parents, once discovering the gift of intelligence in their children and even their love for reading books, they would do everything to make their intelligence stable. The least such parents would do is to provide a private tutor for their children or better still, enroll them in an after-school lesson. But well, I won't say that it's sad that my parents think there is no need for all that private tutor crap. My dear parents only believe in school and your personal effort. To them, school should be more than enough for you to boost your daily knowledge and intelligence with. Well, I can't question my parents. They know what's best for us.
Also, apart from the going-out stuff, we were also not allowed to be too close to people who has a different belief from us. I mean, we weren't allowed to befriend a person different from us, religiously speaking. Not that I'm totally against my family doctrines, but come on, technically speaking, isn't this to be considered as religious segregation and discrimination. To me, religious beliefs shouldn't be seen as an obstacle to potential relationships. I made friend with one of my female classmates when I was in Basic 4. Her name was Olive. You don't need to know how I had a friend. Everyone at one point in their life will always have a friend no matter the personality you carved for yourself. The good, the bad, the quiet one, the loquacious individual, the cool-headed, the hostile, in fact, no matter who you are, you would always find someone who would like you and will want to be friends with you. Don't be surprised, that's the way it goes. Now, back to what to what I was emphasizing on. Olive wasn't of the same faith with me. Her religious doctrines were slightly different from mine. Same goes to her family. She has more freedom than I do. Though, we are a world apart, we've been best friends since forever. She clearly understands me and doesn't judge me for anything.
Her family recognizes me while yet again, I couldn't mention her to my family lest the friendship I had struggled to build will be trampled upon mercilessly. I guess something's are better hidden than said.