As I sketched yet another daisy, my nerves began to settle. Art had always been my escape—a world where judgments didn't exist, and I could simply breathe. Once satisfied with the delicate petals I had drawn, I tucked my sketchbook under the mattress and let sleep claim me.
The next morning, the lingering sting of Mom's words had dulled. I decided not to dwell on yesterday's scolding. The sunlight streaming through my window felt like a reset. I got ready, ate breakfast, and headed off to school with my siblings.
The classes began and every student started to focus on the lectures delivered by the teachers. As two morning classes got over I felt the urge to use the restroom. So I got up from my seat to go but our language teacher entered the class. Seeing her I huffed in a low voice but then asked for her permission "Can I go to the restroom, Miss. Millie?"
Hearing me Miss. Millie looked up from her glasses and then said "I don't know? Can you?" Just as Miss. Millie said this the entire class began to laugh and then Amelia said while laughing "It's may I go to the restroom, Hope. Not, Can I?"
My cheeks blushed from embarrassment and I mumbled "May I go to the restroom, Miss. Millie?"
"Yes, you can. Remember it next time, Hope." Miss. Millie replied smiling a little.
"Yes, ma'am." I replied as I hurriedly left the classroom before I could feel even more embarrassed. After I was done with my business in the restroom, I flushed the toilet and got out, washed my hands and went to the class again. Just as I entered the class, every student again began to laugh at me. This time I looked at them all surprised as I didn't know what they were laughing at.
"Psst, pssst, Hope, your skirt. Your skirt is up from behind." Jessica whispered to me as she tried to stifle her own laughter. Just as Jessica said this I quickly looked back and indeed my skirt was stuck in my underwear from behind. I quickly pulled out my skirt as my face burned deep red from embarrassment and I quickly ran to my seat, opening my text book and hiding my face behind it.
"Silence! No more laughing! No comedy show is playing out here. Focus on your books." Miss. Millie said in a strict tone which quietened down the laughter.
"God, please let this moment pass quickly and make everyone forget about it." I prayed in my mind as I tried focus on the lecture which Miss. Millie was delivering. Soon the bell rang which signalled that it was now break time. I took a deep breath of relief as I heard the bell and quickly left the class before I could hear any student bring up the incident again. I went straight to the playground and sat at the bench beside the swings. Emerald, Amelia and Jessica came to the playground as well with their lunch boxes and sat beside me. I was still blushing a bit from embarrassment due to the incident. "Don't get embarrassed too much, Hope. It happens to everyone every now and then. It's not your fault. Even adults sometimes end in a silly situation." Emerald said as she offered some solace.
"Yeah, Hope. If in anything, you are a bit clumsy that's all. And let me tell you that's complete fine." Jessica said as she placed her hands on my shoulders. Amelia too spoke up hearing Jessica " Jessica is right, Hope. Being a bit clumsy is way better than being a strict person."
Hearing everyone's kind remarks my face lit up and a smile formed on my face "Thank you, guys. I feel better now. Let's eat now. My mom packed me curry rice today." I said as I opened my lunch box.
"Wow, curry rice! My mom packed pork cutlets for me."Jessica said as she too opened her lunch box. Emerald and Amelia too joined us as they both opened their lunch boxes which revealed egg souffle and fruit salad. We shared bites of each other's food as we always did, chatting about everything from school drama to what cartoons we'd watched over the weekend. The warmth of their company made me forget the earlier embarrassment.
As the school ended, dad came to pick me and siblings up from school. We all sat in the car and dad began to drive towards home. As dad was driving he asked "So how was your day everyone? I hope no mischief was played by any of you?"
"No, dad! It was a peaceful day like usual. But you know, Miss. Collins gave me praise today for my handwriting. And I even scored highest marks in science test today." Marie said as her face lit up with joy and proudfulness.
"That's good, Marie. As expected from my intelligent girl. What about you, Hope? Hiw was your day?" Dad said as he looked at me from the rearview mirror.
As dad directly asked me, my mind suddenly went blank the memory of the skirt incident flashing before me. I hesitated but managed to reply, "well.....it was normal. I ate my lunch with my friends like usual and the classes happened like usual too."
You didn't do any mischief, right? I don't want to get a call from your teacher, Hope." Dad said as he made a turn around the corner.
"No! Why does everyone thinks that I'm always up to some mischief. I'm a delicate little lady." I said as I folded my tiny arms in mock protest. "That's because you're always up to something, Hope." Marie said as she sounded all knowing to which I got a bit annoyed and said while sticking out my tongue "No one asked you, Marie."
Seeing our little exchanged dad said "okay, ok! No need to pull at each others hair." Cutting off the building argument "I believe you my little delicate lady."
At this, Joseph and Rose, the youngest of our siblings, chimed in unison, "Our day was good too, Dad!"
"I'm glad to hear that. And guess what? Mom got a surprise for you all at home so be ready everyone." Dad said smiling as he focused on driving back to our house.
Our faces lit up at the mention of a surprise, and the rest of the drive was filled with chatter about what it could be.