TOUCHÉ
JULY 6TH 2001
I touched his hand, I did! It felt like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I think I saw a twinkle in his eyes that night and that made me know he likes me too but I’m not sure.
Something happened a while back in school. A teacher who really liked me picked me up for an excursion on my way to the school’s administrative block. I wasn’t even with my school bag and I didn’t get the opportunity to tell my friend so she could tell my family. I was happy about the field trip nonetheless. I was in the company of senior students and it was for science students and I knew nothing about science at the time.
We were taken to a top petrochemical organisation for a debate competition that we were to observe. We sat with other spectators and observed the competition amidst annoying students making fun of others. When the debaters did not know an answer, the question would be thrown to the spectators who would answer and be given a prize.
It came to a point where the debaters couldn’t answer a question so I made a gamble with the guy sitting next to me to choose of the options in case the one I chose to answer wasn’t correct. The environment was electric and filled to the brim with students from different backgrounds. There was a certain bunch who laughed at anyone who stood to answer a question and I had cut my hair that period... didn’t top it in looks! But with an indignant confidence I raised my hand to the amazement of my teacher and senior colleagues and just then, I heard a sneer, ferocious laughter erupted from within the annoying bunch but defiant I stood. Although I wasn’t sure of the answer, it was only a guess, I said the option I chose and voila! I was correct. My eyes were on the bunch and they kept mute in shame. My teacher and senior colleagues were shocked for they knew that I ought not to know the answer being a junior student and all but they kept asking me how I knew the answer and what formula I used. I only smiled for it was I and the guy who sat next to me that knew it was a lucky guess. I was famous! I still am. I was rewarded with a gift, it was wrapped but it felt like a book...whatever it was, I was proud to have it.
When we returned to school, it was way past closing time and the school was as quiet as a grave yard. I ran to my class and got my bag and went home. When I got into our neighbourhood, my friend who attended the same school as I asked me what made me stay so long, I explained the reason to her and she merely laughed. Her mom came to meet me and scolded blood out of my veins.
I was soon home and I met my sister and she gave a shrill laugh before going inside the house. Just then, my parent’s car pulled up and mom emerged from the car with blood-shut eyes. She walked up to me cos I couldn’t move out of fright, and said “you are a very stupid girl” then she walked into the house. My dad came to me and looked at me long and hard and by the time he opened his mouth, my ear almost went deaf. I was terrified! He asked for the teacher’s address who took me for the excursion and though I knew where he stayed, I feigned ignorance. He was foaming with anger and I knew my dad too well when angry. When the tide of his anger had receded, I went to him and showed him my gift. He barely looked at it. I wasn’t famous here, at least not like I was on the excursion.
It was later, mom told me that since they waited and didn’t see me return home, they went to my school and no one could provide them with info on my whereabouts, the proceeded to various hospitals to check for accident victims and my mom marred by the memory of losing 4 in the past, couldn’t stand the thought of losing me. I realise that dad was scared too, he just had a good way of covering it up. He told me on a later date that I gave them the fright of their lives. I was really sorry and I know that I won’t do such anymore.
I touched his hand, I did! It felt like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I think I saw a twinkle in his eyes that night and that made me know he likes me too but I’m not sure.
Something happened a while back in school. A teacher who really liked me picked me up for an excursion on my way to the school’s administrative block. I wasn’t even with my school bag and I didn’t get the opportunity to tell my friend so she could tell my family. I was happy about the field trip nonetheless. I was in the company of senior students and it was for science students and I knew nothing about science at the time.
We were taken to a top petrochemical organisation for a debate competition that we were to observe. We sat with other spectators and observed the competition amidst annoying students making fun of others. When the debaters did not know an answer, the question would be thrown to the spectators who would answer and be given a prize.
It came to a point where the debaters couldn’t answer a question so I made a gamble with the guy sitting next to me to choose of the options in case the one I chose to answer wasn’t correct. The environment was electric and filled to the brim with students from different backgrounds. There was a certain bunch who laughed at anyone who stood to answer a question and I had cut my hair that period... didn’t top it in looks! But with an indignant confidence I raised my hand to the amazement of my teacher and senior colleagues and just then, I heard a sneer, ferocious laughter erupted from within the annoying bunch but defiant I stood. Although I wasn’t sure of the answer, it was only a guess, I said the option I chose and voila! I was correct. My eyes were on the bunch and they kept mute in shame. My teacher and senior colleagues were shocked for they knew that I ought not to know the answer being a junior student and all but they kept asking me how I knew the answer and what formula I used. I only smiled for it was I and the guy who sat next to me that knew it was a lucky guess. I was famous! I still am. I was rewarded with a gift, it was wrapped but it felt like a book...whatever it was, I was proud to have it.
When we returned to school, it was way past closing time and the school was as quiet as a grave yard. I ran to my class and got my bag and went home. When I got into our neighbourhood, my friend who attended the same school as I asked me what made me stay so long, I explained the reason to her and she merely laughed. Her mom came to meet me and scolded blood out of my veins.
I was soon home and I met my sister and she gave a shrill laugh before going inside the house. Just then, my parent’s car pulled up and mom emerged from the car with blood-shut eyes. She walked up to me cos I couldn’t move out of fright, and said “you are a very stupid girl” then she walked into the house. My dad came to me and looked at me long and hard and by the time he opened his mouth, my ear almost went deaf. I was terrified! He asked for the teacher’s address who took me for the excursion and though I knew where he stayed, I feigned ignorance. He was foaming with anger and I knew my dad too well when angry. When the tide of his anger had receded, I went to him and showed him my gift. He barely looked at it. I wasn’t famous here, at least not like I was on the excursion.
It was later, mom told me that since they waited and didn’t see me return home, they went to my school and no one could provide them with info on my whereabouts, the proceeded to various hospitals to check for accident victims and my mom marred by the memory of losing 4 in the past, couldn’t stand the thought of losing me. I realise that dad was scared too, he just had a good way of covering it up. He told me on a later date that I gave them the fright of their lives. I was really sorry and I know that I won’t do such anymore.
ima fio.... proud of u sweetie...great work keep it up...u r going places
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