The Time Of Our Life!

It was a dark green forest and I was being chased by a leash of foxes. I ran and ran and ran, suddenly my feet became heavy and I couldn’t move my arms or legs or any part of me, I tried to scream but no sound came out from my mouth. “Dana!” I heard a female voice calling out to me. “DANA” The voice got louder, I covered my ears to block the sound but then I started feeling cold. I shivered and tried to reach for my blanket.

“Dana! Wake up.” I jumped out of my bed to see my mom who had pulled the blanket away from me. “I’m late for work. You have to prepare lunch boxes for Rohan and Rue.” Not again.

“Okay.” I mumbled while trying to stand up straight as I reached for my morning gown.

“Don’t just say Okay, get to it.” She said as she left my room.

“I am getting to it.” I said while I pouted. I sat on my bed and gathered my thoughts. First I have to make lunch boxes for Rohan and Rue and then I have to bath before Pallia and dad want to go in for a bath, then I have to pack my school bag... wait... I didn’t iron my uniform. I threw my head back to the bed and right then my aunt walked.

My mother’s sister, Meredith stayed with us as well along with her 11-year-old son. Aunt Meredith was one of those I bet she was pretty when she was young kind of girls. In fact, she was still beautiful, her hair was dark and soft, it easily fell to back to her head compared to my family and I’s gravity defying hair. She had high cheekbones and pure white teeth. She was very tall too, a trait none of us possessed. She looked like my mom ... if my mom was once a beauty queen.

She moved in with us last month, December, because she got a new job where she had work late hours and she didn’t want to leave her son alone at home. My dad being the good Samaritan that he is, suggested that they stay together and share the rent.

“Good morning Aunt Meredith.” I stood up remembering my duties.

“Morning Dana, did I wake you up?” She smiled at me with her pearl white teeth.

“No, I was already awake.” She nodded and went to the wardrobe to get dressed. I shared my room with aunt Meredith and Pallia who was still asleep on the other bed. “If I bothered you I’m sorry.” She added.

“No problem.”

I walked to the kitchen, which was right outside my room, first thing I did was put the kettle on. We couldn’t afford leaving the geyser on everyday so hot showers were only for the weekends.

“I’m going to miss my train, I’m leaving!” My mom shouted from the living room, 2 meters away from me and literally ran out.

“Bye mom!” I shouted back.

“Bye!” I heard the gate click and got to work. I made the lunch boxes for the kids, I didn’t make one for me because I don’t like eating bread that has stayed too long in my bag. Neither did I make one for Pallia because she can do that herself and Gift, aunt Meredith’s son, because she had a specific diet for him. I went to check up on Rue in my mom’s bedroom and see if she had finished dressing herself.

Rue was the middle child of our family, at nine years old she was going through puberty already, her chest was growing and her height was just past shoulders. She had a darker complexion than the rest of us, but she inherited aunt Meredith’s miracle hair that I had to tackle every morning despite the fact that her hair was soft. I don’t know how we managed to grow her hair.

When I was done with Rue’s hair, it was time for to take a bath. I went back to the kitchen to get my water, but the kettle wasn’t there.

“Who took my water.” No answer. The entire house was silent. My ears started to burn. Before I could ask the question again Pallia came out of the bathroom holding out the kettle.

Here’s the thing with Pallia she came from the South last year with her dad. Her parents stayed on our family farm and ran a business there. They were made a good deal of money and managed to survive the harsh economy of the South. The problem was the education system; Pallia was doing well at school but they were worried about what she would do when she was done with high school. Even though her parents lived a comfortable life they couldn’t afford to take to a university there. My dad, being the good Samaritan, said “Hey, she can come and finish up high school here and it will be easier her to get into university here because it’s cheaper here.”

Pallia came with her dad and I couldn’t believe we were related. Whereas my dad and I were short, with light browned skin and a little chubby, my dad had the whole beer belly, his brother and Pallia where taller, thin and darker in complexion.

“Did you take my water?” I said trying to be gentle, although Pallia was three years younger than me I didn’t act as her superior like the Southern culture said I should. She was still new to me and I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable.

“Hm... Oh was it yours.” Was it mine? Is that all she had to say? Did it matter? It was disrespectful to take something that someone already set up.

“Yes I wanted to bath.” I said.

“Sorry.” She spoke so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her and her tone sounded a little condescending. Then she placed the kettle on the sink, didn’t bother fill it up and went to the bathroom to bath. I stood there for a solid five minutes, my brain trying to process what on earth had just happened. The child didn’t look sorry.

20 minutes later I was in the bathroom, barely 2 seconds in and dad banged on the and shouted for me to hurry up. I took the fastest bath in history, I wore my uniform without ironing it as I was going for my shoes my dad shouted that he was done. My bag, my hair, Rohan and Rue. I heard Pallia wake up Rohan on the couch, and I grabbed my bag and shoes. I checked if all the doors were then I heard the car engine start. I looked the doors, everyone was in the car and we were ready to go.

Of course I was late for the train, my dad dropped me at Barrow train station and I waited 30 minutes. I was in big trouble today.

I ran to school as soon as I got off Central City station, past the busy traffic and conquered the hill of doom. Clifton High was on a hill and that was convenient for daily exercise.

I got to the school gate to see Mrs Polish, the school principal, waiting to welcome all the latecomers. Mrs Polish was a tall, Caucasian woman with hair going grey, she had a pointed red nose and always had this serious expression. She was an annoyance, and was always telling us to follow the school dress code and insisted on standing at the gate every morning when the security checked our bags and even after school, because of this Mrs Polish was familiar with all delinquents of the school.

“Miss Dana Menasah, you finally decided to grace us with your presence.”

“I’m sorry I’m late Mrs Polish.” I smiled innocently.

“This is your senior year Miss Menasah, I expect you to be punctual. This better be the last time you are this late.” She kept pronouncing my surname wrong, but I didn’t care. I hoorayed internally as the security opened the gate for me.

“Miss Menasah?” I stopped in my tracks, thinking of the possible things that could go wrong. “You are violating the school conduct.” I looked down at the dreadful school uniform I was wearing, the socks, black and knee length, the navy skirt was just above knee level, my white shirt was tucked in, and I didn’t forget that stupid navy tie this time. What was this woman going on about? Then I remembered my braids, I forgot to tie them during the rush. The school rule was that all long hair must be kept in a neat ponytail.

I walked in the school parking lot as I tied my hair and entered the hallway. This was my first day as a senior. I was excited but at the same time I felt this sadness wash over me. I shrugged it off and hurried off to my first class. Math.

As soon as I walked I all eyes were on me then everyone started clapping and cheering, I laughed and waved like a queen, I looked over to Mr Hana and apologized for my lateness then hurried to my seat.

“Okay quiet down.” Mr Hana said. Mr Hana was a very calm man; he was also the only dark skinned teacher at the school. “Thank you for joining us Miss Menisah” I groaned at the mispronunciation then I heard a giggle behind me, a really annoying giggle, but I ignored it, because in that same moment Sasha waved at me. Sasha was one of the I was friendly with and our conversations never went beyond hi.

“Sir gave us or exam papers back,” She said as she handed over my exam booklet. “Well done.”

When I saw the big red 73% written at the top corner of the page, I hissed a silent ‘yes’. Math was one subject I was proud of, I sucked at the rest of them.

When I was done self-praising, I returned my attention to Mr Hana who was outlining the program for this year. Every teacher did this at beginning of the year, they told us the topics we have to complete for the year and the time they expected us to be done with the year’s work so we can go into revision. It never worked out the way they wanted it to, instead we ended up having extra classes after school, during holidays, and study breaks.

While Mr Hana was talking about his imaginary plan, someone behind me kicked my chair. I ignored it, again, I ignored it. Again. I clenched my hands and breathed in, not today. My chair tipped to the right I almost fell but I held on to my desk and regained balance. Don’t freak out, stay calm. I took in another breath and diligently listened to Mr Hana as he went on describing his daydream.

Thirty minutes later the school bell rang and Mr Hana dismissed us.

“Daniel.” I spun around while still sitting only to face the bane of my existence. Dylan freaking Riends. A tall freak of a nerd who has a strong desire to show that he’s better me.

“What’s your problem?” I said as I stood up, flung my bag onto my back and faced him, or … up to him. The fact that he was not just taller than me, but a whole 30 cm taller than me was infuriating.

“Your existence.” He smirked and walked away. I made a silly attempt to kick him but got held back and almost fell to my behind.

“First day and already you want to kill him?” Clive, a fellow gossip buddy, said as he let go of my bag.

“It’s good to see you too Clive. Other friends scream and hug each other but all you do is manhandle me.” I pouted and walked ahead of him, I could hear his footsteps behind me and I sped up faster. He ran up behind me and gave me a back hug. “Let go of me!”

“I thought you wanted a hug.” He let go and we started walking together to the next class. It was hard passing through the sea of learners all of them trying to get to their respective classes. “So what news have you got for me.”

“Are you that thirsty for gossip?” This was how Clive and I got close together, because of gossip. Clive was out casted by the “boys” because he wasn’t interested in sports or sex and that’s what most boys talked about, he wasn’t into gaming or anime, no, Clive was a reader. You would always see him walking around with a book or exchanging books with Tammy, the other book worm.

We first talked when we “volunteered” to clean up the school garden. Once a year our school held a special “fix it” project, two events occurred. The fundraiser and then the actual hard labour. The seniors where in charge of raising funds and the rest of the students were given a chance to volunteer, and some were forced to do it as punishment. I was the latter.

The day before, I stuck a piece of gum on Dylan’s chair because before that he had tied my braids to my bag while I was sleeping in Geography. Dylan wasn’t going to report me for it since we were both even, but Avery saw the whole thing and decided it was her duty to report it to our homeroom teacher Mr Tyles. I was sentenced to community service.

Clive, however, had willingly volunteered. We worked together because we were the only people we knew. The rest of them were eager juniors.

That day I realized why quiet people are the scariest, he knew everything about everyone, even the juniors who had just joined the school and the teachers too. I needed an ally like that.

“I mean anything interesting that happened to you over the holiday?” He rolled his eyes and laughed at my stupidity.

“Umm... actually,” I had this idea since last year. It wouldn’t leave my head.

“Yeah?”

I wanted say it so bad but I was too embarrassed so I said it as fast as I could. “I want to get a boyfriend.”

Clive chocked on his spit and looked at me as if I looked like a monkey. “What?”

“Yup” Realizing that I had just said the most embarrassing thing, I tried to explain further. “I’m a senior now, next year I will be going to college, I want to date at least once or maybe even just a kiss.”

“Okay who is your target, Dylan?”

“Ew no. I want someone, good looking or appealing, I must feel butterflies as soon as I see him and hear music and bells and all that romantic stuff.”

“So it’s Zack then?”

I shrugged as we walked in Mr Finn’s English class.