Half life

Days You Never Imagined

***Next day***

I woke up feeling quite overwhelmed like a bundle of joy and happiness.

I just can not fathom the reason for this sudden surge of happiness running through my veins but it is perhaps a sign that today is going to be a very good day. Well I really hope it becomes a good day because it's been long since I last woke up feeling this way.

I remember yesterday after dinner, Dad left for his study while I stayed up to watch some TV shows before finally retiring to me.

Standing up from my bed, I headed to the washroom to carry out my usual morning routine and in no distant time I was out, all set and ready for school.

"You're awake already huh!" Dad asked looking at my direction as I cascaded down the stairs with my backpack hunged on my shoulders.

"Yeah" I replied flashing him a smile.

"That's great" Dad said staring intently back into his phone as he sat on the sofa.

"Good morning Dad" I greeted as I inched closer to his direction.

"Morning dearest" he replied removing his gaze briefly from his phone.

"How are you?" He asked

"Great great!" I replied beaming with smiles

"What about you?" I asked

"Fine" he said

"How was your night?" He asked

"Fine" I said

"How was yours?" I asked

"Fine also" he said

"I can see you are set for school already" he added sighing softly

"Yeah" I replied sinking in to the sofa nearby

"Are you not going to work today?" I asked puzzled at the fact that he was not yet dressed for work even by this time of the day.

"Oh yeah." Dad stuttered sitting upright.

"Actually today is my day off so I'm not going to the office today. I need to rest my head" Dad explained softly.

"Oh. That is great. I personally think you've over worked yourself this week." I cooed

"But I may likely be going out later in the day" Dad added

"Ok" I replied

"By the way your breakfast is on the dinning table over there" Dad said pointing towards the dinning area.

"Oh. You made breakfast today as well?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I woke up quite early today so I decided to help you with that" Dad said.

"Okay" I said dropping my backpack on the sofa while I stood up and headed for the dinning area.

When I got to the dinning table, I quickly pulled out a chair and sat down then opened the plate in front of me only to have seen grilled salmon, beacon and corn relish.

Staring intently at the meal right in front of me to be sure if what I saw was right or my eyes were playing pranks on me, I took out some and ate

"Yum" I muttered to myself

But then I still find it hard to believe Dad actually prepared this. Not like he couldn't have prepared it but it tasted real nice for me to believe he actually did.

When I was done eating, I stood up and took the dishes to the kitchen to wash and after I finished washing them, I rinsed them and then wiped my hands dry before walking back the sitting room.

On reaching the sitting room, Dad was already standing up as though he has been waiting for me to finish up for hours so he could drive me to school.

"Are you through?" Dad asked, as I got closer enough to hear him speak.

"Yes except you have some other meal reserved for me" I said

"What do you mean by that?" Dad asked giving me a quizzical look

"I meant to say your meal was awesome" I said smiling

"Oh!" Dad said chuckling

"Yeah" I replied belching.

"I think I now agree you are indeed q great cook after tasting this breakfast you prepared today" I added while Dad just smiled

"Let's get going already. You're running late" Dad said

"Okay Daddy" I replied taking out my backpack from the sofa as Dad walked out of the sitting room heading for the door while I trailed from behind with my backpack hung on my shoulders.

On reaching the parking lot, Dad unlocked the car and entered inside while I stood metres away and waited for him to set the car engine roaring.

After turning on the car ignition and the car began to roar with life, Dad beckoned on me to get into the car then I stealthily walked towards where the car was parked then crept into the backseat and fastened my seatbelt after placing my backpack on the other side of the seat after which Dad reversed and then drove out of the house heading straight for my school.

Hardly had we left our street when I decided to break the long silence reigning in the car by asking Dad to play some music.

"What type of music do you want to listen to?" Dad asked with his gaze still focused on the road.

"Do you have jazz?" I asked

"No" he said

"How about hip hop songs?" I asked

"Too bad I don't have that as well.

I only have country music" he said

"Oops" I growled in disappointment

"Just play anything then" I said

"Okay" he said while he focused on the road as his right hand fumbled on the dashboard then a soft country music began to blast from the car speakers.

"This is much more better" I muttered as Dad drove away and in no distant time we arrived at school after a short drive.

Getting into the school compound, I came down from the car after Dad parked the car in the school parking space then baded me goodbye after promising to come pick me up after school hours.

I stood and waited for Dad to reverse and drive out of the school before beginning to walk briskly to my class.

I was still walking across the hallway leading to my class when a hand touched me from and I turned to see Jeff smiling.

"Hey Jeff" I said

"How are you doing buddy?" He asked smiling

"Fine and you?" I asked

" How was your night?" He asked as we continued walking towards the class

"Fine. How about yours?" I asked

"Great" he replied

"It's been long" I said

"Yeah. I've been away for quite sometime now" he muttered

"Why?" I asked giving him a quizzical look

"I've been kinda ill" he said shrugging his shoulders

"Oops sorry about that dear" I said in an emotional tone

"C'mon it's fine. You don't have to do that" he said letting out a chuckle

"You sure huh?" I asked still not satisfied

"Yeah. I'm fine now as you can see" he said

" That's nice" I muttered

" Yeah see you later" he said walking to his seat as we got to the class while I also quietly walked to my seat.

After sitting down, I turned back in search of Tamara but she was no where to be found. So I stood up to go check her at the extreme right corner of the class. Who knows she might be taking cover there so she can play pranks on me just like she did yesterday. I reasoned as I walked over to the end of the class but she still wasn't there too so I gave up and walked back to my seat.

" Probably she is still not yet in school." I soliloquized as I placed my head on my locker to rest.

"Good morning Students" A voice waffled into my ears forcing me to sit up

"Good morning ma'am" we chorused

"How are you doing this morning?" Mrs Pauline Our Economics teacher asked

"Fine ma" we cooed in unison

"That is great. Today we will be talking about some economic concepts. Concepts like; scarcity, want and resources" she said as she walked back to the whiteboard to scribble down some words.

" So who can tell me what he or she understands by wants" she asked walking back to the front of the class.

With eyes darting back and forth, we all looked on eagerly awaiting the person that would be courageous enough to answer the question.

Minutes passed but yet no one raised his or her hand to answer the question.

"I said, who can tell us what he or she understands by wants?" She repeated

But this time I didn't allow her finish, before raising up my hand.

"You mean she is the only person that can answer my question in this whole class?" Mrs. Pauline asked in bewilderment while the whole class stared in silence.

"What is your name my dear?" She asked walking towards my direction

"Amanda Edwards ma'am" I replied standing up

"What a beautiful name. Well go ahead and answer my question"

"Ma to me, wants simply means the things we wish to own or acquire" I said softly

"Wow that's awesome." She said

"Thank you so much Amanda. You may sit down now. Meanwhile make sure you see me in my office during break." She added while I sat down quietly.

The class continued till she was through and left the class while other teachers took turns to tutor us till break time.

By break time, I quickly walked out of the class and headed for Mrs Pauline's office.

Locating her office was quite difficult since it was at the extreme of the staff building.

After getting to the door leading to her office, I knocked gently on it and waited for a reply but got none so I knocked again for the second time before a shrill voice asked me to come in.

Walking into the office, she asked me to sit down on the swivel chair reserved for guests and facing her large desk piled up with so many books.

"Good day Ma" I greeted

"Yes. What can I do for you?" She asked ignoring my greetings and obviously not recognizing me anymore.

"Ma you requested to see me in your office during break in the morning time" I said stealthily, quite thrown aback by her sudden change in attitude.

"Oh really" she asked in disbelief

"Yes ma" I replied

"Are you Amanda Edwards?" She asked giving me a quizzical look

"Yes ma" I replied

"Oh sorry. I guess I totally forgot about it" she said apologetically while I looked on, tongue-tied not knowing how to react best to her apology.

"So how are you doing?" She asked

"Fine ma" I replied

"welcome to my office please make yourself comfortable" she said

"Thank you ma" I replied

" What do I offer you… juice, soda, fruit" she asked

" Nothing ma. I'm fine this way" I replied

" No that's not possible here. You can't come to my office and refuse to take something at least" she said standing up, and headed for the fridge just by the corner of the office and returned back to her seat with a can of soda in her hand.

" Here take this" she said stretching the can of soda towards my direction and after much hesitation collected it.

" Thank you ma" I muttered

" You're welcome" she said

"So back to business now…" she started but got interrupted by a call .

After talking on phone for some minutes she dropped her phone from her ear then sighed.

"So sorry for that interruption" she said

"Let me not keep you waiting. I just requested to see you because of your intelligence. I want to encourage you to keep it up and from today consider me a friend. So if you have a problem or want something anytime anyday don't hesitate to let me know" she added

" Ok ma. Thank you." I said

"I would have loved to keep you company but then I have an emergency meeting to attend right now. So see you later." She said

"Alright ma. Let me be on my way then" I said and walked out of her office.

On my way back to the class, I contemplated on branching off at the school cafeteria or going straight to the class as I walked briskly through the doorway. But later on settled for class since it was already few minutes left to break over.

So I quickly walked back to my seat immediately I entered the class.

Sitting on my seat, I began to wonder about what could have stopped Tamara from coming to school today.

Probably she must have fallen ill again or something.

Because the Tamara I know wouldn't miss school on purpose even for a single day.

Well I'll have to wait and see till tomorrow.

"Oops there is no school tomorrow. Tomorrow is weekend" I reasoned when I recalled today was Friday.

I was still lost in thought when a teacher walked in and began to teach, bringing me back to reality as I paid rapt attention to what he was teaching.

Classes continued on till dismissal after which everyone left for their various houses while I waited patiently for Dad to come pick me up.

Dad drove in to the school compound after waiting for about half an hour so I hurriedly walked out of the class to meet up with him.

Opening the owner's side door, I got in then he reversed and we both drove out of the school gate at top speed unto the major road.

"Someone decided to try out something new today huh!" Dad teased, honking at the car in front.

"And who is that?" I asked shooting him a cold glare

"She is right here" he said

"Where?" I asked

"Here of course" he said

"Why didn't you sit at back seat today" Dad asked snorting

"Well because I don't feel like" I replied shrugging my shoulders

"Wow that's great news" Dad exclaimed

"Whatever" I said looking at my front

"How was school today?" He asked breaking the silence that followed my curt reply.

"Fine" I replied absentmindedly

"How is your new friend?" He asked

"Which of my new friend?" I retorted

"Your new friend you told me about days ago of course" he said

"I've forgotten. Which of them exactly?" I asked in perplexity

"Joe of course" Dad asked hitting the break pedal as we got to the T junction then turned left.

" Oh" I growled

"He is fine probably" I added

"Why probably?" Dad asked

"Because I haven't seen him for days now" I replied

"Oh" Dad exclaimed

"Yeah we aren't in the same class" I explained.

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