Half life

DON'T STARTLE ME

We got to school just slightly below early and I got down and headed for my class after Dad parked in the school parking space and baded me goodbye after promising to come pick up early today.

Walking stealthily, I entered my class and quietly walked to my sit. Thank God there was teacher in the class when I first walked in.

After sitting down for some seconds, I turned left to see if Tamara was in already in class but didn't see her.

"Looking for someone?" A voice I recognized to be Tamara's waffled into my ears from behind startling me a bit.

"Tamara" I called out softly

"Yes" she replied

"Why did you have to startle me?" I asked holding my chest as I tried to calm down my increased heart beat.

"What do you mean?" She asked obviously dazed

"I said why did you have to startle me?" I repeated

"Did I startle you?" She asked

"Yeah" I said

"When was that?" She asked further

"Just now" I said

"Oh. I'm so sorry then. I never knew that could startle you up" she said apologetically.

"It's fine. You never knew anyway" I said

"Yeah. How are you doing this morning?" She asked sitting beside me

"Fine. How about you?" I asked

"Fine" she replied

" How was your night?" She asked

"Fine" I said

"That's nice." She said

"Yeah. How about you?" I asked

"Fine" she said

"Where were you when I walked in to class?" I asked

" There" she said pointing at the end of the class

"What were you doing there?" I asked

"Nothing really. I just hid there when I saw you walking into the school building from the window." She explained grinning.

"So you decided to startle me on purpose?" I asked

"Somewhat yes and no" she replied laughing hysterically

"You aren't serious" I sneered

"Of course I am" she said

"Next time if you try anything close to these, I'll so strike your head silly pyscho" I thundered while she gwapped at me.

"Are you done?" She asked quite unbothered by my ranting.

"Yeah" I replied then she bursted out into another round of laughter.

"What is funny dumbass?" I asked getting peeved.

"Nothing" she said suppressing her laughter.

"Whatever" I said rolling my eyes.

*****

"So how did you go home yesterday?" Tamara asked as we sat otiosely waiting for the next lesson after break time.

"Well shortly after you left, I waited for Dad for close to an hour but he didn't show up so I decided to walk out of the school gate and go wait for him outside since the whole school became seemingly sparse." I replied

"Boohoo! I'm literally crying for you" she said in an emotional tone.

"C'mon it's nothing. Stop it already" I said cutting her short.

"Then guess what?" I asked

"Your Dad sent someone to come pick you up as you stepped out of the gate" she said smiling

"Bad attempt. Try once more" I said

"Aww" she growled in anger

"Ok. You were given a lift home by your Dad's friend or a stranger" she said

"Close enough but not it" I said snorting.

"Whatever. Just tell me already" she said

"Joe was also in school waiting for his driver as well" I said finally giving her a light punch on the shoulder.

"Who is Joe?" She asked, shooting me a quizzical look, obviously taken aback by my outburst.

"You mean you don't know Joe anymore?" I retorted in bewilderment.

"I'm not sure I do" she said shaking her head

"I mean Joe. One of the guys that sat close to our table at the cafeteria. Don't tell me you don't remember that guy who stopped us and asked to speak with me in private for something on our way back from the cafeteria two days ago." I explained softly

"Oh" she exclaimed.

"I remember now" she said

"You're such a dumb head" I said

"Leave me alone. Wait how did you know he was also in school then?" She asked.

"Well according to him, he said he saw me walking out of the school gate from his class so decided to trail me behind" I said smiling

"Wow. So did you guys get to talk?" She asked further getting all interested.

"Yeah. We talked at length" I said

"About what?" She asked

"Nothing in particular. Just about random things" I said

"That's nice" she said

"So who left for home first between the two of you?" She asked

"Well… his driver came first but then he actually offered to give me a lift home but I declined and insisted I waited for my Dad instead before they left." I said

"Wow that was kind of him" she said

Then we moved on to talk about random topics ranging from school to personal interest.

After which lessons continued till dismissal.

I had to wait for some time before Dad finally came to pick me up.

Dad had actually asked me to help him undo his neck tie while he drives on our way back home.

We got home later on and after Dad cooled off the car engine by turning the ignition off, I opened the car door and walked out of the parking space and dashed into the house without waiting for Dad this time.

"Hey what's up with you Amanda?" Dad asked when Dad got inside as well.

"Nothing Dad." I said

"Then why did you ran inside immediately we got to the house." Dad asked

"Nothing. I'm fine I just felt like excersing my legs a little bit in readiness for the sport festival coming up soon. You know it's been ages I last ran so I'm doing a little start up to get myself prepared for the event" I explained calmly.

"I see." Dad said then paused to sit down.

"Yeah" I replied

"I'm so tired already" Dad muttered scratching his hair.

"I'm also tired" I said

"Go get some rest then" Dad said

"Huh" I said

"Yeah. If you are tired you go get some rest.

Isn't that simple as ABC?" Dad muttered

"Well yeah. It is" I cooed quite surprised at his sudden outburst

"What are we having for lunch today?" Dad said

"I don't know. Maybe you should tell me" I said

"No, you tell me" Dad countered

"Why should I?" I asked

"Because I want you to" Dad replied

" No I can't decide" I said

"Why can't you?" Dad asked in a light register

"Because I'm just a little naive girl" I said

" I also can't then too" he said

"But you're bound to make decisions" I half yelled

"No I'm not, you're" he said laughing out hysterically

"But you're my father and I'm just a kid" I said

"And I'm also someone's kid and have a daddy as well" he said, snorting.

"Jeez, stop it already Dad!" I queried

"Huh stop what?" He asked acting confused

"Stop messing around with me for crying out loud" I yelled while Dad bursted into laughter

"Oh my gosh! My cheeks ache from too much laughter" Dad exclaimed holding unto his tummy

"That serves you right" I sneered, stalking out my tongue in mockery.

"You're such a silly and crazy girl" dad said

"I'm not Dad" I retorted

"Well fine you are not silly neither are you crazy" Dad said

" Now back to business. I would have ordered lunch already but I'm confused about what to order exactly and that is why I'm asking you to help me out with it this time" Dad said softly.

"okay then" I said scratching my hair.

I'd have gone simply for snacks but Dad wouldn't want to have snacks for lunch. But then, I'd prefer some pepper sauce with pasta or something close to it I said thinking to myself.

"Be fast Amanda. We are running out of time!" Dad said jerking me back to reality.

"Huh!, Sorry about that I guess I got carried away by my own thoughts." I replied.

"It's okay. Just tell me about your suggestion" dad said

"Okay. I think we should order pasta and some pepper sauce. That would be great, what do you think?" I said giving Dad a cursory look as I eagerly awaited his reply.

"That's not a bad idea. I think we should just go with your suggestion although I was thinking we should order for some cereals and veggies" Dad said.

"Oh yeah. That's also not so bad anyway" I replied

"Yeah. Let me place the order right away then." Dad said, bringing out his phone from his pocket after sitting upright.

"I've placed the order and the delivery person will soon be here whenever he or she arrives call me I'm going upstairs to get some rest." Dad said, standing up as he made to walk to his room.

"Alright Dad" I said.

After Dad left, I stood up and got the TV remote from the center table then turned on the TV to reduce boredom as I waited for the delivery person.

I was still enjoying the Tv program with my eyes glued to the TV screen and ears paying rapt attention to it when a gentle knock sounded on the door interrupting me.

Of course it was no one else but the delivery person, so I walked over to the door and peered intently to be sure it was the delivery person through the keyhole then stealthily walked back to the sitting room then climbed the stairs as I headed to go call Dad.

On reaching Dad's room, I knocked on the door and after beckoning on me to come in, I opened the door and propped my head inside

"The delivery man is at the door" I announced, hanging my head low.

"Okay tell him I'm coming. I'll be with him downstairs in a jiffy" Dad said

"Ok sir" I replied then turned back and made to walk out of his room.

I got downstairs then quickly walked back to attend to the delivery man at the door.

When I opened the door, the delivery man was already walking out of the building but turned back when he had the door cracked open.

"Hey little girl" he said as he inched closer

"Good day Sir, how may I be of help to you?" I said

"How are you?" he asked

"Fine" I replied

"Do you live around here?" He asked

"Yes. Over there" I said pointing

towards our house

"okay. I have a package for you then" he said opening the backpack he was holding in his right hand

"Just hold on a sec. My dad will soon be here" I said

"Okay" he replied.

We were still in that position when Dad walked out of the house to join us

"Good day Sir" he greeted

"How are you doing?" Dad asked

"Fine sir" He said

"You're here to deliver a package I suppose" Dad said

" Yes sir" he replied

" Alright let me have the package then" Dad said

"Ok sir please sign here first" he said handing Dad a book and a pen which dad collected and signed then returned it to him.

"Alright thank you sir." He said handing Dad the package then walked away while Dad and I stood there for some seconds before walking back to the house.

Immediately we got into the house, I quickly located a sofa and sat down after collecting the package from Dad and opened it and began to devour it after keeping some for Dad as well.

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