I said goodbye to my dad over the phone and not the usual in person that I would have liked. In his defense of why he didn't come home to see me leave, he said he was too busy at work. But I knew he deliberately decided to stay off, probably too ashamed to see me. A tear dropped down my cheek at that simple thought. Dad didn't know just how much I loved him, and despite what mom or anyone else thought about him, I didn't give a damn. The flight back from Detroit to the Los Angeles international airport was both tiring and exhausting. It turned out to last far longer than I had anticipated--over five hours instead of the four hours that I believed, but most importantly, I still had over two hours before the wedding. To kill the boredom, I had my airpods plugged in and listened to music play over and over again, watched some videos, played music again and slept a little. I was very excited and elevated when a flight attendant, a very husky young man, built like a football player annou
The navy suit on my body was so matching in my eyes when I stared at my image in the mirror after my bath. It suited me perfectly and the little bow tie did a great job of glistening my body. I ran a hand on my breast, and couldn't help but let out a sweet giggle. My breasts were a little bigger than average 16-year-old girls, my hips wider and waist tinier too. I smacked my butt and watched it shake in the mirror. Here I was staring at my curvy slender body but I couldn't stop wondering why I hadn't been kissed or asked out by boys yet...Well, not that I minded anyways. I didn't see Uncle Richard when I walked out of my room to the living room, just a couple of people I didn't know. "Hi ma'am," said an old lady. She was dark in complexion, her hair was neatly tied in a bun. Loads of chains dangled down her neck, diamond-made, they seemed. Three of the fingers in her left hand had some pretty rings, while her right hand had what looked like a Paul Newman's 'Exotic' Rolex watch. Wai
If it were April, I'd have ruled what was going on as a mere April fool's prank but it wasn't so. What was going on? Why was mom on the pulpit with her best friend, Uncle Richard? Where was Uncle Richard's wife? The questions formed in my mind in great numbers, even though answers were not forthcoming. Mom whirled and overlooked me with a beaming smile all over her face as if daring me to be happy for her, but I shot back a look that said otherwise. She returned her attention back to the priest who had now begun reading some scriptures, maybe from the gospel of Mathew or John or book of Isaiah, my senses weren't too clear to know.At that instant, I felt as much like running away from the church and never coming back, running as fast as I could back to my dad. "And do you take Richard Palmer to be your lawful wedded husband?". I strained my ear to hear what mom would say. She veered around and faced me again, but this time, the smile was no longer on her face, all that I saw was t
Time passed pretty quickly. Soon, it was 7 pm and most of the guests, including my classmates, headed home. I spent the rest of the evening with Julian and Emily in my room. We had decided to check out my room rather than join the rest of the guests dancing and drinking downstairs. Julian and Emily accepted after I told them I was angry with mom. "I still can't believe we're up here while everyone else is down there" Emily whimpered and dropped her phone on the bed. We had seen the whole room and now lay in bed surfing the internet and listening to the soft melody coming from the party downstairs, after running out of ideas. "You know why we can't go down there right?" I said to her without lifting my head from the phone in my hands."That's not fair. It's more painful than separating Romeo and Juliet""What?" This time, I turned my attention from the phone to her face. Julian also turned to her too. "Really, Emi? There are hundreds of thousands of stories you could pick from but yo
I woke up the following morning very eager and enthusiastic about school. While taking my bath in the bathroom, I sang so loud that I thought mom would come to check up on me, but I was glad when she didn't show up. I soon got dressed in my school uniform and as usual, spent the next five minutes observing myself in the mirror. "Good morning mom, good morning uncle Richard" I greeted him when I went downstairs. "Good morning sweetheart" they both chorused back. "Good morning sister Melina" Chris greeted me. I did not notice he was also there. "Good morning Chris" I greeted anyway. I wasn't hungry so I took just a cup of coffee and then said. "I'm ready mom" Everyone at the table turned and looked at me as if what I said didn't make sense. "What?. Why are you all staring at me like that?" I inquired but no one answered. Chris continued eating his food as if it was his last meal. "Is that all?. Aren't you going to eat something?". Mom asked at last. "I'm ok thanks," I said. "Sw
"So how do you intend on executing your plan then Melina?" Julian, whose mouth was stuffed with food, asked as we had lunch at the school cafeteria. I looked at her with a stern look on my face intending to let her know I was not in play mode any longer. "Haven't I already explained everything to you guys?". I asked angrily but all Julian did was shrugged. "We know Melina, but are you sure you can do it?" Emily asked in a caring voice as a mother did for her kids. "Julian and I are just worried about you. We hope you know what you are doing". Her hands stopped at what she was eating and then she put on a face as innocent as that of a child. "And I hope you are doing this because you like this guy and not in an effort to get a boyfriend". She looked between me and Julian as if waiting for any of us to say something. "You know what, Emily, I think Melina is right. I mean, she is beautiful, smart, and intelligent. I don't think any guy would reject her if she opened up to him" Julia
"So how do you intend on executing your plan then Melina?" Julian, whose mouth was stuffed with food, asked as we had lunch at the school cafeteria. I looked at her with a stern look on my face intending to let her know I was not in play mode any longer. "Haven't I already explained everything to you guys?". I asked angrily but all Julian did was shrugged. "We know Melina, but are you sure you can do it?" Emily asked in a caring voice as a mother did for her kids. "Julian and I are just worried about you. We hope you know what you are doing". Her hands stopped at what she was eating and then she put on a face as innocent as that of a child. "And I hope you are doing this because you like this guy and not in an effort to get a boyfriend". She looked between me and Julian as if waiting for any of us to say something. "You know what, Emily, I think Melina is right. I mean, she is beautiful, smart, and intelligent. I don't think any guy would reject her if she opened up to him" Julia
I woke up the following morning very eager and enthusiastic about school. While taking my bath in the bathroom, I sang so loud that I thought mom would come to check up on me, but I was glad when she didn't show up. I soon got dressed in my school uniform and as usual, spent the next five minutes observing myself in the mirror. "Good morning mom, good morning uncle Richard" I greeted him when I went downstairs. "Good morning sweetheart" they both chorused back. "Good morning sister Melina" Chris greeted me. I did not notice he was also there. "Good morning Chris" I greeted anyway. I wasn't hungry so I took just a cup of coffee and then said. "I'm ready mom" Everyone at the table turned and looked at me as if what I said didn't make sense. "What?. Why are you all staring at me like that?" I inquired but no one answered. Chris continued eating his food as if it was his last meal. "Is that all?. Aren't you going to eat something?". Mom asked at last. "I'm ok thanks," I said. "Sw
Time passed pretty quickly. Soon, it was 7 pm and most of the guests, including my classmates, headed home. I spent the rest of the evening with Julian and Emily in my room. We had decided to check out my room rather than join the rest of the guests dancing and drinking downstairs. Julian and Emily accepted after I told them I was angry with mom. "I still can't believe we're up here while everyone else is down there" Emily whimpered and dropped her phone on the bed. We had seen the whole room and now lay in bed surfing the internet and listening to the soft melody coming from the party downstairs, after running out of ideas. "You know why we can't go down there right?" I said to her without lifting my head from the phone in my hands."That's not fair. It's more painful than separating Romeo and Juliet""What?" This time, I turned my attention from the phone to her face. Julian also turned to her too. "Really, Emi? There are hundreds of thousands of stories you could pick from but yo
If it were April, I'd have ruled what was going on as a mere April fool's prank but it wasn't so. What was going on? Why was mom on the pulpit with her best friend, Uncle Richard? Where was Uncle Richard's wife? The questions formed in my mind in great numbers, even though answers were not forthcoming. Mom whirled and overlooked me with a beaming smile all over her face as if daring me to be happy for her, but I shot back a look that said otherwise. She returned her attention back to the priest who had now begun reading some scriptures, maybe from the gospel of Mathew or John or book of Isaiah, my senses weren't too clear to know.At that instant, I felt as much like running away from the church and never coming back, running as fast as I could back to my dad. "And do you take Richard Palmer to be your lawful wedded husband?". I strained my ear to hear what mom would say. She veered around and faced me again, but this time, the smile was no longer on her face, all that I saw was t
The navy suit on my body was so matching in my eyes when I stared at my image in the mirror after my bath. It suited me perfectly and the little bow tie did a great job of glistening my body. I ran a hand on my breast, and couldn't help but let out a sweet giggle. My breasts were a little bigger than average 16-year-old girls, my hips wider and waist tinier too. I smacked my butt and watched it shake in the mirror. Here I was staring at my curvy slender body but I couldn't stop wondering why I hadn't been kissed or asked out by boys yet...Well, not that I minded anyways. I didn't see Uncle Richard when I walked out of my room to the living room, just a couple of people I didn't know. "Hi ma'am," said an old lady. She was dark in complexion, her hair was neatly tied in a bun. Loads of chains dangled down her neck, diamond-made, they seemed. Three of the fingers in her left hand had some pretty rings, while her right hand had what looked like a Paul Newman's 'Exotic' Rolex watch. Wai
I said goodbye to my dad over the phone and not the usual in person that I would have liked. In his defense of why he didn't come home to see me leave, he said he was too busy at work. But I knew he deliberately decided to stay off, probably too ashamed to see me. A tear dropped down my cheek at that simple thought. Dad didn't know just how much I loved him, and despite what mom or anyone else thought about him, I didn't give a damn. The flight back from Detroit to the Los Angeles international airport was both tiring and exhausting. It turned out to last far longer than I had anticipated--over five hours instead of the four hours that I believed, but most importantly, I still had over two hours before the wedding. To kill the boredom, I had my airpods plugged in and listened to music play over and over again, watched some videos, played music again and slept a little. I was very excited and elevated when a flight attendant, a very husky young man, built like a football player annou
"Do you want me to get a special outfit for you? What would that be? a blazer or a suit?", mom said softly over the phone. "Mum!" I called back uninterestedly. "No need to, I'll just choose something good from the ones I already have", I tried to sound as convincing as I could. "No way sweetheart". Gosh! She used that mischievous and teasing accent which was not too controlling but firm and effective on any 16-year-old girl. "This is not an everyday ceremony where you can afford to wear anything. Besides, apart from the clothes you left here with, I'm not so certain John has gotten new ones". Even though I hated it, mom wasn't wrong, Dad had not bought anything for me. He'd been bankrupt and unable to alleviate himself after he got divorced from her. The mere thoughts of that particular episode brought back the pain I usually felt, but I shook my head and tried as hard as I could to push the memory back down underneath my mind. "Alright, I'll just visit a boutique and get one the