Making choices have never been easy for Ade until he got a magic eight-ball. And although he was only six, he enjoyed every conversation he made with his tiny ball. One time he went to the mall with his mother and he couldn't pick between one all-black and a multicolored Nike shoe. So, he asked his magic ball and it told him to get the black shoe. And that was one of the best decisions Ade had ever made. His mother, loved the shoes, his friends loved the shoes, even his school bully beat him up because of how cool the shoe was. so from then onwards he always listened to his magic eight ball.
One day he came back from school tired hungry and unhappy. He had missed a class test because his magic ball told him to stay longer in the bathroom than usual. But he made some new friends because of his new shoe so he was still happy.
When he arrived home, he told his mother about his ordeal and she greeted him with a hug. Then she ushered him to the dining table where his food was waiting for him.
The rice was steaming hot and decorated with a lot of spices. The aroma was intoxicating and the taste was delicious as well, but Ade wasn't sure if he should eat the food. So after pondering for a while he decided to ask his magic eight ball.
"Magic eight ball", he said as he grabbed the firm round black ball from deep within his pocket." should I eat this food or not?" He said shaking the ball ferociously before finally stopping to see the answer through the small screen on the ball.
"No.." the ball replied in a text that filled its small circular screen. It was short and simple. One word, no more. But it made Ade think. What about the rest? Could he eat anything else? Maybe just the vegetables, but they were all delicious. The fish!! Yes, maybe the fish! Or maybe the meat. It looked like chicken though but in the soup, it looked delicious.
But still, the magic eight ball replied "no..". His stomach growled in protest at the lack of food. He felt like crying, he couldn't even try something good. It would have been too painful to disrespect his magic ball.
Ade put down his chopsticks and buried his face in the table trying to hold back tears."What is wrong Magic Eight Ball?" Ade asked quietly "Please help me." He didn't know what to say next. And the ball remained quiet.
Not Long after, Ade's mother walked into the dining room to see Ade struggling to hold back his tears. "What's the matter Ade? Why are you crying?" She said as she gently caressed his face.
"Nothing.." Ade replied, with tears still in his eyes.
"Then why aren't you eating?.. don't you like the takeout?", She asked caressing his face and wiping the tears off slowly.
"The magic ball said I shouldn't.." Ade answered.
"Aww baby.." she said, " that's just a dumb ball, you don't have to do anything it says".
"But then how will I get all the good stuff I like? And what about my friends? They'll hate me If I don't obey the ball.", Ade stammered.
"It's simple my love. You won't know if you like something by trying...look at this fish, doesn't it look tasty?" She asked.
"It does.." Ade replied.
"Then, how Will you know it tastes good if you don't eat it?". She paused to see his response. Ade went silent for a while trying to digest his new information before he spoke.
"Well, that's true. But..."
"But nothing my dear, just hurry up and finish your food now.." she said as left the dining room with the magic ball in her hand.
Ade was finally relieved as he happily devoured the meal before him.
The next day, Ade was mowing the lawn of his front yard while his mother swept away the dead leaves that had fallen from the cashew tree in their front yard. When a little girl the same age as him walked up to him with a smile and said " hi".
Ade saw her and recognized her as one of his classmates so he smiled and battled with words in his head.
"Hi, I'm Tracy what's your name?" she asked again, this time with an accent. She seemed like a very pretty little girl.
"Ade... Ade Hensley"
"Well, hello Ade," she started. "My name is Tracy." Tracy put a hand out to shake Ade's which he shook shyly. "My birthday is tomorrow..and my mother asked me to invite my friends.." she said pointing at her mother who was happily smiling and waving to them by the roadside..." would you like to come?" She added.
Ade instantly began to sweat. He didn't know how to react, he liked her a lot and wanted to make a new friend but didn't know if saying yes was the right thing to do.
He also knew half of his classmates would be there which made him want to go more but was it the right thing to do?
He rushed to his mother who was still sweeping and asked her for the magic eight ball, she told him where it was and he ran straight to it. But by the time he returned, Tracy was.
And so he broke down in tears.
"What's the matter Ade?", His mother asked
"She left. Tracy left..", he said as his crying distorted his speech.
"What happened?", Ade's mom asked as she embraced her crying child. Ade told her all that happened and then she asked "what was your answer going to be..?"
"I was going to say yes...but I wanted to ask the ball", he said still in tears.
"Did the ball tell you to say so?"
"No.."
"Then you should go collect your invite."
"But she's gone.."
"Who said she's gone ?", Ade's mother asked pointing to Tracy who was across the road waving at them with a card in her hand.
Joy returned to Ade's face. He threw away the ball as he crossed the streets with his mother to accept his invitation.
Ever since then, Ade made all his decisions by trusting his guts and instinct.
