“We won’t be late this time. God please, let me make it in time.” I kept whispering this prayer to myself as I got dressed up for my graduation from high school. We had months to prepare for this occasion, but my Mom, who was making my outfit chose the night before the event to start making the dress and, as expected with rushed work, complications came from everywhere and Mom was up till the next day with my sister, trying to perfect the dress.
So, as I waited that morning for the finishing touches to be added to the dress, I was taken back to a similar moment six years before. My primary school graduation. I was so eager to finally be done with it. I’d heard so many promising things about high school and I just knew I’ll have a wonderful experience.
And so on the graduation day, I woke up and just knew that I was going to be late. You know that sense of foreboding of something bad that just demoralizes you even before it happens. That’s what I felt. So, I got up and promptly found out that the kind sibling that had offered to iron my dress for me the previous night had burnt a part of it along the way. I was too numb and shocked to even cry.
At that time, no one at home knew how to sew or anything. So, I just looked at the ruined dress as I felt my world crumbling.
“It’s okay, Tess. Let’s head to your closet right now. I’m sure we’ll find an alternative.” My mum asked with pleading eyes.
“They aren’t good enough. I just had this.” I whispered, fighting to control the tears that were pooling in my eyes.
Quick as a whip, my Mom got the car keys and dashed away to the market to get a new dress for me. I was elated but as I glanced at the time, my three-second happiness popped like a balloon. The graduation was to start by 10am. It was already 8.30. What kind of miracle would I be able to pull?
So, I waited and waited and an hour later, Mom sped in and rushed out, with my new dress in tow. I was overwhelmed with joy and started crying, even as I quickly donned the outfit. It was a size too big but I didn’t mind since I banked on its prettiness to cover up the fact that it wasn’t my size.
Twenty minutes later, we were off and speeding to the school when I heard a jerk as the car skidded to a stop by the side of the road.
I turned to my Mom with horrified eyes. “What’s the issue again?” She went out and came back sadly.
“Looks like one of the tires is deflated. It must have gotten punctured by a nail or something. And I think we’ve run out of fuel.”
All colour drained from my face as I just sank to the floor of the car. I was really little at the time so it wasn’t difficult. I buried my face in my hands and kept muttering to myself. I should have just stayed home. I should have just stayed home.
It may be hard to believe but forty minutes later, we were back on the road. But by this time, I was disoriented, sad and just lost the vibe of the whole event. As I ran to the storage with my Mom to get my graduation gown, I heard the Head Teacher boom from the hall.
“The Second overall best for the class of 20…. Goes to Treasure….”
My heart stopped. I quickly grabbed the graduation gown from the storage keeper’s hands and sprinted to the hall like my life was on the line. My Mom followed closely behind, cheering me.
“It looks like Treasure isn’t he-”
“I’m here!” I screamed, still putting my cap on my head. A thousand pairs of eyes zoned in on me but I had eyes only for the Head Teacher. Thankfully, he smiled at me as I took my prize. I posed to take a picture looking so rumpled, crying and laughing at the same time that I elicited laughter and cheers from the crowd.
“Why are you smiling?”
I was jolted from my reminiscing by my Mom.
“Nothing. Is the dress ready?”
“Yes, let’s go get you graduated from High school sweetie.” My mom beamed.
I came into school as my mates were already processing into the hall. As I walked briskly to join them on the line, a friend of mine who was in primary school with me and was coincidentally graduating with me in high school grinned at me, shaking his head as laughter seized him.
“Tess. You’re late again.”
I smiled at him and shrugged. “I think I made it just in time.”
However, as I smiled at the camera as the Principal shook my hand, I mentally begged God not to let history repeat itself. Again.
Jhymi🖤
My entry to The Inkwell Creative Nonfiction Prompt.