A Fox In a Bat City

@Chapter 1

'What do you want to become after you finish this compulsory learning?'

Well that's a new one.

I never really knew what to expect when I attended Mr. Blake's class. And it wasn't because he was an awe-inspiring lecturer who always had something thought provoking in every lesson. No, it was actually quite the opposite.

He never diverted from the textbook.

Every. Single. Lecture.

You didn't even need to do much work as long as you read a couple chapters and saved a couple notes in your word document, you could skip this lesson. Which is something I have contemplated doing on numerous occasions but I'm African. We don't just 'skip' school.

"So, Anaishe. I sent you abroad and pay all this money towards your tuition fees so you can now be cutting class? Are you sick?" My mom would've said. No, she'd shout angrily over the phone whilst booking the nearest plane ticket to New York.

But she would have had a point and I don't think I'd blame her either if she was standing by my dorm room any second from then. I'd of wanted to backhand my kid too if I heard that he or she were to start ditching school after I paid for that education.

And my own money too? Oh no no no no. At least financially sustain yourself so you can make whatever choices you want in life that isn't to the detriment of my bank account.

But that was the problem. We all had to make sure that we were financially well off before we could make a lot of ludicrous choices in life and that never really sat right with me. Especially considering all the debt and tax increases that have been surging rapidly over the last few years, I wouldn't be surprised if you needed to spend more than a thousand dollars before you could even have a basic need.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate money. I just hated the way it's distributed and the people who operate the little financial piggy bank. But I wasn't exactly the right person to dictate the laws and the stock market. I guess it was one of the reasons I chose to study law with history. I could learn about how legislation was made and the shitty people who came up with the previous unethical laws that needed to be reformed.

So when I had seen that our typical professor presented us with a question that was completely unrelated to the research material I spent last night briefing, I was genuinely taken aback by what to say. I was still just in my second year of my degree but I hadn't put any thought into what I would do after I finish. It wasn't that I didn't consider some of my options, I just didn't want to go into anything nuanced or predictable. I could easily just go into commercial law, grind, hope for the best, make a lot of money, then go back home and build my own mansion and raise a bunch of Zim babies. I was sure that would tick the box of every mother's dream and prevail on more bragging rights during the family conventions.

But I wasn't sure that I wanted that sort of life. I did choose to study in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Maybe what I was chasing was something more exhilarating despite the simple life that I was fond of back home. I was never one to really complain about the little things. I appreciated having one pet, one friend, my family, and a little cottage that I would own in a little town or countryside where no one could disturb my peace of mind.

So why on Earth did I decide to move to Moebets?

The lesson ended shortly after my mini life-crisis, (you know, as any normal person would have over a general question) and I decided to meet up with my second favourite being in this city besides Bruno to have some lunch.

"I just don't understand this!"

I laughed as Favour vigorously shook her head at her phone and typed away at it in dramatic dismay.