Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, I mean what's the worst that could happen, it's just a competition, get it together ivan, oh I really wish I was calm enough to give myself the kind of pep talk I give to Irene.
"You look nervous". Pricillia said.
"You think?". I retorted.
"Well I kind of expect it since I'm always in competition with people who always feel inferior when it comes to competitions and start to shri...."
"NOT HELPING". I attacked.
"Ok there tiger, look all I'm trying to say is, get yourself together, tell yourself you can do it, and show the judges and audience how really good you can be". She encouraged.
"Well, I wasn't expecting the pep talk to come from you, but ok". I said.
"You can do this, I know you can". She said, smiled and went to her stand.
"At least go easy on me". I whispered.
I went to mine and stared at the audience, both from my school and hers, and the time keepers scary people, and worst of all the judges, the scariest of them all.
Four of them, two men, two women, sitting like they were ready to hit the big red button any moment like the Americas got talent guys.
Everything's settled and my school mates look at me with such high hopes. Here we go. I was motioned to start first.
Deep breaths....you can do this.
"Good day my panel of judges, accurate time keeper, my co-debator, and most of all my welcomed audience........"
*+*+*+*
Yes I did it, I survived the damn competition, but did I win for myself and my school?, that's the answer we're waiting for.
Here I am rocking myself on the chair between Bridget and Ricky, who are both brightning me up.
"Relax dude it's not like your bride left you at the altar or something, it's just a competition". Ricky said.
Ok make that one person.
"Easy for you to say, you competed in a track event, it's wayyyyyy different from a freaking debate". I said, Ricky just scoffed, damn him.
"Its alright, just be optimistic, you sounded like one hell of a politician over there, you're surely going to be in the top three winners". Bridge said.
"Yeah thanks". I said. Yeah it wasn't just I and Pricillia, we had four others from other schools making six representatives, so like Bridget said, I'd be lucky to reach top three.
So right now the judges were given 10 minutes to round up.
In a flash ten minutes was over, literally. This is the moment of truth.
One of the female judges stand up and starts announcing.
"As you know, we conduct this debate competition annually to bring out the best in you all, everyone did their best, but this being a competition, there must also be, positions"
She pulled a paper and started.
"The sixth position goes to ....."
Not my school.
"The fifth position goes to......"
Not my school.
"The fourth position goes to....."
Still not my school.
"The third position goes to....."
Again not my school...wait hold on.
"The second position goes to..."
My school mates are standing on their toes and biting their fingers nails, then...
"....Elites High School". Ok that's definitely my school. All around me my school mates jump for joy and all the teachers start to high five each other, and Bridget pulls me to a hug.
"See I told you, congratulations Ivan". She says.
"Yeah thanks, blow my mind I still cant believe it, I GOT SECOND PLACE IN MY FIRST COMPETITION". I shouted with all my voice.
"Yeah yeah be proud of yourself dork, come here". Ricky said and pulled me to a hug.
"The first position goes to..."
Pricillia's school was mentioned. And they all went crazy, both teachers and students and carried Pricillia. I'm happy for her.
But still man, my school's still cheering me and everywhere and everyone's soo happy.
"Told you you'd do it". I turned round and saw Pricillia, smiling.
"Yeah I actually did, all thanks to your pep talk". I said. She laughed.
"Nah that didn't really do much, you were everything out there". She said.
"Yes but it still got the chicken spirit out of me". I said.
"Oh yeah and you didn't go easy on me". I said.
"Oh come on..."
She looked towards her rejoicing school mob.
"....dont want to let those fellas down". She said.
"You're a last year student?". I asked.
"Yup". She replied.
"Well they surely will miss their genius". I said. Both of us now facing her school mob.
"Yeah they will". She replied, smiling.
So we exchanged numbers and bid each other good bye, she really is friendly. My school took us all back and I took my 2nd position trophy home for a day, before returning it to the school.
*+*+*+*
"OMG a trophy, a real trophy?". Irene said, might I add annoyingly.
"Hey what do you mean by that? I can get a trophy anytime anywhere". I said proudly.
"Tell that to your last competitions". She said.
The last competition I had was when I was in middle school and it was a swimming competition, I gotta admit I did pee in the pool out of nervousness, but cut me some slack, I didn't have a pricillia to give me a pep talk then.
"Anyways its wonderful, you should be proud of yourself, just wait till your father gets back and sees this, a bring-home trophy for the first time in this home, especially from Ivan". Mom said.
Seriously? This family knows nothing of my potentials worthy of a hundred trophies.
"Wow mom thanks, that really does sound soo rejuvenating". I said.
"What do you mean?". She asked all innocent looking.
"Let me guess you guys thought Irene was to bring the first ever trophy to this home right?
"Welllll your father thought that, not me, I was all in support for you honey, no need to worry, mama's got your back". Mom said and gave me a kiss on the head and left and placed the trophy on top of a cupboard near the door of the house.
"Yeah we totally need to get a trophy stand, cause the Irene Ian's getting lots of trophies soon". Irene said.
"Oh really what happened to Ivan Ian, ain't he getting trophies anymore". I retorted. Man I sound like grandma.
"That's tots up to him, cause he's getting old real fast". Irene said, also sounding like grandma.
"Mimicking grandma now, are we?". I said.
"Boooy I don't know about you, but I'm all for the black American accent today". She said.
"Girrrrl you are so on". I said. We both laughed.
My grandmother sounds a lot like media. She talks like her a lot, and oh how could I forget, swears a lot too. Whenever she comes to spend the holidays with us, mom always gets worried I and Irene are gonna pick up her swear words. Most of the time she begs dad to dismiss his mother kindly, which is funny to me. Because I've been a good guy, I dont swear, unless I'm angry or confused, dont want to bring mom's wrath upon myself.
Family's great fellas, family's great.
YOU ARE READING
Chosen
Non-Fiction17 year old Ivan Ian in his last year in high school. But is left with a question of what next, he doesn't just want to go to college or university like other people but wants to be outstanding and unique. With that he pulls all others with him th...
