Journal of a Typical Somali Girl

Chapter 7

Dear journal

Dear diary....... wait this isn't a diary

Dear reader (me)

Ugh!! Its been so long since I've written in this, I completely forgot how to start it. I would look back at the previous pages but they're all gone. Yes, gone. I lost my journal somewhere in the house a few months ago and when I finally found it, all the written pages were ripped out. Don't worry though Journal, I will not let an injustice done to you like this go unpunished.

I guess I should fill you in now, about what I've been up to lately.

Well, It's three months into the new school year. And although I'm in grade 11, I can smell the day I graduate in June of next year. I'm so close! I'm actually counting down the days 'till then. The day I'm out of grade school, and out into the world. My entire life, I'm telling you, has been; Wake up at six, go to school until 3, come home and study, maybe watch a half-hour show or two, then go to sleep.

The struggle is real....

Apart from school, my life has been same old, same old.

So anyway, it was Saturday and Waan iska nastay because I didn't have any homework and hooyo had to go to shaqo in a few minutes so she wouldn't be home very long to order me around the house.

My day started off pretty ordinarily. I woke up, changed from my pyjamas into proper guriga joog clothes, and did my long bathroom routine. Nothing to complain about until I came downstairs to find a bowl of extremely watery and sour boorash which Xalimo made, seemingly while she was blindfolded. I tattled on her to hooyo, and got the same reply I get every time I complain about someone else's cooking: "Walaasha favor ay kuu samaysay, if you want your meals made so perfect then adi samayso"

I grumbled and walked back to the table where Xalimo was giving me an evil smirk.

"This is what you get for eating my candy stash" She whispered making sure hooyo didn't hear. "What's that Walaalo? You want more you said? Ha iga xishoonin, just ask!" She exclaimed as she plopped more of the disgusting liquid onto my plate. It was like water camal, like I could pour it into a cup and drink It.

I glared at her and it took everything in me to hold back from throwing the plate of boorash in her face. I impatiently waited until she left the kitchen, before I dumped it into the garbage can. I cleverly covered it with some paper towels and other things before washing my hands.

"I walk over to the living room where Ayaan, Shukri, Abdirahman, Hassan, Ahmed, and Ridwan were quietly sitting. I couldn't help but notice how their eyes were so focused on the screen. I turned around just in time to see Ridwan and Ayaan wiping what looked like a tear from their eyes.

What are you guys w----" I began before I was rudely Shushed my everyone in the room. Abdirahman, who was in control of the remote, increased the volume until it was movie-theatre loud.

"They're watching Titanic" Fowzio told me as she wiped the table with a wet maro. Today, her and Xalimo are in charge of the kitchen. "Where'd your boorash go? You couldn't possibly have finished it that fast"

I avoided her question and instead asked "Why aren't you watching with them?" I have never watched the Titanic because it sounds boring. There are two types of movies I don't watch; Movies about/staring animals, and one's about love.

"I heard it's really sad, and I hate sad movies!" She exclaimed as she walked back into the kitchen. I stood there wondering what to do to busy myself for the rest of the day.

"Shaqada ayaan ka daahay! Na Ayaanay hooyo run and go get my purse, qol kayga uu yaalaa" Hooyo called from the basement. Ayaan didn't seem to hear anything that was happening outside the movie, so I went upstairs and got it for hooyo Instead. When I came back down with the black and white stripped Gucci bag, hooyo was no longer in the basement, but putting on her shoes.

khayr allah ku siiyo Aasho. Markuu Muhammad soo kaco tell him to look for raqiis flights to London, asaga ayaa waxyaalahaas ku fiican."

I gave hooyo a surprised look. London?! Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh, I want to go!

"Qofna ha u sheegin, it's just me and you, I've been planning it for awhile now" she whispered as she gave me a big kiss on the cheek before hurrying out the door.

I didn't know what to do but just stand there in shock. Was hooyo serious? Of course she was serious she wouldn't joke about that !

I wanted to run into the living room, and infront of the TV and scream to everyone what I was just told. I couldn't though, hooyo might change her mind.

"what were you guys whispering about?"Fowzio asked as she walked over to me. "and why are you smiling like that?"

I quickly searched my mind for an excuse and shrugged my shoulders. "Nothing that concerns you, hooyo just said she'll buy me my favorite Taro bubble tea..... large, too!"

She gave me a skeptical look before going upstairs and to her room.

I waited a few seconds before running as fast as I could to Muhammad's room. I didn't even bother knocking, and thankfully his door wasn't locked.

"Warya! Get up!" I yelled turning on the light. He didn't budge. "Its 12:00, you can't sleep all day!" I clapped my hands loudly and kicked his bed. I then gave him five seconds to move and when he only grumbled, I had no other option but to pour freezing cold water on his face. "It's toilet water" I lied as he quickly got up, breathing hard.......I think I got some in his nose, I guess I shouldn't have used such a giant bowl.

"What do you want?!" He barked as he wiped his wet face with his t-shirt.

"Hooyo said look for cheap flights to London" I said smiling widely.

"I will do it later! Get out!" He snapped as he pushed me away, before burying his face in his busto. I'd say of all my siblings, I'm closest with Muhammad, even though I'm 16 and he's 23. There are the moments where we fight (like now), but those times aren't as common as they are with say, me and Abdirahman, who seemingly loves to annoy me.

"No, you have to do it now! Please!" I begged as I tried to pull the covers off of his face, but he is a lot strong than me and when he tightly kept it over his face, I was no match for him.

"Why are you so desperate, are you going with hooyo?" He asked.

I couldn't let him know that I was, and begging the way I did, I think I made my part in this a little suspicious.

"Of course not! You know what, iska seexo you can do it when you wake up" I said patting his head and scurrying out of the room. Muhammad wasn't the type to get jealous over things like that, but I was afraid if he found out, he would tell the others.

I have so many questions, but I guess I'll have to wait until hooyo comes back from work to ask her.

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