Chasing Greatness :A Journey Of Hope

chapter 35: miracle

The graduation day was supposed to be a celebration—a day to mark the end of an era and the beginning of something new. Instead, it turned into a chaotic whirlwind of emotions and regret.

Everywhere was buzzing with music and laughter. The energy was palpable, with students from all branches mingling, parents seated under canopies, and the scent of jollof rice wafting through the air. I should have been thrilled, but anger bubbled within me. The Christian music playing was lovely, yes, but it felt out of place for our graduation. This was meant to be a party, a celebration of all the hard work we’d put in, not a church service.

Dressed in blue jeans and a crop top, my plaited Bob Marley hair swinging behind me, I walked towards my friends seated under a canopy.

"Hi, guys," I greeted.

Laura looked up and smiled. "Mimi, you look so nice!"

"Thanks, babe," I replied. "Where are the dancers?"

"In the hall, doing some final practice," she said. "You know they changed the song to Godwin."

"Wow," I laughed bitterly. "Let me go check on them I'm coming."

When I got to the hall, the dancers ran to me. "Senior, you didn’t bother to check on us again!"

I sighed. "I was just angry about the change of music. I’m planning to talk to our teacher. Maybe something can still be done."

"Senior, don’t bother," one of them said, shaking her head. "It was an order from the owner of the school."

"Wait and see," I replied and headed to my art teacher.

"Sir, can’t we go back to the original routine? This is ruining everything," I pleaded.

"There’s no way," he said firmly. "The owner of the school was very clear."

Frustrated, I walked back to my friends, muttering under my breath. On my way, I saw some of our class boys seated in one corner, drinking alcohol.

"Ohh, big boys," I teased, walking toward them. The sight of the alcohol irritated me, but I grabbed a cup and took a sip. It was my first time drinking alcohol, and it tasted so bitter I scrunched my face in disgust.

The boys laughed. "You don’t know how to drink alcohol, Mimi."

"Who says?" I replied bossily. "This one is just too bitter."

I took another sip, but Laura came running.

"Mimi, stop drinking. You’ll get high o!"

"I won’t," I said, brushing her off. "I know what I’m doing."

But I didn’t. The alcohol started hitting, and my emotions grew louder. Watching the performances only made me angrier. Everything was so boring.

“This is the most boring performance ever,” I said slowly, my words already slurring.

"Why do you think she changed her mind, sef?" Gift asked.

"I swear, we’ve been playing all kinds of music at past graduations," Laura added.

"Maybe she just gave her life to Christ," I replied, laughing.

We all burst into laughter, but when it was our branch’s turn to perform, the laughter stopped. The dancers came out and performed to Godwin, but it was a mess. The routine looked rushed and unorganized, and it only fueled my anger.

Without thinking, I stood up and started walking toward the owner of the school.

"Mimi, where are you going?" Laura called out, but I didn’t answer.

Fueled by the alcohol and my frustration, I approached the woman who was seated, smiling as though everything was perfect.

"Ma, ma!" I shouted, cutting through the noise.

She looked up, startled. "Excuse me, who are you?"

"Why did you change our dance?" I shouted. "Is this nonsense they performed on stage what you like? Why did you have to spoil my last graduation?"

My art teacher quickly rushed over and dragged me away.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed, trying to free myself.

"Mimi, what is wrong with you? That was so disrespectful! I didn’t expect this from you," he said angrily. "You will go and apologize."

"I will not!" I shouted back. "I did nothing wrong!"

He shook his head and left me, probably too shocked to argue further. My friends came running, trying to calm me down.

The boys, on the other hand, were hyping me up.

"Oshey, Mimi! You get mind oo!" one of them shouted.

"Ahh, one bottle for you! Oshey boss lady!"

I laughed bitterly, but deep down, regret was already settling in. What had I done?