The Flower That Survived 19 Years of Drought

Destined For Greatness

Destined For Greatness

The night was dark as a dungeon and as silent as a wilderness. I approached the house without a sound. A black Honda parked outside the gate, the engine chugged slowly. I felt a strange and powerful force of energy dragging my body towards the car. I strode curiously. A pile of sand like the colour of an egg shell rested beside the front right wheel. Without fear I stepped in front of the pile of sand. The lights flickered uncontrollably. Suddenly, I glimpsed a foot of shoes that looked familiar. I grabbed it up without thinking twice. Instantaneously, I started to have flashbacks about the shoe I gave to dad when he forgot to pack it into his suitcase. Unexpectedly, the shoe turned into ashes in the middle of my hand and quickly disappeared. Astonishingly, the sand swirled and spun in the shape of a small whirlwind. Right before my eyes it transformed into a human being. Somehow I wasn't fearful, but my body shivered slightly. I slowly raised my head and stared directly into the man's face realizing that it was Dad. He looked as healthy as a horse and fit as an athlete. He flitted towards me and gripped me tight.

"Son, son, I'm very sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I love you. Don't be angry with me. I am watching over you, I am here with you, inside your heart," he cried with tears running down his cheeks. "Life is a gift. Cherish it, live life, but accept the fact that one day it will be taken back from you. Even so, death, death is only the beginning. Only love can save this world. Our illusions deceive us but love is unchangeable. You are destined for greatness! You are destined for greatness!"

"I love you too Dad but what are you talking about? Give me a sign," I urged.

"What more signs you need, your dreams are the signs," replied a disembodied voice.

A group of stars formed out in the shape of a hexagon in the dark sky caught my attention. Dad exploded back into the pile of sand, out of nowhere a sudden gust of wind came and blew the sand through the night air as I stood and watched. The sand faded into the darkness. Immediately, I jumped out of my sleep and took a deep breath.

The following day at school I sat under the Almond tree with two of my fellow class mates, Adam and Caleb

"Mind over matter, look how I'm stress free." Adam bragged.

Suddenly, I glimpsed a boy giving an attractive light skin girl a hard time, dragging and squeezing her arm like he was playing tug war. He lifted his hand twice to hit her in the face. I ran and grabbed his hand and asked,

"What the hell are you thinking man?"

"I'm trying to get this chick, but she is acting as if she is better than me. I don't know what her problem is. Dwag, allow me to straighten her out," he retorted.

"Easy dwag, if she's not interested, you shouldn't force her to be interested in you. All of us have free will. Leave her alone and find someone who may be interested," I urged.

"Are you ok?" I asked the girl as I was smitten by her exquisite beauty and gentleness.

"Yeah I'm ok, and thank you for making that jerk stopped squeezing my arm," she replied staring into my face.

"That's fine," I said as I walked off.

"Wait, you think I'm going to bite if you introduce yourself," she implied.

"No babe, I was thinking you probably have enough guys

introducing themselves already. Any ways, I'm Joshua but you can call me Josh," I said stealing a glance at her seductive cherry lips.

"I'm Abrianna. You're handsome and you seem different. You're not like the other guys who chase me just to tell me how sweet and sexy I look," she said gazing into my dark brown eyes. "Gosh I'm just tired of them holding and squeezing up my arm. They look desperate when they hang on to my arm. A mean, when will some of these guy's man up and know how to approach a woman in a smart intelligent way, maybe I wouldn't be so quick to reject them."

"Part of life babe, you seem like a fun and descent girl. I'm going to need your seven digits," I said staring directly into her attractive chocolate eyes.

"Sure, give me your phone," she prompted saving her phone number.

"Nice meeting you Abrianna."

I was obviously sexually attracted to this girl, and I knew she had a crush, her facial expressions and body language told it all.

"Nice meeting you too Josh, text me tonight," she said mellifluously and blushed.

I went back to sit with Adam and Caleb.

"Yow Josh you know how much man killing themselves to get that one girl and get rejected. She plays hard to get, but I saw when she was giving you her phone number man," Caleb said.

"Congratulations dwag you cracked the code," Adam shouted.

"What code did I crack dwag? Let me teach you knuckle heads how to survive in the game. Think like a man, do as a man and be a man, nothing more my thugs."

A couple of seconds later a teacher named Mr. Bones came along. Even though he was a teacher he had a cool swag which was quite admirable to most women.

"What's up guys?" he asked.

"Everything good sir," we all responded in high spirit.

"Ok thugs, I respect you all in the school. I heard you guys battered up the trial exams last week, proud of you people man. Keep it up," said Mr. Bones with thumbs up.

"You already know how it is Mr. Bones. We have to set the bar high for the youngster's in the school to reach," Caleb said.

"Exactly, yow Josh, I always observe how you're ever focused. Society doesn't want a man like you. Society needs you. What do you want to become?" Mr. Bones asked.

"Tell you the truth I haven't thought much about it. I hardly have the time to contemplate on what I want to become. I'm too busy trying to figure how to survive the struggle every day. At this point in my life, I'm confused. It's like I'm cast in a bottomless pit, a struggle without an end. Well... if I can't choose a career a career will choose me."

"Wrong, don't let fate rule your life. Do you know what my teacher used to tell me when I was nine years old? She used to drill this parable inside my head. It doesn't matter how many roads you take because none will get you there," Mr. Bones said with eye contact.

Adam and Caleb both listened attentively.

"What are you trying to imply? You don't have a clue about my life, Bones. I have been through a lot, not even a grass hopper could jump these hurdles," I said as I averted my head.

"Yow, what defines you, are not the things you have been through. It is what you have made of yourself after going through the adversities," he affirmed. "I've been noticing the great impact that you have on the youth's around you. Continue to be a strong soldier. You have the power inside your head. Only if you could see what I can see, your future is bright like the morning sun and full of great expectations. Listen up, if you could see your future, if you could just stand up and take a look down the road and see your future. Tears of joy would fall from your mother's eyes. You are destined for great things!"