THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

CHRISTMAS

I once read that ''pain doesn't show up in out lives for no reason. It's a sign that something in our lives need change'' few months ago I put this up on my wall but now I look at it and can literally make no sense of it. Mike and Ani had already opened their presents which their parents got them but as for me I'm going to church with my mum. I don't know if to call it a gift or a ritual because in Nigeria every child usually gets new cloths for Christmas. This year it seemed she went all out just to show my dad that she was doing better than him but I highly doubt she is after all shes at work 24/7 so what's the fun of that. I ran my fingers through the dress it was all shinny, it was a sequence gold dress, it was long and everything thing about it screamed beauty. To me it looked more like a prom dress but I can't complain it's literally the best thing she's done for me lately. I'm so sure i'll look over dressed but I really don't care. I put on the dress and wore my gold heels that I've had for some time now and put my braids in a bun. I stared at my self in the mirror, I looked gorgeous, I didn't even realize it was me. "Grace, Grace, be fast I want to take pictures before we leave" like I said she was probably doing this so she'll post it and my dad will see. I went to the backyard to meet my mum and we actually had fun taking the pictures it just reminded me of how she didn't know how to use phones very well. The pictures actually came out really nice so we went to church and we were so late they were already saying the closing prayer. My mum was so angry and started blaming it on my incompetence to do anything properly. Her mood swings really turn me off and she literally did things like this all the time. We drove back home in silence, I went upstairs to remove my dress but then my mum told me to come downstairs and face time her sisters. I spoke to each of them for as long as I could and I felt so tired after talking to these women which I don't even like. ''Mumm, is that all you want me to do'' I asked her leaving the living room as she was preparing lunch ''you can go and do whatever you want but I don't know what kind of child doesn't spend time with her family during Christmas, can't you even see that none of your friends came over'' I wish she knew what she was saying, involving my friends just got me upset. ''I didn't say I was going out'' I told her sighed and went to my room. I was tired of this dress already, it was the definition of uncomfortable. I sent Christmas greetings to all my friends as soon as I was out of the dress. I looked out of the window and saw Mike with flowers so I assumed he was going to see Ani, I wanted to stop him so I could go with him but an incoming call interrupted me. Why was my dad calling, I don't want to get angry but out of respect I picked the call.

Grace: Hey dad

Grace's Dad: Hi Grace how are you

Grace: Ummmm I'm good and merry Christmas

Grace's Dad: yeah same to you. So I wanted to ask you something ( I honestly don't want to hear any question from him because I feel like i'll end up cutting the call on him)

Grace: Sure, ask

Grace's Dad : How's your mum

Grace: Listen Dad I don't want to be part of all this if you want to talk to her, you have her number.

I ended the call and as usual a call from my family member had to spoil my day again. I heard my mum talking to someone downstairs, that's weird I thought and decided to take a look. Micheal was here and probably has been for a while but why was my mum talking to him and why didn't she tell me he was here.