A year on Venus

3: ridiculous uniform and oatmeal

It's literally 7:00 am right now. Thank God I've finished all my assignments and read everything from last class; all I've been taught yesterday and also the things I'll be taught today. I'm already in my uniform. I always think the uniform are funny for a 15 year old. Sometimes I'll just look at myself in the mirror and be laughing at my uniform. They look weird on me. I wasn't having troubles with it when I was in junior highschool, but the thinking-ridiculous-of-it started from senior year.

I got out of my room and my parents weren't even awake. Poor souls! They must be tired.

I slowly got in the kitchen, poured oat in a bowl, added water, before putting it in a microwave. Then I went over to the kitchen island and dropped my backpack and water bottle.

I opened the fridge and grabbed a lunch-pack my mom made for me. What a lovely mom! I'll be using it in school, since school starts from 8:00am and ends by 6:00pm, though due to my health condition I'm being allowed to return home by 2:00pm. I started having this medical conditions two years back. I always think the sickness is somehow connected to my messes. Since I started period I've been having all sort of changes in my body, physically and emotionally. But the doctors are doing their best. Was even a time I've been taking to Kano to a big hospital there, they said it's one of the best in Nigeria, that was my first time in Kano. We settled in a hotel and I was hoping to meet someone, at least a female friend of my age, but I never got one. I didn't even see anyone. I knew I had put on much hope the moment I was looking forward to meeting a friend. I never had any friend and I didn't care. But that one time, I wanted to have a Kano friend. The doctors there hinted something similar to appendix. They said it's not worth being operated. They would just put me on medicine and that's it. Ever since then I moved on with life, taking medicines and all. And since then we never once go back. We've been visiting the hospital here and I even like it better here, because Kano is too far.

I finally put the pack in my bag, got my oat from the microwave then used a spoon and transferred it to a different bowl. I got an almond milk from fridge and poured atop the oat, then I sprinkled some brown coconut sugar, and finally I got frozen strawberries, apples and berries from the fridge and poured inside.

Then I mixed everything up before grabbing a chair.

I sat down and gulped a little water after saying "bismillah". I let out a sigh. A relieving one. I felt some pain in my right lower abdomen. It's been doing that a lot lately. But I refused to tell my parents. I just thought it would go. It's been there so many times and it would just go. And maybe it's even the appendix and it's not a big deal since I have my medicine with me. And I don't even want to be operated, since they said it's not worth it.

I began having my oatmeal so that I'll quickly finish and take medicine. I did that and brought out my medicine from my bag and swallowed it down my oesophagus. I gulped down more water. Finally I offered my gratitude to the Almighty, "Alhamdulillahil lazi ad'amni wa'ashrabni waja'alni minal muslimeen. I usually say;Alhamdulillah il-lathi at'amana wasaqana waja'alana Muslimeen. (Praise be to Allah Who has fed us and given us drink, and made us Muslims.) or simply "Alhamdulillah." (Praise be to Allah.)" But today I resorted to that other one, since they are all the same.

Finally I checked my wristwatch and it was 30 minutes before eight in the morning. I quickly opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water and filled up my water bottle before throwing the empty bottle in a bin. I got out and peeped my head to see if any of my parents had come out. None of them did. So I finally brought out the car key from my wallet. I usually put it there. And cautiously, I made it to my car in the compound.

I got in and dropped my bag in the passenger sit and finally reversed the car. Unlike rest of schools my school doesn't have any problem with their students driving. So almost everyone drives in my school, as far you're 16. Originally it was 18. But nowadays people hardly reach 18 in highschool, they reach it else where, in uni maybe. There was a time they banned the rule, but students kept coming late to school. And when they are asked? The answer was always the same; 'it's the driver's fault!'. The school had no other option than to allow it back, and even readjusted the rule to any student that's 16 can drive and they have no problem with that. In my case I'm fifteen but majority of the teachers thinks I'm 16 or maybe they just try to let it slide since bright students are kinda being favoured sometimes. I'm sorry not trynna brag. But I mean even some 14 year old kids are easily being seen, driving around in my school. Nowadays they just allow everyone to drive, underage or not!

I finally greeted our gateman and drove off to school. Gotta be a long day!