Matt

ALL I EVER ASKED FOR

I just got myself a house and a car and I was to get married to my crush Chloe.

Wedding someone that barely gave me any attention in school felt pretty priceless.

Amidst feeling so accomplished, there was still some element of doubt in my mind.

‘Could this be real?’ I asked myself.

“How was I able to win her heart.” It was now glaring that I was halfway between consciousness and a very pleasant fantasy.

The D-day was fast approaching and preparations were on-going.

I got myself this blue and gray Louis-vuitton velvet suit and Italian shoes. It was four days left and each night, I couldn’t even sleep.

A lot of thoughts were running through my head as I lay on my bed.

How many kids were Chloe and I going to have? Where would we be having our honeymoon? and much more.             

Finally what would be the happiest day of my life had arrived. It wasn’t even yet dawn and I was already up.

I Rang my fiancee up and asked her if she was ready, smiling so sheepishly all through the conversation. I was about to do this love thing.

‘I’m ready,’ She said with her usual soft voice. I didn’t think there could be a better feeling.

The sun began to rise and the birds already chirping. It was my wedding day!

I got up, had my shower. Tony, my best friend and to-be best-man was already at my house all dressed, ready for the day.

I began getting dressed, feeling so on top of the world.

It was at the peak of it all, at the climax of my chimera that I felt a soft hand on my shoulder.

“Christopher. It’s almost 8. Aren’t you going to get out of bed and get ready for your graduation today?” I opened my eyes. It was my mum.

Sitting beside me and looking at me so intently with her black eyes, she had just ushered me back into the world of reality.

‘That was going to be the best dream I’ve ever had, Mum,’ I said, smiling at her.

I got up, had my shower, started getting dressed and while doing all of these, I was still reminiscing on all the beautiful experiences I had during my sleep but was quite displeased that all of that was most likely never going to happen and I was still a young boy about to enter College, still having quite a lot  to pursue in life before getting to settle down.

Chloe was never going to give me any of her attention. I wasn’t even having the confidence to ask her out anyways.

We left the house, Mum driving, and we got to school by 10am. I glanced at my watch, we were 30 minutes early.

I had to leave my parents and join my classmates at the other section of the auditorium.

Everybody was happy, chattering here and there. ‘We’re finally done with High School,’ I said to Tony who sat next to me.

There were a lot of plans in my head as to what happens after high school.

I was a great planner, always thinking about the future, quite unsure about a lot of things but putting the pieces together in my head, somehow.

The event started and there was pin-drop silence everywhere. Each graduand was called out individually and presented a certificate and a badge.

‘Christopher Greene’ the Head of School called. I walked up the stage and my parents joined me up-stage. He presented me a certificate and a badge.

I was smiling, my parents were too. I was all they had and they were super proud of me. It was time for the commencement speech.

The speaker was a sitting member of Congress at the time, who happened to be an alumni of our school, Hanberry High.

His speech was so inspiring and there was a lot to take home among the things he said.

Other formalities proceeded and after a long sitting-time of about three hours, the closing prayer was said. The event was a huge success.  

I spent almost an hour interacting with my classmates and it was such an emotional moment because I knew that would be my last time seeing some of them. Still, I was already aware that it was part of life.

“Some people are to be your acquaintances for just a moment,” I once read in a book.

I Hugged a lot of people, including Chloe, then rejoined my parents who were patiently waiting for me so we could go home.

As we drove out, I kept looking back at the school, remembering a lot of wonderful experiences I had as a student and a lot of people I would miss.

I fought hard to not cry but it wasn’t an easy one at all.

Getting home, we did a miniature family celebration for my graduation. While it was one of my parents’ happiest days, I had mixed feelings.

I was happy about the fact that I was done with that phase of my life and quite eager to enter college but at the same time, I would miss a lot of people.

I was so accustomed to life at Hanberry High. However, I knew deep down that I would soon get over all of that.

So famished, I managed to muster some little strength to shower. Next, I said my bedtime prayers and jumped on my bed. I looked at the clock beside my bed, it was 10pm.

This little raven kept pecking at my window as though it was sent to me. I opened my eyes and it was already break of day.

I remembered there was no more school to prepare for. I got up and went outdoors. Skipped about fifteen hundred as was my daily routine and thus my day began.

The next three months would be free time for me. I knew it would be quite monotonous and I wasn’t entirely wrong.

Just two weeks in, I was already bored out. I would play video games, read for some hours and go out at times with my parents.

Still, I had a lot of idle time, most of which I spent thinking about several fun things I could have been doing with my siblings if I had any.

‘God, can I just have a brother, or a sister or both’ I would seldom pray. I was 18 but I knew it wasn’t late. It could still happen.

Being an only child got me very depressed when I was much younger but getting to High School, I kind of got over it.

Though I would seldom think about it, my academics had a way of keeping my mind busy for the most part so I was just fine.

 During this long recess nonetheless, I somehow started needing a sibling more than ever, probably because I didn’t have much doing.

Soon i developed interest in baseball and would go for training every week on Tuesday and Saturday evenings.

I learned the game pretty fast and began playing with the senior team despite being just three weeks in.

This particular evening I didn’t perform well at all. I could read a lot of disappointment on the coach’s face and I felt so bad.

I usually love to give my all in everything I found myself doing and so although I knew it was just a game, a training game as a matter of fact, I still felt I could do better.

I got home and still not in my best mood, I decided to play some video games then sat down to watch some TV.

‘Hey Chris,’ mum called, walking into my room. ‘Mum you didn’t even knock before opening my door,’ I said.

‘I’m sorry. Well I have good news for you,’ she said.

‘Go ahead Mum. I’m all ears,’ I replied, thinking I probably passed my Scholastic Assessment Test or something.

‘I’m two weeks pregnant’ she said. ‘Come on Mum you’ve got to be kidding right now,’ I replied as my eyes lit up.

‘I’m dead serious,’ she said, handing me a letter from the doctor.

I skimmed the letter and it was true. Embracing her I began to cry. I was overwhelmed with joy.

‘Dad!’ I yelled, heading for the living room.  

My dad was having a visitor but I didn’t give a damn.

‘Mum just gave me the best news I’ve ever heard in my life!’ I said as I hugged him.

‘Yeah Chris, we’ll soon be having a new family member.’ I couldn’t just contain the joy. This was all I ever wanted from God  and it was finally going to happen.