LITTLE JOYS

[Excerpt from WAY TOO BIG]

Muffled crying could be heard from upstairs. I walked slowly up the  stairs, trying to figure out where that sound was coming from.

I heard the sound of something shattering from Elizabeth's room and it dawned on me that Elizabeth was the one crying. Which was strange by the way, she hardly ever cried. Elizabeth had no reason to cry, unlike me.

I kicked her door open, knowing fully well that Elizabeth would never open the door for me. Yeah, we're that kind of siblings.

"What do you want?" She yelled immediately she saw me.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Calm your tits young lady. I'm the boss here. By the way, I heard glass shattering. That's why I came in to know what you broke, so you'll pay for it as I did when you and mom made me pay with my hard earned money the time I accidentally broke the laptop." I smirked.

"Just get out Naomi! I need a break from all of you. I just need a break, a little me-time. I. . . ” The rest of her words were turned to sobs. She sank to the floor, legs raised. She put her hand on her knees, bent her face and cried even harder.

I looked behind me, then pinched myself twice to be sure this was real. I walked slowly towards her. You know? If she went haywire and started displaying madness, I would be able to run away easily.

"Hold up , hold up. What's going on? Did someone beat you at school? Did you fail a test? What's up? Talk to me." 

"Just leave me be Naomi." She said in between sobs.

"Okayyy, loser. Do whatever you want. I'm out of here." I shrugged and began walking out.

"I failed." 

"What?" I turned around.

"I failed Geography." She said a little louder this time.

"Well, this is new. Why? How?" Believe me, I was surprised.

Elizabeth is an straight A student, a scholar, she's Albert Einstein smart.

She raised her head, "That's the thing Naomi, I don't know. I don't know how. I know what I wrote. I read, I fully prepared for the exam. I put my best in it and I get a B3?"

"Wait, what? A B3?"

"Yes Naomi. A B3. I'm so disappointed in myself." She began crying again.

"You got a B3 and you're crying? Are you normal? Are you alright? No, tell me Elizabeth. Where do you buy this particular weed you always smoke?" 

She gave me a confused look, "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?" Was she for real?

"Well, let me spell it out for you honey; you didn't fail. B3 is not fail. I'm pretty sure there are others who got F, D , E. So puhlease, give yourself a break." I deadpanned.

"I don't care about others who got F or whatever. Didn't someone else get an A ?" She was still crying.

"And so?"

"You don't get it Naomi. I've never gone below an A before, I'm a straight A student."

"Well, there's always a first time for everything."

I walked toward her and sat on the floor beside her, resting my elbows on my knees.

"Look, like I'd always say, there's no place in the Bible where it says you have to get good grades. And besides, failure –if that's what you choose to call it– is simply an opportunity to start again and do better. So cheer up! Be grateful for what you have."

The sniffing slowly stopped.

"Okay."

"Alright then, I'm going to get my beauty sleep. Is there anything else you wanna talk about, today that I'm being nice." I wriggled my eyebrows.

Elizabeth chuckled, that was a good sign. "Remember that one time you went through my phone without permission– not like you'd ever take permission anyways. . ."

I rolled my eyes.

". . . Aha! Remember that guy I liked and was texting all the time?"

Clicking my fingers, I said "Andrew?"

It was her turn to roll her eyes.

"André, his name is André."

"Whatever."

"Turns out he has a girlfriend."

I laughed, I laughed so hard my sides began to ache.

"That's no news! That guy is a bastard, I warned you. Why were you even texting him in the first place?"

I inquired.

Elizabeth became suddenly shy. "Well, I liked him a lot. I wanted to know what it feels like to have a boyfriend. To love and be loved. You know?" She played with her fingers, talking without looking at me.

"You know Wetin? To love kini? Na ment? Abegi, mom and dad love you. God loves you. Eric loves you. The teachers at school love you. I don't love you but I care about you at least." I joked. I'd never admit I loved Elizabeth.

Not in this life time!

"What other love are you looking for? You need to be grateful for these little things, Elizabeth. Little things that bring joy.

"So look on the bright side of life and you'll love life." 

© Ugly duckling.