The story of a white shirt

I was a schoolgirl. I had big dreams and many goals to achieve in life as any teenager of my age. My father was in Tajikistan on business. I heard about a boarding school which was

popular in our district in Kashkadarya. I decided to go there. I read and reviewed all the books I had and went there with my friend. The exam was not easy for me. My mother even did not know of my admission there. I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone as it was so competitive.

When I went to the school, they were announcing the list of the pupils who became the students of that school. I was among the crowd and did not know what to do. That was a hot August morning. The school was full of pupils and their parents. I hardly passed through people and came closer to the entrance. The head teacher of that school was dictating the names carefully so that everyone could listen to their names on the list. He came to the bottom but I still did not hear mine. But suddenly, he asked that if there was a girl Kurbanova Nilufar. I was so surprised and thought maybe I had done something wrong in the exam. However, he called me to the entrance. He was standing on the steps. I went up to him with so slow steps and I was looking down. Surprisingly, when I reached him, he raised my hand up and I was not

aware of anything. He announced loudly "This is Kurbanova Nilufar who is at the top of the list who has not any mistake in the dictation except a comma." And said " Congratulations."

That was really a surprise. I just smiled and ran home bare feet which was ten kilometres or so away from that school

because it took me two hours to reach my home walking. (I had not taken my fare as it was a surprise. And my friend

agreed to go on foot when I made her go with me. I thought she would not go because she had some money to return.) I just imagined my parents' happy and smiling faces to me, and the big hug of my father after his arrival. I was in sweat and my face got as red as a beetroot.

My mother was so shocked seeing me. At first, I was out of breath for ten minutes. Eventually, told my mother about it

and she jumped up and kissed my both cheeks and went to our neighbor's to share with that news. On that day my

mother cooked plov for us which is a typical Uzbek food with rice and lots of meat. My sisters and little brothers were

around and kissing and hugging me all the time. I was the happiest person in the world.

I started my classes there and focused on learning languages such as Uzbek and English were my majority. I had never

learned English before but that was my dream to learn it and report current news on TV in English in the future. I

watched that Program every day on TV and so impressed by the speech of the reporter. I had no any difficulties at that

school. The teachers were kind and helpful to everyone. The best thing I liked was the school library where I could find

any book I wanted. Everything changed for me after a month of my studies there. I usually stayed at a school dormitory

and usually went home at the weekends.

It was a usual Saturday afternoon when I arrived home. I saw a lot of people with a traditonal Uzbek doppi on their

heads and traditonal long costumes (chopons) which usually they wore on Islamic funerals. I did not understand anything. I heard some women crying loudly especially my grandmother and mother. A woman came out of the crowd and hugged me. I ran to my mother and she said in tears "Your father left us. He died on a car crash."

I did not cry and said nothing to anyone. I went to the other side of the house and thought about my surprise. He was

the only person who I loved so much in the world. He motivated me all the time. I liked my mother but she usually asked me to take care of my siblings when I read books. But father... He was absolutely kind to me. He told us amusing stories. He even cleaned my boots with some oil in winter so that I did not slip on the snow. I remembered everything and finally cried loudly but nobody could hear me.

That was Monday morning when I got up early and packed my things to go to school. My mother came to me and asked not to go to that school any more and told that I should help her on

the housework every day. Furthermore , she said she had no money to give for my stationery and clothes and even my

fare. I said: "OK. I will not ask you anything from now on: for my stationery, clothes, fare and everything". And she

asked: "How?" I said: "You will see".

I went out of home and was walking. But school was so far from my home. It would took two hours to walk. It was 6

o'clock in the morning and was 8 o'clock when I arrived. I started my lessons and everything was different for me there:

the walls, the teachers, my friends—everything. During the break I went to the back of school and cried. I just wanted

to see my father. The last time. Just wanted him to hug me one more time. I stopped talking to anyone. My face and

eyes were swollen. It was my typical routine from morning till evening.

One day the head teacher called me to his room and asked if everything was OK. I told him about my father's death. He

said nothing but walked around the room. Suddenly he came to me and asked: "Do you believe me?" I nodded. And he

said: "Now listen to me carefully. There are some events to happen in the future. Firstly, you have to go to university

and then you will apply for a job and get your first salary. You must buy for me a white shirt. However, you still cannot

come to me and keep working. Then you will get married to a wonderful person who adores you very much. After that

you will have two or maybe three children. Next, you will buy a new house and a car. I think, it is a good idea to come to

me then. But do not forget to buy another white shirt. Finally, you will come to me with two shirts in total. Do you

promise? " I nodded my head.

Everything changed for me at school from then on. I became self confident, successful and tried to gain a lot of

knowledge. Fortunately, a volunteer came by the PEACE CORPS which was a good opportunity for us to improve our

English. My days became more interesting than before. Everything he predicted began to happen in my life. But any time I succeeded, I thought that there was some time to go to him. Almost everything I achieved in my life. Maybe

more than he thought. I lost my mother as well when I was at university. But any time I had  concerns, I thought about

my promise to the head teacher Mr. Ubaydullayev. I invited him to my wedding and he came with some flowers and presents. He came to me and whispered: "It is not the high time to bring the shirts. Wait for a while."

After wedding I did my best to buy the two white shirts. Every time when I decided to go to him but I was not sure

about my success in life. Today everything good happened in my life. Due to good education, my siblings also lead good

lives, my little brother was 11 and this year he has become a surgeon. Furthermore, I was admitted to Webster University in Tashkent to earn my Master's degree and won a scholarship Program by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

I am sure it is high time to visit him with my family and the two white shirts for him when I go to my home town. But

recently when I was there last time, I found out that some of my devoted teachers had already passed away. In my

teaching career I am encouraging my pupils to learn as he did for me and my friends. I am persuading them to buy me a

dress if they succeed in the future. Then I realized that he was actually not in need of my shirts but he motivated me to

do well in my life. I am really a girl from underprivileged family and just education and motivation lead me to the higher

stairs of life. He taught me how to dream. Now I dream first and try to achieve and overcome them now. Is he still alive

if I take the two white shirts now? That is a question