F.U.N. P.A.R.L.I.E.S.

'On that day I didn't know I was having you' my mum told me when I asked her how I was born and if I was like an angel or like the stubborn ones.

'That day we only went to the hospital because your sister felt sick and we decided to get her treated fast since we would be travelling the day after, well that was the plan and you my dear little Letitia, decided you would spoil our plans of travelling and come that night and trust me when I say you were a very stubborn one. You didn't want to come out and your father was so worried about both of us. I almost made a vow to hate you because you were so much pain but after I saw your sweet little angelic face I decided that what kind of mother hates such a beautiful child and you made me so happy and full of joy as you can tell from your name.'

She continued smiling obviously remembering the day and she probably even forgot I was there so I decided to leave her to it.

I didn't really want to know about my birth story, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't adopted.

I decided to go to my best friend's house which was just like a second house to me. Throughout this summer holiday there hasn't been a day we haven't seen each other. I don't know how we always have something to talk about and how we never got tired of each other. Probably because she is amazing.

I called her and told her I was on my way and she said I was welcome at any time. When I got there we talked and played our favourite card game, UNO.

When it was getting dark I decided to leave because my parents don't like it when I stay out late.

By the time I got back my dad was home which I was happy about because he mostly gets home from work late.

I ran to him and greeted him with a big hug and a quick kiss on his cheek and asked him how work was. 'Work was wonderful sweetheart' He answered which surprised me because work is meant to be stressful. 'In fact, I have a surprise for you.' My mum walked over to my dad and whispered something to him and then he nodded and she left and came back with my older sister. 'You  guys are going to boarding school.' He continued not being able to contain the urge to wait any longer.

'W... whh...' this is me trying to understand what he just said and his expression, I mean how could he be happy about that. My sister was completely speechless and you could tell from her face that she was horrified.

'Dad did we do anything wrong?' she finally asked and my dad was obviously shocked by her question.

'Of course you didn't do anything wrong. Why would you even think that?' He asked but continued immediately after. 'This is a chance for both of you to get better secondary education and also it can help you follow rules better and take care of yourself. It's like three gifts in one package girls, you're meant to be happy.'

Normally I don't like to make my parents sad or think they have just done something wrong but this time I just can't help the look that's on my face.

This may sound stupid but the first thing or should I say person I thought about is my best friend. I mean we can't be best friends when we can hardly see each other.

This is the one of the exact reasons I asked my mum if I was adopted.

I mean I hoped from the minute he said it that it was a joke but it isn’t and I’m seriously freaking out.

This year I’ll be entering the fourth year of secondary school and that means I’ll have to go through two years of torture without my best friend or should I say soon to be ex-best friend.

And like that isn’t enough torture I just remembered that my group of friends (there are ten of us and there are two groups of two’s and two groups of three’s) have a moment of truth but we are doing it on a video call because when we tried doing it together in person we all ended up crying and we split for a while. This was mainly because we said insulting things about someone else’s best friend and both would get offended and in the end we all went angry and in tears so we decided never to do it together again and we also had to say mean things in a nice way or should I say in the nicest way possible.

Throughout that night I couldn’t sleep well because now I started thinking about other things like ‘how will I cope without my family’ or ‘how will I wake up in the morning’ or ‘how far away is this boarding school from my house’ and ‘will there be visiting days for my family to come and see me’.

When I finally slept it was 5:30 a.m. and I had to wake up by 8 to get ready because our moment of truth was by 8:30.

When they called I actually hesitated for a while before answering because I could always just lie I was sick but then again they’ll still have to find out one day so why not now.

‘Hi Letitia, what took you so long you’re normally the first one to answer?’ my friend Laura asked. ‘Oh, I’m sorry my phone was downstairs charging so I had to get it’. Wow, first lie in a moment of truth session and I said it so calmly like it was true.

‘Whatever guys, does it matter who answers first?’ My friend Ashley says and even if I know she can’t hear me I whisper a small thank you. ‘We are here for a moment of truth and I have things to do so please be fast.’

Normally we take it turn by turn and we get turns by calling dibs so I called in second to last. When everyone before me had finished complaining about at least one person it was my turn and I decided not to look suspicious and complained about Rebecca and then it was time to spill the beans.

‘Lat would that be all or do you have any other thing to say?’ Pearl, my best friend asked.

I was quiet.

‘Lat are you OK’

Nothing.

‘Lat I told you I have things to do please hurry up’ Ashley said and I decided to finally talk.

‘Guys last night when I got home my dad said he had a surprise for my sister and I and when we asked him what it was he said he said he’ I couldn’t finish the sentence at this point and everywhere became unclear as tears ran down my face.

And then they all began to talk at once ‘Lat are you OK’, ‘Lat you know you can always talk to us’, ‘come on Lat I know it’s not that bad’. Oh only if you knew I thought. But one particular one rang above all the others ‘Lat come on you  know we’ll always be there for you’ But they won’t and they can’t but I don’t blame them I blame my dad.

‘Guys I’m going to a boarding school’ I said in between my tears and quickly hung up not wanting to hear or see their reactions.

You know that saying ‘you can run from your problems but you can’t hide’? Well, let us just say that’s exactly what happened to me. All my friends including Ashley who claimed to be busy showed up at my house which made me cry more because all I could think was ‘look at what a nice group of friends I ended up in, luckily.’

My mum made me come out of my room because in her words ‘you’re being rude and over dramatic.’ I mean ‘over dramatic’. What does she even mean by that? I know she would do worse if she was me but then again, she’s not.

I went into my upstairs living room and they were all there with a look of worry on their faces.

‘Oh are you OK Lat?’ Pearl started. ‘Look we know you’re going to boarding school but it’s not the end of the world.’

‘It may not be the end of the world but it probably is the end of my friendship with you guys.’

‘Don’t be silly Lat; we have phones for a reason.’ Laura tried but you could see the hint of doubt on her face and I could tell that none of them wanted to admit it.

‘Guys I won’t be allowed to use my phone in school and I would definitely not carry it to school because people could steal it even if we were allowed.’

‘We can still talk to each other weekly. I have a cousin in boarding school and she has a guardian that allows her to make calls every week so we can set a time on every Saturday to talk. There, you see, the problem is solved.’ Naomi said.

Did I ever mention that my friends were the best? Well they are.

We all decided on 2 p.m. on Saturday and like Naomi said, problem solved.

When they left my mum kept teasing me and saying I was such a drama queen and in my head I thought ‘well at least we all know where I got it from.’

I can’t believe that my dad waited till the end of the holiday before telling us this. If I had known I would have used my time better but now I only have two days with my family before going. The bad thing about this boarding school is that it starts on Sunday because according to them ‘we have to get all our students ready for the next day because learning starts on Monday.’

When I got there they did a search through all my things which I found embarrassing and rude but like they say ‘first impression matters’ and my parents said I had to manage because they were going to do this every time I come back again and besides there was nothing wrong with it because they did it to everyone. So says the people that always tell me ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’.    

They didn’t allow my parents to follow us into the dorms so we went alone and there was this woman showing us where each of our rooms which I later found out had bunk beds and there was no way I was sleeping on the top.

We have a bunk bed at home and the top is mine but I never slept in it because I just am not a top person so I slept in my brother’s room because he still slept with my parents.

The rooms looked thrashed and I actually couldn’t believe I was going to be sleeping here and there were so many people it already felt stuffy and I was told that there were still more people coming.

I went in trying to find a down bunk and luckily there were none.

Note the sarcasm.

All the empty down bunks were either broken or ‘saved’ for someone’s friend. I mean I compliment your loyalty and all but I cannot sleep up.

I once watched a movie where a really young child fell off the top bunk and her head split open and I don’t want that to be me anytime soon.

It’s not like I want it to be someone else but some people are used to it and they enjoy it.

…

I have to admit that I have really grown into the top bunk and it’s not as bad as it seems anymore.

After a month of talking to my friends every Saturday we all admitted that it wasn’t as easy as it seemed in the beginning so I haven’t heard from them ever since but it doesn’t matter because today I’m going back home for the summer holiday and I will surprise them.

I don’t expect anything much from them and I have tried my best to keep my hopes down because they have most likely moved on with life just like I have. I now have friends in my school and they are really nice.

Today is my best (or not) friend’s birthday and from our plans last year they’re going to be at her house so I’m going to meet them all at once.

My mum drove me to my friends' (or not) place of meeting and here I am standing at her doorstep thinking this is all just a mistake.

I could always just leave but then again where is the fun in that? Just as soon as I ring the doorbell the door opens like someone has been waiting there.

‘Lat?’ And here is Rebecca standing in front of me.

 ‘Hi’ I manage and as I get it out I hear everyone coming and I can tell that I will regret this.

Once they see me they all have this look saying ‘what on earth are you doing here’ on their faces.

I see this girl and I can’t quite recognise her but it doesn’t matter because this is not what I expected.

‘Um sorry I’ll leave I have something to do and I’m obviously not welcome but it was nice seeing you guys again.’ I say and as I’m leaving I hear the unrecognised girl ask ‘who is she?’ and my best friend (not) answers ‘oh just a former friend of ours.’ 

Well I have officially been moved to ‘just some former friend.’

I decided to go get some pizza so I pre-ordered it and got some ice cream from the store on my way to pick it.

I know I said I didn’t raise my hopes and all but then again it was still painful and I needed sugar to get rid of that pain. I have no idea why it works but I thank God it does.

When I get home with my pizza and my ice cream I find that all my ‘friends’ are at my house.

Don’t they think they have caused enough pain?

‘Surprise’ they all shout and I decided ‘silence is the best answer for a fool’ but in this case ‘fools’.

‘I know you’re angry but at least listen to us’ Pearl starts. Last time I checked I was quite but again silence. ‘You see Pearl your sister told us you were coming so we decided to play a little joke on you so that’s why we acted the way we did but we are sorry it was just for fun and you know it’s in our name to have fun.

Oh thank God because no matter how tough I sounded I was literally planning on locking my door for two days and opening to food only.

I love my friends and just in case I didn’t mention, they are the best.

And just in case you were wondering, FUN PARLIES:

Fiona, Uma, Naomi, Pearl, Ashley, Rebecca, Letitia, Isla, Emma and Scarlett.