May 2, 2013 — Doshix
May 2, 2013 — Doshix
“Grow up” they say, “then you can do whatever you want”.
But no one tells you that when you grow up, life will slap you with 3 ton crosses that will force you to see beauty in the plain and ugly just to distract you from the crackling of your breaking back.
Rock!
It has to be a great day. Thursdays, like Mondays, are the days when I drive 35 minutes to work (7am-3pm) then an hour to school (4–6:40) and get home at 7pm to dog pile on my books and dinner in front of the TV.
But I woke up late.
Paper!!
I got there 10 minutes late and though my boss said nothing, my pay check will.
One of my kids came up to me and went “Ms. Elizabeth, you know what’s bad? I saw a girl at Chili’s and she had no hair because she was smoking a lot. Smoking does that to you. Don’t smoke Ms. Elizabeth, don’t do it”. I teach Pre-K and I love it! My kids make everything okay with their innocent, smarty pant remarks. I teach Pre-K because I need to work. I work though I am a full time graduate student because I have, somewhat ignorantly, chosen never to ask my mom for money again and only take part of my tuition when the need arises. So I work; Full-time.
Scissors!!
I miss being a child. I miss paying rent once a year and spending my salary on everything but bills. I miss having uncles and aunts around that I can pay surprise visits to, and leave their offices thousands richer than when I went in. I miss Nigeria. And I miss my mom. But this is the life i have chosen so though I am not sure I know what I am doing, I will carry this cross with a smile on my face.
Kid: It smells like extra clean fibres in here
Me: You’re 5, what do you know about fibres?
Kid: My brain just knows stuff
Me: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that
Kid: It’s ok Ms. Elizabeth. Sometimes, grown-ups don’t know everything.
Rock! Paper!! Scissors!!!
It was a great day.
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Dosh is a bush girl who will always be more Nigerian than any of the other countries she belongs to. She lives for Jesus, indomie and red velvet cake.