I was just rounding up on my chores and thinking about how much fun I would have on the football field. There was a particular guy I looked forward to dribbling and lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear my mum come in.
The first idea I had that something was about to go wrong was when she started her usual Line of questioning. High school final exams were only a few months away. Although a few months away meant the month of May, it was only November and on this side of the year, May looked like a whole other world away.
'When exactly did you say you'll be starting your final exams?" she asked
This line of questioning wasn't new to me, it was the cheerful tone in which I was asked that gave me pause. Mum knew exactly when my exams were starting as she'd already asked like a million times only in the past month.
'I think it's probably around May" I replied
'Are we paying your fees to think or to know"
Mum was usually my best friend on any other day, but not on exam week.
'Anyways I think you should maximize December for studying, instead of travelling. So no traveling for you."
I didn't know which was more shocking, the news or the cheerful tone in which it had been delivered. I'd been looking forward to travelling to my hometown in December for my uncle's wedding. All my cousins were going to be around and we'd been planning so much fun things to do.
Everyone is going to be around, there's no way Mum wouldn't attend just because I have exams that are not even urgent, I thought to myself. It took only a few hours later to realize how naive I was. Of course everyone in the family would attend, but it seemed it would be everyone except me and mum.
The holidays lost its meaning as there was absolutely nothing to look forward to. December came and I watched as Mum made preparations for the rest of the family to travel while I was tasked with making some new friends, MY BOOKS. Eventually everyone else left and we were home alone. I'd initially thought I was miserable, I was in for a big surprise.
Surprise number one dropped the morning after my dad and sibling left. There would be no football for the duration of the holidays. Football would've been the main solace to my already miserable heart and now I was supposed to survive the holidays without football.
Surprise number two came after my miserable self glued to the TV suddenly got the announcement that I was spending too much time watching the TV and even tv time would now require some adjustments. At this point, my holiday was fast turning into a military regime.
With football gone and tv time almost nearly the same, I now had according to my mum, my lovely books to keep me company. At first I thought about rebelling, to simply stare at my books pretending to read. It took only a moment to discard the thought, as my mum was way too smart to be deceived that way. She would open random pages to ask my questions on topics I claimed to have read.
I thought I was having a really bad holiday until I heard mum on the phone discussing with someone.
'I was supposed to, but I had to stay back so he can prepare better for his final exam next year."
From the conversation, I deduced it was probably an aunt calling to inquire why she didn't travel for the wedding. I realized she was probably having a boring holiday as well, having to sacrifice a reunion with the whole family just to stay behind and help me prepare for my exams.
Although this revelation shed a whole new light on the situation, and my resentment at having so much fun taken away reduced a bit, it didn't make studying any less enjoyable.
The holidays finally came to an end and my dad and sibling were soon back home once again. All the same it was still an holiday I wanted to forget, and I was perhaps the only one in my house who was glad for school to finally resume once again.