Chapter 10: NEW BEGINNINGS

My biggest nightmare [ Ian] was finally done away with. It felt so great , like the world was giving me a second chance to start all over again. I was overwhelmed with happiness,only that I couldn't tell how long it would last. Nevertheless I swore to enjoy every bit of that happiness for as long as it presented itself.

After my homeschooling, I sat for my assessment exams but honestly I wasn't expecting much at all.

One Sunday morning, I was at the breakfast table with my momma when door bell rang . We looked at each other as if trying to ask ` who is it ?'

`I'll get it ,'i said . The bell went again `coming ' I said hoping whoever was at the door could get me and stop being annoying.

A man of color stood before me , five fit , bearded, bald head , broad shoulders , with a black shirt on ,his helmet on his right arm and on the several envelopes.

Smilingly he said ` good morning, I'm looking for some Robert Smith ,'

I looked at him shocked and surprised before answering him doubtfully ` it's hii-m , can I - be of help ?'

` Sign for me ,over here ,' . I granted his wishes , after which he handed me one of the brown envelopes he carried. `Have a great day ahead,' and he walked to his motorcycle that he had packed right in front of the house.

` You too , ' I said as I walked back into the house turning the envelope from one side to the other . Trying to guess what could possibly be inside .

` Who was it ?' she asked .

` The delivery guy ,' I replied in a low tone still trying to figure out .

` Open it may be it's the admission acceptance,'

` But mum this envelope doesn't have any logo on the outside,'. As much as I wasn't ready to open,I opened it anyway.

` Higgins ! I didn't even apply there ,'

` Congratulations son you finally got in '

` Ok I said that out loudly, - ' ` Yes you did' she said as she took a bite of her toasted bread and wiped of her mouth with the napkins.

` Mum I never applied there , and I'm even doing some criminal justice, what is that even ,'. I pushed her the letter and and banged the table .

My mom spent better part of the morning trying to convince me that Criminal Justice and Law were just the same . I remember her saying ` Criminal Justice is a branch of law ' . But I wasn't just contented with all that she had said , so I decided to confirm with the Internet, I browsed from one website to the other. After which I kind of agreed with Momma. Criminal Justice and Law are like any other couple , one and the same body , only difference is that they have different parents who become the other's after marriage. { I don't know whether you get that }

Time finally came for me to go away to my new University. I was eager and anxious to join but also I was afraid of being bullied all over again , being everyone's punching bag , being called names. Worst of it all being expelled for being temperamental. Aside from that I also never wanted to leave mum all alone ,it felt like abandoning her. But she insisted on me going ` Spread your wings don't try to spread someone else's, I'm a grown woman , what's the worst that can happen to me.'

I wasn't left with much of a choice, I went anyway.

Day one , was all about Orientation,the Do's and Don't Do's. Knowing the school better , whee to find what where , when to be where and being allocated room mates . I can't really tell what I had with Spanish guys. My roommate was one of them. His name was Marti as long as I can recall. I remember he used words like ` Hola ' every morning before we headed to our classes.

Whenever he was in the toilet and I interrupted he'd say something like ` Cerrado' . During our stay together I knew words like ` Ahora, mucho gusto , de nada , dinero ,Buenos dias , gracias ,adios and many more .'

He was such a social ,jovial and amazing guy.

Second day ,marked our first day in our classes and more specifically for me it was my first time in a Criminal Justice class. I had to arrive on time but I guess I got in late coz almost every one else was already there and they had taken their seats. It was a huge auditorium and there was many of us. Most students were on their phones , that I couldn't miss to tell because once I had my seat I plugged my earphones on and began to observe one after the other. Some students had made no friends at all , some were on the process, some were not planning to , for example, me.

Before I could get deeper into the observation this white guy walked in.He wore a black fancy suit , with a brilliant white shirt and a black tightened neck tie. He also had nice kept short grey hair ,long grey beards . He carried a black briefcase on his right hand and no one could resist to notice the golden watch he had on. He placed the briefcase on the table together with the car keys and pulled out his laptop. He scrolled up and down before he raised his head for us to see a proud person breaking the silence `There's an African proverb that says if there's no enemy on the Inside the enemy outside can do nothing. I want you to strive for excellence, as much as bad as you want to breathe . I didn't say as bad as hunger , because you can go for 21 days without food , I didn't say as bad as you feel thirsty because you can go for 3 days , I said as bad as you want to breathe. I am professor Higgins but call me Professor, Good morning everyone.'

In a disorganized chorus we replied ` Good morning Professor ,' and some of those jokers in the class definitely who intended to provoke him said Good morning Sir. Literally you could tell that he was pissed of coz literally he commented back with ` idk what some of you are trying but I hate ,I really do hate when someone tries to provoke me.' In that class I do recall him trying to.do.se introduction and I felt like I wouldn't last a month in that school so immediately after class I went straight to calling my mom.

` Momma by any chance can I change Schools?'

` You can't and good morning too my son I'm good,"

` I'm sorry about the last part like the first part mum I'm damn serious"

` I don't know what you're afraid of,but you have no option,you really have to make it ." The phone beeped like twice and I knew she had hanged , she.was so damn serious than I was. I went back to class and told myself I'll just move with the flow of life. I tried not to cross.paths with the professors especially Higgins. I made sure that no one knew what I had done when I was in High school. I had cut ties with my long time friends Harry and Cassie. Like any other student on that campus I attended like 80% of the parties , invited and uninvited.I did drugs , got drank and puked on myself. Had my first s** with this girl but it's because we were drunk. I didn't even get to know her name. The next morning when we woke up she said nothing but she walked away as if nothing had happened between us. I remember the only thing she said was ` Better shut your dirty mouth ," and she walked away as I tried to assure her that I was good at keeping secrets but she was long walking down the stairs.

At one point I had my first Girlfriend, Marianna Benjamin. My first Love but I couldn't keep up with her drama. I mean there's this time she was drank and gave gave me a call . I can clearly recall her piercing and breaking words.

` Just made love to my ex"

` What ?" I asked like a wounded lion.

` But it meant nothing." I hanged up on her but she came up to me and made things right. Mostly she wouldn't pick my calls but when I didn't pick up coz I was either in class or somewhere important she could get so angry to the extent of not talking to me or texting back for a whole two weeks. I got tired and we broke up.

Marti invited me to his rich friends party after I broke up with Marianna. The party was going to be a life changer that I didn't know.

` Lo siento brother for the breakup , como TE VA ? He said . I looked at him without saying anything. He kept on ranting with his strong Spanish accent` No hay problema , you don't have to answer. But I have a better solution for this sobbing."

` What ?I don't want anything right now .'

` There's a party this weekend and you have to come with me.You can't sob over someone who never loved you ."

` Mar-ti ,' before I could say anything he interrupted ` I have class and I don't think no for an answer. Adios .' He walked away.

The weekend was finally here. We went to his friends party.

Oh my God , how many people stay in this house ? I thought. That mansion was so huge. I couldn't help but notice the brilliant white walls , the art on the wall , the glass tables , everything in that house was sooo impressively expensive. After having some shots I noticed this girl who sat all by herself. She was taking no alcoholic drink ,I decided to approach her.

` All my life I've met with vegetarians and lactose intolerants , you're the first fun intolerant I've met."

She just sat there as if I had said nothing at all. Realizing she wasn't interested at all , I decided to walk away.

` Exactly what I thought, you'd walk away, are you rejection intolerant? " She said.

` The music is Loud in here and I barely heard who was being rejected" I said with I smile on my face. She smiled back innocently and all over it was written ` I'm good at whatever you're trying to do '

` You know I just realized due to the same high volume menace ,you might have referred to me as the kinda girl who everybody wants to hang out with,coz she's fun' She said.

Stretching out her hand ` Mitchell Brown , that's the name' . I reciprocated the same ` Robert Smith'

After that talk I remember so well I was in her bed at her apartment. After I left ,she ghosted me for some days but she explained herself and it was relevant . I began to date her , we did everything campus couples do [ dates , sleepovers, coffee ,valentine's ] till when we graduated and luckily she became my wife not forgetting that, immediately after graduation together we had a kid , Michael .

She had a job at a company that belonged to her Dad's friend . I opened my own eatery so I spent most of the time with our son .That didn't seem to bother me at all. When we walked home with Michael I used to encourage him, and when we got home ,my wife had already prepared dinner.

` Just quit your job and come work with me ," I'd joke . She would laugh and say ` Just wait till Michael becomes of age ."

A perfect little family , my entire world . I'd do anything to see them happy. The smiles on their faces meant alot to me. The weekend was family time , no phones ,no friends ,.no work ,just the Three of us. At the park , then to the beach then headed back to the house for pizza during dinner. One family movie before going to bed but Michael would doze off before it was even half way.