Diary on The Shelf!

Chapter 15

CATHERINE AND Halima were holding their breaths, they had spent about ten minutes explaining to Halima's mother why it was important that she went for the championships emphasising that they had already signed their names and they couldn't be taken off the list.

Catherine let Halima do most of the talking, she didn't want to make it seem as though she coerced or influenced Halima into signing up.

"Please ma, I have never really gone out. It's a chance for me to experience something new. And just think I get to keep a participation certificate, isn't that at least worth it?" Halima pleaded. She could tell her dad was all for her joining the team, his eyes held a mixture of pride and glee as he stared at her.

"I'll call you as soon as I get there, and I'll call you in the morning and night so you know that I'm safe. Just please let me go." Catherine squeezed her hand gently, and Halima squeezed hers back. She had her bottom lip tight between her lips, her heart was racing. If her mother said no, she would be so devastated.

After a moment of silence, the older Khalid gave them a small smile, "Okay. You can go."

Halima's eyes widened, she looked at Catherine who winked at her with a smile that mirrored her mom's.

"Really?" 

"Yes, you're right. It would do you good to experience something new."

"Thank you, ma,'

"But, keep your phone with you in case I call or your ba does."

"Of course ma." She smiled thanking her dad silently.

They left the living room and rushed to Halima's room to celebrate their win. She was ecstatic, nothing could bring her down now. 

The next week on campus the two of them would join their team of eleven and go over tactics on how to play to win. It seemed fairly simple but they soon figured that a lot of strength and stamina was required to pull the heavy rope.

Catherine was placed in the first position because of her upper body strength. Halima was in the middle, and they had their strongest member at the back. Their overall distribution in terms of positioning was favourable, and they worked on a strategy that would help them put up a fight.

They practiced for three hours every day with ten minutes breaks and even incorporated easy workouts to help with their form and balance.

"We better win, I am so exhausted." Halima groaned, she stretched her sore arms and rolled her shoulders back. Grabbing her water bottle, she threw it at Catherine who caught it and drank half of it before giving it back.

She sniffed and pulled her shirt up to wipe off sweat from her face, "For sure, I know we will."

The two parted ways at the gate, Halima got into their car and was driven to her home, she wanted to rest early and wake up early the next day. When she got home she grabbed her blue duffel bag and started packing up a few clothes, she left some space for when they would be handed game kits by their captain.

Once she was done, she took a long bath and then performed ablution so she could pray. She was done with Isha prayer and was reading the Qur'an when she heard her door opening and her best friend's voice filled the room.

Smiling she placed the leaf on the page she was on mentally marking the verse she was on and then placed it on her study table. She folded her prayer mat and hung it on her seat.

"I brought snacks," Catherine announced as she placed a shopping bag on the bed and dumped her heavy duffel bag on the floor.

Catherine unzipped her bag and grabbed her nightdress, "We are staying up late for movies, so don't even think about sleeping."