A Pastor's Daughter's Diary

Too 'Right-ish' Day

Dear Jesus,

Urgh! Like seriously, today was so 'pur-fect'. The beginning must have caused it.

I woke up late (quite unusual of me these days) and had to do a rush-prayer.

To worsen my predicament, our cooking gas finished this morning. (*Bawls* Why today of all days?)
I didn't, or rather, couldn't eat breakfast, and as a result, I was so hungry when I got to school.

By the time I got to school, the assembly was almost over. I had to sneak to join the other student marching to their classes lest I be caught by the punctuality teacher and made to either pick trash, clean the dusty library store or wash toilets.

As I walked towards my locker, I espied Kathlyn down the hall frantically waving in a bid to get my attention.

I gave her a lop-sided smile and took a deep breath. She began slowly walking towards me.

I opened my locker to get my class notes and writing materials. I slammed the locker, turned right and was heading towards Kathlyn when I accidentally bumped into someone.

And that someone wasn't my prince charming who would stop my fall with strong hands. The person was my current nightmare.

"Watch where you're going, girl," Genevie, leader of the Dazzling Diamonds, snapped.

At first, I was annoyed that the person who hit me didn't care if I had fractured my bone by my fall.

The pain shut me up from retorting back in anger and I had time to rethink about what you'd want me to do. I also figured it was partly my fault for not looking before leaping.

I mumbled apologies as I regained composure and rubbed the sore spot on my bum where I had hit the ground.

I bent to pick up my scattered notes, while she continued raving about how clumsy I was to have rumpled her customized uniform. By this time, Kathlyn had gotten to my side and was assisting me in packing my stuff.

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the same old duo. Jesus Baby and the Weirdo!" she said in a sarcastic, meow-meow tone.

I looked up and saw her standing, arms crossed, with a scowl on her face, and two allies flanking her sides.

I made a mental face palm and gulped internally. Today was so not my day. I breathed a prayer to you for grace to stay calm, cos I was so on the verge of freaking out.

Ever since my faith in you became known, plus the fact that I ditched the Dazzling Diamonds and became friends with Kathlyn, and also cos I rejected the invitation of Trisha-Miss Charios, I had become the focal point for the latest case of bullying.

Formerly, it used to be restricted to secret gossip, awkward stares, and alienation from the 'cool and popular'. But, I guess I stepped on the cobra's tail by accident today.

And I was already two minutes late for my first lesson. I silently hoped our chemistry teacher would come late for class.

I kept mute. For goodness's sake, what would I have said?

"Jesus, please rescue me," I prayed silently again. Kathlyn grabbed my hand and jerked me in the direction of class, past Genevie.

Yes, Kathlyn might be reserved but I've noticed that one of her strengths is standing up for herself and people that matter to her.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Genevie's sly voice breathed so close by me that I was sure that she could have pushed me if Kathlyn hadn't kept pulling my hands.

"Keep walking," Kathlyn whispered to me. Luckily for me, my legs complied and kept moving.
"We are sorry for the inconvenience," she quickly said to a now-fuming Genevie as we scurried along.

We eventually made it unhurt to class and in answer to my prayer, our teacher wasn't yet around. All the teachers were held up in a meeting with the principal, I guessed.

"Whew! That was so close. Thanks for coming to my rescue just in time, my princess in shinning armour," I said, almost breathlessly, as I slumped on my chair. Kathlyn had literally dragged me all the way there.

"It's all thanks to God," she replied while giggling. "But seriously," she continued, "you need to be more careful. Why were you late? I didn't spot you in the assembly."

"I woke up late, and our gas ran out, and I got caught in the traffic and..."

I was cut off by the greeting chant of the class as our chemistry teacher waltzed in.
I kept dozing off in class which I still can't fathom cos I literally overslept last night.
Thankfully, Kathlyn kept nudging me to prevent my public humiliation. I managed to endure until break-time to quell my hungry tummy.

I walked towards the cafeteria to get something to eat. This was something I'd never done before. I always bring my own brunch from home, today being an exception, due to the circumstances. My eyes were drawn to something I had never seen before.

One of the things I'm very good at is observance. But this was the first time I was seeing something of this strange sort in my school.

It was almost hidden, planted over the cafeteria door, but my keen eyes noticed it.

It was an etched symbol of a fierce-looking, roaring lion, encased in a circle of prickly thorns.
I wouldn't have been overly surprised by my discovery if a brutal fight hadn't broken out a few seconds after I saw this sign.

The fight was so serious that security guards had to intervene to stop the fight that resulted in the destruction of cafeteria properties and bad, bloody bruises on both parties involved.

After I had uncomfortably and hurriedly eaten my lunch, I left the cafeteria. I looked back over the door, expecting to see what I earlier had seen. Alas, it was gone!

That was strangely intriguing. What did that mean? Was I the only one that saw it or was it just a figment of my hyperactive imagination (that's to say if I have one)? Did it just poof into thin air?

The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. Our last lesson period, geography, was as boring as ever. Seriously, something drastic had better been done to give life to our geography classes—maybe a change of who is taking us the subject. The man just keep droning monotonously like a bee. Some students who didn't give a damn about studies had even slept off on their desks, while we whose seats were at the front of the class kept stifling yawns.

My mind kept drifting to the image I had seen, trying to make meaning of it. I had this unsettling feeling at the pit of my tummy. But again, that could have been my stomach's revolt for how poorly it had been fed.

I got home to meet Dad getting ready for his two-weeks missionary trip to South Africa to preach the gospel to the homeless populace and commoners in the cities there.

I had to help him pack as he would be leaving tomorrow. It was kinda fast because he only took necessities in a suitcase. Well, technically men don't pack much stuff when they're travelling. Ask me to pack for a journey out of my country and I'll definitely need an mega, extra large-sized travel bag.

I'm gonna miss him dearly.

I hope tomorrow turns out better than today. An ache was silently throbbing in my skull, which wasn't surprising, considering what transpired today.
I secretly took aspirin. If I'd told Mom, she'll make a big deal out of it, probably insisting I'm due to see a doctor.

Thanks so much, Jesus, for you remain the same, loving Jesus I know, whether in good times or bad times.

**********
Any idea what that symbol means? Anyone?

What do you do when your day doesn't go as smoothly as you wish it would?🥺

Remember, Jesus is your knight in shining armour, always ready to save and rescue you.😁🤗

See you in the next chapter. God bless. 💖