“Hadeezah!” My mum shouted.

Mrs. Damilare was always loud—an African mother with a gift for volume. It was clear she hated lateness.

“Coming!” I called back.

“Be quick! Do you want us to miss the bus?” she urged.

“I’m here, no vex,” I said, almost slipping on the stairs. “Be careful before you slip,” she warned, giving me an eye roll.

“Okay,” I said, smiling mischievously.

We arrived at the bus stop just in time. The scene was quite cool with the tall buildings and everything. Although I had traveled before, this felt somewhat new. I didn’t know why I was in London. My mum had picked me up from boarding school, and now I found myself living in Scotland.

Scotland was busy, and I wanted to make new friends, though I wasn’t very good at it. I hoped I’d fit in, despite being a hijabi and wearing an eye patch. My weird gold eyes made me stand out even more. Neither my mum nor my dad had this eye color, which made me feel even more different.

As for the eye patch, I joked that no one would want to be friends with a “villain,” though I wasn’t Adeline or anything like that. Fortunately, the bus was about to leave when we arrived. As we found our seats, I felt all eyes on me. “Look away, people. My surname isn’t Hook,” I thought. I plugged my earpiece in; I loved listening to Taylor Swift's breakup and love songs. I preferred avoiding public places due to fears of new diseases after the pandemic.

“When are you going to get your car?” I asked my mum.

"I’ll get one soon," she replied.

"I just want us to settle down before I do," she added.

Typical mum, but I loved her anyway.

Oops, my bad. I forgot to introduce myself.

Hi, my name is Hadeezah Damilare, and I’m 16 years old. I’m a Muslim and Yoruba. I moved from Nigeria to London, and my mum decided to show me around this new country. We explored interesting places like ghost houses, restaurants, amusement parks, and did a lot of shopping. Yes, a lot—though I’m an introvert, I love shopping.

My mum is a senior advocate, a highly esteemed lawyer.

After an exhilarating day, we finally went home. By the time we arrived, it was late, and I was exhausted. I quickly observed the missed salat, despite having a long to-do list. Emphasizing the “lots” in the to-do list, I decided to tackle it the following day.

I read Suratul Tabarak from the Quran before bed, but after reading, I wasn’t feeling sleepy. So, I picked up one of the books I had bought. I’m obsessed with books, especially those about animals, though my mum wouldn’t let me have a pet. She’s very protective and thinks I’m not ready for one yet.

I’m an introvert, but I don’t tolerate bullying. My dad always told me to stand up for what’s right, so I won’t let anyone push me around in this new school. I’ve heard a lot about foreigners, especially whites. I’m not racist, but I’ll be gentle. However, if anyone tries to mess with me, I won’t hesitate to react. I dislike bullies and won’t let anyone trample over me.

It was time for bed.

I had applied to one of London’s most prestigious schools. I hoped to get in because I’m an above-average student. Though my mum could afford other schools, I wanted this one. The school’s reputation would make university admission easier. I’m in my second-to-last year and have started preparing. I prayed Allah (God) would grant my wish. The tuition was high, but I was determined.

After reading for a while, I fell asleep. I woke up around 5:30 a.m., brushed my teeth, observed my salat, and said my adhkars. By 7 a.m., I was done with everything and decided to rest a bit more. I got up around 8 a.m. and had breakfast.

I decided to watch TV. I loved SpongeBob and making funny faces like him. I only wished he were purple, my favorite color.

About 20 minutes later, I heard my mum’s phone ring. I took it to her and went back to watch my movie when my mum called out.

“Come check this out,” she said, sounding happy.

When I took the phone from her, I couldn’t believe my eyes. My application was accepted to Kings and Queens High School! I was overjoyed and spent the rest of the day in a great mood.

FUN FACT:
The mimic octopus is a fascinating sea creature that can imitate the appearance and behavior of other marine species, such as lionfish, flatfish, and sea snakes, to evade predators. It's a master of disguise in the underwater world.
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