Just show
up
Mimi glanced up at the wall clock in the classroom, it was
already 3 o’clock. Sitting in a corner, she noticed the last rays of sunlight
illuminating the room, which resembled a hospital ward with its white walls and
white metal chairs and matching single tables where each student’s sit
individually. This arrangement was meant to prevent cheating, a measure taken
after some of her classmates were caught cheating during a math test last year.
Their class had developed a reputation for cheating, and despite Mimi hoping
that people would have moved on, their homeroom teacher had not forgotten. This
enforced the new seating arrangement as a consequence.
She looked out and saw some of her classmates and their
parents walking towards the school gate. They had collected their report cards
already. There was only one student and her mother sitting down at the table
with the teacher. When the last student
and her mom exited, Mimi received a sympathetic glance from the mother, a look
that resonated with her, especially since her own parents' divorce. Unable to
stay in the classroom any longer, tears filled Mimi's eyes as she stepped outside.
As she stood on the verandah, she began to think about her educational journey
this year. She believed she had done well this year, despite her poor grades in
the last three years after her parents’ divorce, but doubts began to creep into
her mind. For years, Mimi had always been the Solomon of her class, the top
student in her class since elementary and her father had always supported her.
He always attended every school event. However, since the divorce, he had been
absent, starting a new family and leaving Mimi and her sister and their mother
behind. Her dad has got another wife with two kids and after seventeen years of
marriage he just packed up and left without saying goodbye to them. For the
last three years her grades started to drop and nobody seemed to realize that,
not even her mum who is too welled up in her grief. Her mother had turned to
alcohol, spending time at Red Kona tavern to cope with her pain, which led to
Mimi's declining grades going unnoticed. However, this year as she is in grade
12 she really tried her best and just wished that her mum would show up just
this once to collect her report card. Despite these challenges, Mimi had worked
hard this year and longed for her mother to show up and collect her report
card, even just once.
Standing on
the verandah, she spotted her younger sister, Lily, walking with her friends
towards the gate. Since Lily was in grade 9, she didn’t have to collect her
report card this term so they were sent home after class. It was only the
grades 10’s and 12’s who were supposed to collect their report cards this term.
At 14-years-old, her sister was really tall for her age. She got her beautiful
black, curly hair from their dad. The short cute nose and her dark shiny skin
also, unlike Mimi who at 17 looks like a mini version of their mother with her
brown steel-wool hair, fair light skin and that typical Eastern Highlands short
built. Her sister saw her as they walked by and waved at her as she continued
walking out of the gate with her friends.
Mimi rested on the railing of the
verandah, hoping her mother would finally come to collect her report card. Her
mother had a history of not being there when her daughters needed her, she’s
likely off at the tavern again. Mimi had visited that place a few times, not to
drink but to retrieve her mother. Owned by a Hagen man named Joe, the tavern
was always crowded with drunk people. It has a strong, unpleasant odor, like
that of a dead animal’s carcass and the people always appeared indifferent to
the dirty, dim environment. It seemed to Mimi like they always prioritize getting
drunk and wasted over everything else.
Picture: Mimi standing on the verandah.
Picture: New Tribes Buildings in Goroka EHP
She had reminded her mom three
times this week about this, and yet her mom was not here. This morning she woke
up and assured herself that as this was the last day of term two, she would
have two whole weeks of good rest during the holiday break, after getting ready
for class she reminded her mom to come to school to collect her report card
before she and her sister headed off to school. She and her sister
attended Goroka secondary school, which was a 50 toea mile distance from home.
However, their mother suggested that, as she cannot afford to give them both
lunch and bus fare every day, they might as well walk to school to cut the cost.
She usually enjoyed their morning walks to school as this gave them time to
talk to each other. At home the place is usually crowded with the constant
visits from relatives from the village. They usually come to either ask for
money or live aimlessly and finish food at home. They don’t help to buy any
rations for the house. They all rely on Mimi’s mother to buy everything, and
then they eat like pigs. Many times Mimi usually wonder if they ever realize
that they giving too much burden and headache to her mother.
Suddenly, she heard a husky voice say, “I hope I’m not really
late.” Disturbed from her thoughts she turned around and she saw her aunt, May.
She couldn't hold back her tears as she hugged her. Aunt May had come, knowing
how much her presence mattered to Mimi, regardless of her grades, she showed up
and that’s all that mattered to Mimi. “The teacher is inside” replied Mimi
in-between her sobs. “Now get yourself together and let’s go collect your
report card” said aunt May smilingly. Together, they walked hand in hand into
the classroom, where the teacher greeted them with a smile, saying he was about
to leave but would stay to finish the day.
