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VS and Reflections

Dear Jesus,

How I was unable to sleep was a wonder to me.

Yesterday was Sunday. Luke came to church and shared his testimony, the testimony of his deliverance and salvation. It was so touching, and hell-rending.

Today is Monday and the day of my VS.
And guess what? I was nominated Valedictorian of my set. Isn't that amazing? You did it! You answered my prayer.

Yes, I knew I had gotten a pretty dress. I had prepared my speech, and forced every blessed human being in my house to listen to me till I got it right. I had given myself several pep talks. Still, I was nervous.
The crowd at our beautifully decorated hall was intimidating.
But, seeing my friends clustered beside me made me smile internally as I remembered what had happened this morning.

Earlier this morning, I beat Hirena to it. I woke up first. I had an amazing time of fellowship with you.
Heaven is going to be so amazing. I mean, what we enjoy as fellowship here on earth cannot be compared to the least kind in Heaven. Heaven is Heaven because you are there, Lord.

By 8:00am, a knock sounded on the door, and I just knew that it was Kathy—that's the way she knocks, that initial double tap, followed by a triple rap.
I opened the door and wasn't disappointed. Kathy came with Gen and Pris, as should be expected.

I was still in my PJ's, fidgeting like a wet chicken.
They, on the other hand, were dressed.

"What on earth?" Gen exclaimed as she scanned me where I stood before the door.

I gave a nervous chuckle.
"Morning," I said as I ambled back into the house with my friends following me.

"Don't tell me you've not taken your bath," Genevie said.

"Emm... I haven't," I said.

"What?" Gen said, her face was contoured in appalled horror.

"There's no qualm. I'll go get ready now."

Mom came to the living room, and my friends greeted her.
Mom said something about how pretty they all looked. She said it in a way that suggested that she was tired of me, something along the lines of: "Can you imagine? My own daughter, the spotlight of the day, isn't dressed yet!"

"Wanna come up to my room?" I asked my friends.

That question was almost pointless. They had already began prancing up to my room like happy little ponies.

They ganged up and stoned Hirena with throw-pillows when they met her still sleeping.

I went to take my bath. It was cold, but what could I do? Using the heater didn't appeal to me either. I didn't know why. The VS was to start by 11:00am and there I was, dawdling.

I came out of the bathroom. Hirena, done with her prayers, went to bathe.

Pris and Kathy stood by the balcony, helping each other to primp up the gowns they wore. Jerry was also a lively company to have.

Gen sat me down on a chair, and worked her usual makeup magic on my face.
I kept telling her not to overdo it, ouching when she would poke my face with yet another unknown instrument of beauty.

"Ta-da! I'm done!" Gen said few minutes later. "Come here, princess."
I snorted and  allowed her to lead me to my wardrobe's full-length mirror.

When I looked into the mirror, I couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped my throat.
It wasn't the gasp of horror, though. It was the gasp of pleasant surprise with a tinge of disbelief.

"Is that me?" I said as I pointed at the 'me' staring at me.

"Yes, baby girl. What did I tell you? You're face is the perfect specimen. No bumps. So smooth. So pretty," Gen said as she stood behind, proudly examining her job.

"Omigosh! Ray, you're breathtaking!" Kathy said. She and Pris had entered back in. I guessed they had gotten tired of playing with Jerry.

"Voila! Here comes Miss Valedictorian. I wonder why you never contested for the Miss Charios Beauty Pageant," Pris tsked, "It's too bad we're leaving."

They were flattering me, I knew. I had always considered myself simply plain. Kathy is the prettiest of our lot. She should be the Miss Charios.

"Thank you so much. You guys are the sweetest friends in the world," I said. I was happy.
My life is colourful because of the friends you've blessed me with.

They came and hugged me where I was stood.
I was on the verge of tears. The emotions running through my body as we held on in that team hug were flowing in torrents. I stifled them in. My internal ventilation system was clogged. I closed my eyes tight and held on to each of them tighter.

"Eh! Don't you dare ruin my hard work!" Gen said in a slightly quavering voice when she noticed me about to cry.

I knew she would be the most emotional. She was going to leave to the US for college. Oh! I'm so going to miss her.
It's wonderful to behold the transformation the Holy Spirit has wrought in her.
In fact, I can't reconcile the former bossy DD gang leader with the brand new Genevie Bryne.

"Girls, let's not do this," Gen said, sniffing.

"It's friendship that makes us strong. I'm so grateful to God for you guys. I'm so glad I met you," I said, my voice breaking on the last words. It was hard for me to say those words. But I had to, for the sake of my inner person that felt about to choke of an overload of emotions.

A tear escaped Gen's eyes.
Pris and Kathy were also choking on their emotions.

"No, Ray," Gen said, her mouth working, "you're my blessing. My own blessing." She hugged me by my neck and cried into my hair.
I couldn't hold my tear back any longer. I cried. I would miss her terribly. It was as if she had already packed her bags and was about to board the airplane that would take her away from me.

Just then, Hirena came out of the bathroom. "Uhmmm..." she said when she saw the current drama, when she felt the tangible emotions floating in the air. "Did I miss something?" She said it so innocently, so full of confusion.

We burst into laughter and she joined. It was a throaty laughter. Something that was necessary to keep us from melting further into a pool of tears. I think it worked and the cloud of melancholy cleared.

"Whew! You know, I almost thought that maybe you had heard a bad news," Hirena said.

As Hirena dressed, Gen touched up my now tear-streaked face. She took her time to dress my hair.
She parted it into two halves and brushed each straight mass, detangling every lump. She then tied my hair into a single bun with a beautiful scrunchie, and pinned it with fancy hair clips. I looked like a medieval tyrant queen. You know, those kinds with their hairs held high and pins sticking out every which way. Ha ha! Just the thought of that!
But, it was pretty on me. 

"Look at us! We're running late!" I said, when I glanced at my silver wristwatch.

We all rushed into the vehicle—Dad, Mom and Aunt June into the Lexus, while my friends went in Gen's car.

The hall was bubbling over with an influx of people and cameras, such as I had never seen in Charios before. Maybe because people had heard the announcement that the student that had the best SSCE result was from Charios High.

All the graduates looked nice. My mates of six years. My acquaintances. Not all of them were particularly nice to me; I can still remember what had happened during that scandal.

Anyway, I'm going to miss them all. They were quite a bunch of fireworks. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the nerdy, the not-so-brilliant...

When it was time for the announcement of prizes, after several boring speeches and some presentations by the students, I was jittery. It was kinda like fear at first sight.
My heart was playing a thud, thud, thud, rhythym in my chest cavity.

It finally got to SSS3 class's time, the slot for the best in the graduating class.

Kathy, Joshua and I got prizes for the internal mock exam, I getting the most.
For the prizes for SSCE result, I got all that for the science part. And then, when it was time for the best student in science class and the overall best student in the whole set, I was called.

I couldn't go back to my seat. I had to stand on stage and receive them all at once. The wrapped gifts were kinda heavy. But did I care? Not one bit!

At that point, the head of the  Master of Ceremony, who was calling my prizes, got swollen. He told my parents to come up and show their face to the whole school.

Dad and Mom couldn't have been more proud. You know the kind of swagger that proud parents use to walk when their child has maintained a good name and stand with God, that's how my parents walked to the stage.

My dad was so happy that he hugged me right there in front of everybody. I held on to him. Amidst all the noise of the MC's talk and the clapping of the congregation, I listened and said Amen as my dad showered prayers on me.

Together on stage, with beaming smiles, we took picture after picture. Some dignitaries from the congregation came to congratulate me, add monetary gifts and take pictures with me.

"And now, let's welcome, this year's Valedictorian. You might be wondering if you know her. Yes you do. It is none other than, Radiance Abraham!" the MC announced.
The people whistled and clapped.
I could hear the chants of my friends and juniors echoing, Radiance Abraham! Radiance Abraham! Radiance Abraham!

"Well, ready or not, here I come. Jesus please help me," I prayed in my heart. I took in a very deep breath as I walked up to the stage.

After all the usual formal greetings and official blah, blah, blah, I proceeded to the heart of my speech.

"I thank God for today. For how far he has brought me through. For my school. For my wonderful family and friends," I looked at them where they were seated. My friends waved, and grinned, and gave me thumbs up. My parents, my cuz and aunt smiled back at me like there was no other thing to do. I smiled at them.

"You all may be wondering how I got to this place today. You might be thinking, 'hey isn't she a little girl?' Well, yes I'm little but I have a secret. A secret formula that made me get to where I am today."

I paused and looked at the people. Most of them were gazing intently on me, ears alert to hear what my secret was. I mean, who doesn't want to know the secret of the most successful person?

This wasn't planned; it wasn't part of what I had written down.

Jesus, please give me courage to say this.

You did. I felt your presence right there on the stage. I breathed in your love. In a soft, calm voice I said, "It is Jesus Christ. He is my secret and will always be my secret. I lie not when I tell you that I am nothing without him. He can help you too if you allow him."

Then, I rounded up my speech with an encouragement to my colleagues and my juniors to keep pressing forward.

The VS ended and there was party, DJ music and many refreshments.
With stealth, I left there early. I had to if I didn't want to be stampeded by a throng of well wishers.

My testimony today is summed up in this song:

What would I live for if I don't have you in my life,
What would I gain if you take the Holy Ghost,
What would have become of me if I didn't see your light,
What would have been said of me if you didn't hold my hands,
Now I've come to realize that you are all I have,
You are all that matters...

I'll put you in front,
In front of my melody,
You are all that matters..

I'll make room for two,
You and I Jesus Christ,
You are all that matters...

Thank you Jesus. I love you.

**********
Happy VS to Ray!🤩
Writing this made me recall my own VS at Secondary school.

All rights reserved. The song included in this part, All that matters, was sung by a Nigerian gospel artiste, who goes by the stage name GUC.
🎵🎶🎵🎶

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