Like a Flash in the Pan (True Story)

Growing up was one of the exciting times of my life. No one should deny their child a great childhood not if they could help it. I know many have their children's innocence taken away by circumstances such as parent's messy divorce, death, imprisonment, etc.

While some kids had their childhood taken away due to circumstances surrounding their upbringing. A prime example is the late King of Pop(Michael Jackson) who never really enjoyed his childhood.

I watched one of his interviews when he said as a kid he was being driven to a show in Las Vegas and he saw his name and picture on huge billboards then moments later saw some kids playing in a park. He just wished, more than anything in the world at that moment, that he was one of those kids. But I bet the kids in the park may want to trade his place without knowing they are just having the best moments of life.

I did not grow up in a rich family, but we get by. Money should not be an excuse for not giving your child the best experience they could get as a child. Some of my best moments are moments that had nothing to do with money or things relating to it. It was just the pure joy of being able to be a child. Imagine having no cares in the world. Yeah, I do have needs, for example, I once wanted a baby lion as a pet after watching Tarzan. I don't know if that counts for anything. But in my world then, Dad, is the greatest man ever lived. He could perform wonders just by being Dad.



^Source


So need a baby lion? Just wait till my Dad returns. Want money to buy out half the street? Wait till my Dad returns. Or is it that bully in school that beats up all the tiny kids in school? Wait till I tell Dad and he would be down for the greatest ass whooping of his life! Life was that simple in a child's paradise. My Dad, true to nature, never spoilt this illusion of being King of Earth. He played along. I hear nowadays people tell kids Santa Claus is not real and the tooth fairy is just a figment of their imagination. I suggest such people should all be imprisoned and locked away for life. Crime? Taking away the joys of childhood!

During the school's break, on rare occasions, my Dad allows us to travel to a relative's house for holidays. This is usually after using every manipulation known to a 9-year old. You know the tantrums, the 24-hour getting on mom's side to get to change Dad's stance on no-holiday-away-from-the-house etc. Already, at that age, we know Mom can make Dad do things he would not ordinarily do! She's a powerful ally and we try as much as possible to exploit this useful loophole! So Mom, using her power, was able to make dad see reason. He grudgingly allowed us to travel. The school's holidays was for 4 weeks. It took 3 weeks to convince him to let us go. So, on the fourth week, it happened. We have a whole seven days free to do as we wished. That is freedom!

I opted to visit my Aunt, my Dad's immediate younger sister that lives a state away. She is a nurse, had always been one as I can't remember seeing her not being one. It was going to be fun to be staying the next seven days at her place. We started our day by going to the stream. Getting down the very steep slope to where the water is was always a move for the nimble ones. But I was surprised to see older ladies, in their sixties, negotiating these slopes with gallons of water balanced precariously on their head. Nothing could beat the practice and experience of the number of years they must have done it to be able to do it now. Truly, the aged woman is not old in the dance that she knows!

Later, in the day, my cousins said the community teachers were organizing a quiz competition with a lot of side attraction and prizes to be won. Well, I wasn't doing anything at home, I may just as well go and see the intelligent ones answer questions. We arrived the venue and I saw the large turnout of people. I was expecting a small gathering, but the hall was packed full with the competitors sitting opposite the judges who were made up of retired teachers and serving ones. It was an intimidating presence.

A question is asked and if the competitors do not know it a bonus was thrown to the audience. Anyone in the audience that knows it signifies by raising their hands. The judge would randomly pick a person who comes to the podium and take the microphone and provide the answer. If correct the whole audience cheers for him. If wrong you get booed. It was a weird setup and I was enjoying it at the back. Most times six or seven hands are up. Each straining his to be the highest so the judge would call them to answer the bonus question.

Finally, the judge asked the final question. It was about idioms in English. The competitors did not know it. As it was customary the question was thrown to the crowd. No one raised his hand in the crowd. The judge repeated, "Is there no one from the audience?" We all looked around for that person that could answer it. No one signified. Out of reflex I raised my hand and brought it down quickly when I realized I would be called to the front amidst all those eyes and people. But it was too late. One of the judges has already seen it. "Yes, young boy, the one in white shirt, step forward and show these pupils how it's done"

Wow, I was the only one wearing white at the back. I had to go. On reaching the platform I made him repeat the question. He said, " What is the meaning of Dutch courage?"

Yes, I heard it right the first time, just wanted to be sure. I answered, "It was the courage obtained from drinking alcohol." You could hear a pin drop as I passed the microphone back to the quiz judge. He picked it and said, " That is correct!" A thunderous cheer erupted in the hall. I felt like a king. I was able to get this answer correctly as I just came across the phrase in a book at my aunt's place just yesterday. I started to walk back to where I was and was called back to pick my prize.

It was wrapped. I couldn't wait to get home to see what it was. I got home and opened it and it was a glass cup. Oh well. It could have been a piece of stone and I would still be ok with it!

Sidenote: I never once made use of this cup. It ended up being smashed by my half-brother. It felt like he smashed my $1m prized property :)

Do you have a memorable moment as a child? Let's hear it in the comment section below.

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@greenrun ... still running :)