Joan My Friend

A lot of times I see how people get surprised by their loved ones when I scroll through my Tik Tok field, sometimes it starts off as a prank before the surprise steps in, and sometimes the main surprise itself with no prologue or whatsoever needed. Birthday surprises or other random surprises always leave the being surprised in awe and have their jaws dropped.

_{Photo by timromanov on Unsplash}

I myself have not been left out being surprised, I also have a tale to tell you reading, here's my tale.

Joan has been like a sister to me, to some people that don't even know us from way back, they do address us as sisters because of how well we tally and hangout together in school.

Growing up Joan and I got fond of each other at a very tender age, had the same hobbies, the same likes and dislikes. We were each other best friends and our parents gave approval of our friendship, they took it upon themselves to help us get along so well.

Their help went as far as getting us matching outfits, enrolling us in the same school and even having us in the same class room.

I grew up learning that aside from Joan, anyone that I've shared anything with loses interest or is the other way around. So it was always her or nobody at all, she's my ride or die.

We've learned to have each other, just each other in better days or crises. We became each other's priority before anyone else. Going through high school, the university too, here in the university we are studying the same course and being each other's roommates.

After our first year in the university, our school went on an indefinite strike, not just our school though but the universities under the ASSU body. During that period we couldn't wait and spent our days that turned to months at home doing relatively nothing. We decided to get ourselves work to keep us busy and earn us money while we waited for the unknown resumption date.

Joan got quite lucky, she got a job to work as a waitress in this exquisite restaurant with a very good pay. It was a Monday to Saturday work, a twelve hour shift. She's always busy at work and literally has no time for herself, I get to see her briefly during the weekdays and on Sundays she's often tired.

It was now like a death sentence to me because getting a job was demanding and all effort of mine kept being abortive, and I was spared the rants of my parents for sitting home doing nothing and having to regret the indefinite strike day in and day out. I literally turned to the unpaid house help at home, trust me it wasn't funny for a bit.

Just one fateful Sunday after service I went to Joan's house to pay her a visit so we could catch up on the missing times we had during the weekdays.

I asked her about her work while we were talking, she told me how hectic of a week it was, then I told her at least it's better than waht I was doing since there was no pay attached to mine and I told her how much I wish I had a job.

"Talking about you having a job" she said, "here's is your employment letter, you're to resume tomorrow" she added. I was really happy and was lost for words, because this is an employment I got without even applying for it.

She told me during my first month of work at the restaurant, she found out there was a vacancy for a waitress there. She applied for the post with my name and didn't tell me a thing about it till that day. She helped pull a few strings and I was given the job.

I was surprised at her kind gesture, I shed tears of joy, she hugged me and told me that's what fries are for. She surprised me, got me a nice paying job.

Till today I'm still grateful for her, because that job helped me save a lot for school.

I had been surprised other times, but this one is outstanding.

I love you Joan and I'll always do.