The Beat of Disobedience

The choir group in my local church is one department I had always admired as a child; the praise and worship sessions were the highlight of my church experience, as I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Watching the praise leader sing at the top of her voice while swaying her hips, and other members as following suit, they were always filled with an unexplainable joy, like they had no worries in the world. I also did my part, swaying my hips and jumping in excitement. I felt the joy too, not that I had any worries at that age. Mum liked that her little girl was a church lover,only if she knew that it was all for the melodies.

So by the time I was old enough to join a department in church, I didn't think twice before choosing to join the choir department. Not only would I be able to render my melodies to the heavens, but my parents would also have no choice but to allow me to attend midweek and weekend rehearsals. I was fourteen, and already knew what it felt like to have parents with eagle eyes, as the only places I was allowed to were school, Sunday church service, and back home, a triangular lifestyle you can say, as they never allowed me anywhere else, especially on my own.

"Mum, I'm ready now, can I go?" I asked my mum, not expecting a direct answer,

"Are you sure you can go to church on your own? This was the 100th time she was asking the same question,

"Of course, mum, I can", I replied. I would also be in the company of Charity and Onome, they were my friends and attended the same church with me, and lived on the next street after mine, which was also the direction to church. They had already been in the choir few months before I joined and were the same age as me.

"Ok. I've heard you. Make sure you come home straight after the rehearsals, no minute less than 5:30"

Ok ma, I replied happily, taking jumping steps, as I rushed out of the compound, before my mum decides to change her mind.

She had even calculated how long it should take me to get back from church.

The rehearsal went well, and even took a shorter time than I expected, since it was the first time for some of us. The choir master decided to take things slow, and just introduced us to keys and solfa notes, and by 4 pm, we were already dismissed.

"Are you going home soon?" Onome asked me as we exited the auditorium together,

"Yes, mum said I should be back not a minute more than 5:30pm."

"Then you have enough time na, this is just 4 o'clock, let's go play a bit," she said, as she pointed to the swings staying idle on the playground around the church premises.

I thought for a few seconds, and decided to join them, after all, the walk home was less than 20 minutes, taking advantage of my little freedom won't make me disobey mum's curfew.

The sun beat down on the dusty playground, its rays gleaming off the swings like a challenge to make the most of my freedom, and I was determined to squeeze in as much playtime as possible with my friends. When we had our fill with the swings, we chased each other around, laughing and shouting, completely absorbed in our own little world. It was during this moment I discovered that Onome and Charity were whiling away time so they don't get to do any house chores when they get back from church, as for me, I was just enjoying my very first freedom.

Before I knew it, the sun had shifted, and everywhere was beginning to get dark. I glanced at my watch and felt my heart sink. I had overstayed the time mum had warned me about; it was already 6:22 pm. My Mum and Dad would be furious, I thought, and hurried my friends to let us get going, but they were not even concerned and told me to relax.

As I arrived home, mum was already standing at the gate with a stern expression on her face.

"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled. I mumbled something about playing with friends, trying to downplay the extent of my tardiness. But Mum knew better, as she had already called our choir coordinator to confirm the time we were dismissed.

"Didn't you remember my instructions before you decided to go play with your friends?" she questioned further now with a mix of worried expression on her face. What were you thinking? One thing about children is we know how to read our parents' emotions, and now I knew mum was utterly disappointed and angry, which leaves me with no choice but to face the music of my actions.

I looked down at my feet. I felt a knot of guilt in my stomach. Later that night, my mum and dad sat me down and explained how worried I made them, which was the reason they were reluctant to let me join the choir at first, and I proved them right, messing up my first chance. I wasn't allowed to be part of the choir for the next 6 months, as I had to make up for my disobedience.

I felt a stinging sensation in my eyes, knowing I had let them down, and it hurt to see the disappointment in their eyes.

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