My Bead Life

It was the second half of the year after the coronal virus. Everything was gradually returning to normal. Everyone going about their businesses, salary workers heading over to work with the stories of how they survived the pandemic on their lips.

It was the worst year of my life but notwithstanding I counted it as life experience.

Things were gradually getting back to normal except for me. It felt like I was abandoned, home alone doing literally nothing but to discuss with the walls of my room.

I thought sleeping could help but I already slept a lot. My younger siblings were off to school, my elder ones off to learn a skill and since school hasn't resumed yet I was left behind to take care of the house.

“I should try to convince my Dad” I thought to myself after I had used my mum's makeup to decorate my face, took some pictures and eventually got tired of the whole thing.

My skills on learning how to make up ends in using a black eye pencil on my eyebrow, purple lipstick and thick powder that wasn't even matching my skin color.

Making sure I leave everything just the exact way I found it because I wasn't about to get murdered when my mum finds out I have been stealing her makeup for as long as I came home.

It's simple, decorate myself and make sure to wipe it off before she returns.

“I have already visited the clinic and spoken to Mr Ifeanyi. He will accept you to work with him” my father said after he returned home.

“Daddy” I got closer to him.

“I don't want to work in a dental clinic. I want something different like a side hustle”

“But your course is a professional course. You can choose to practice and it will be an additional experience before school opens” he pressed on.

I knew my father was a hard nut to crack essentially when his mind was already made up but I kept on pressurizing him for something different. Something not related to my course.

“Fine, what do you want?”

“I want to learn how to bake” his face fell, the look of disappointment but I didn't relent.

“I can bake for wedding, small chops and the likes”

“Sandra can do it, why don't you go learn from her”

My father standing passed the message, the conversation was already over even before it started . Aunty Sandra could bake but I have already reached out to her and she promised to teach me on one condition as long as I provide the things I needed for the class which is another problem.

Weeks turned into months, it got more frustrating each passing day and everything I brought up the issue I was giving an assurance. A false hope which I believed in.

“The woman that delivers cake for us, you can learn from her” my father suggested one cool evening. I thought finally he's reasoning with me.

I suggested we put a call to her and know how much she will charge but the moment she mentioned her price I knew it was over but I didn't want to be hopeless so I kept on pressurizing him.

I stumbled upon my friend's status. She posted a bead bag and it looks so beautiful though I messaged her to teach but she suggested I learn from YouTube which I quickly did.

After downloading a few videos and assembling all the tools I needed to start beading. Excited, I'm finally doing something for myself. I sat on my study table, my phone carefully placed, I watched every step and practiced mine.

If I get confused I will pause the video and go back again. After the back and forth I got stuck when my fishing line finished in the middle of the process and I don't even know how to continue.

I watched the video till the end but basically the part of their fishing line finishing was taken out from the video.

I thought I should have made it longer, which I did, starting fresh again with a longer fishing line and going through the same process over and over again and still my fishing line still finished before I could finish the bag.

I checked out other videos but my problem was still staring at me. I thought the process would be seamless with no stress but I was wrong.

As simple as it looked, it took me almost a week to figure it out and a friend of mine was helpful in correcting me.