Daring Confidence.

I can undoubtedly classify my childhood as an adventurous one. I had fun, confrontations, scary and even calming moments. Daring, would be the right word to describe my five year old self as I was always willing to stand in the face of danger just as long as my curiosity was fed. However, one particular moment made me turn a new leaf at that tender age.

There was this plump girl my age (let's call her Hannah). Hannah's mom had a restaurant right next to my dad's house so I saw her every single day. She was a seasoned extrovert who always spoke her mind and did her own thing. Her confident nature stood out for me because she was so different from the other kids in the area, who were mostly pretty quiet and timid. Making her a notable exception.

It turned out that her elder sister was friends with my elder sister. So whenever the elder sisters were hanging out, we were forced to hang out too. In the beginning, I didn't like her company as she always struck me as too proud.

On this particular day, I outrightly challenged her, knowing pretty well that she could single-handedly defeat me. Still, I persevered.

“I can beat you up so bad if you annoy me.” I declared

She turned in my direction and gave me a scornful look.

“Did you hear what I just said? I could literally remove all your milk teeth with just one blow” I tattled.

Again, she did not deign to give me a response. Annoyed by her nonchalance, I walked up to her and brushed her shoulders.

“I am talking to you.” I thundered.

My action seemed to have drawn the attention of many people, including our elder sisters.

“What is going on there?” My elder sister asked no one in particular.

“Your sister says she wants to beat me up for no good reason,” Hannah finally spoke.

“Wongi, is this true?” My sister asked me.

Still pumped with adrenaline I responded

“Yes! I want to give her a beating because she's just too proud”.

“Then do it,” Hannah’s sister said abruptly.

My sister looked in her direction, they exchanged glances and she agreed.

“Yes, do it,” my sister said. “You want to fight? Then go for it.”

I looked at Hannah and back at my sister. For a moment, I thought she was going to dissuade me from fighting, like regular elder sisters do. But she didn't.

Before I could comprehend the graveness of my actions, Hannah was already on her feet. With her right hand, she motioned for me to come forward like a Kung Fu master would his student.

Hopping from side to side like I was Mohammad Ali, I rapidly moved towards her. I kept throwing empty punches in her direction and I could bet that none of my punches as much as scratched her.

One minute, I was punching the air and the next minute I was using the same hands to hold my upper jaw. Hannah punched my face when I least expected and just like that, all my adrenaline vanished.

I didn't realise it when I started crying. The elder sisters sprang up and ran in my direction when they realised how hard Hannah's punch was.

“Gosh! You're bleeding!” My sister yelled. I kept crying as the pain was just unbearable.

Immediately, Hannah's sister ran into her mom's shop, grabbed a sachet of water and handed it to me.

“Rinse your mouth” she instructed.

I took in the first drag of water, gargled my mouth and as I spat out, my upper incisor tooth followed.

“Pick up your tooth” my sister instructed and I did. “We're going home now and you're going to explain to mommy how you lost a tooth.” she concluded.

Explaining to my mom that for a moment, I thought I was a heavyweight boxing champion who impulsively started a fight, was definitely not an option.

“Please don't tell mommy.” I said amidst tears and with a bloody mouth. “ I promise I will not do it again.”

My sister sighed lightly. “Fine, let me get you home. I would give you warm saline water to gargle your mouth again. That should stop the bleeding.”

Before we started our journey back home, I turned briefly to look in Hannah's direction. She went back to sit like a princess, unflinched. She probably felt that I was looking at her and so she turned slowly, looked me dead in the eye, winked and returned to what she was doing.

This was the very first and last time I made an attempt at fighting. I didn't need a fortune teller to warn me to steer clear of trouble at all costs.

After the incident, I realised I was all bark and no bite. Also, I made it my life's mission to become Hannah's friend because although I was defeated and hurt by her, I absolutely fell in love with her confidence. It will interest you to know that Hannah and I are still best of friends.

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All images used belong to me and were taken with my mobile device except stated otherwise.

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Love🤍