'My name is Shadow Turquoise. I am ten years old. I love health science and I want to be a doctor in future' Turq practiced, looking at the mirror and smiling, revealing her braces that held her few teeth in place.
As she was Myopic, she had glasses on. Her glasses were big and round like those of the scientists. She was dressed in a perfect high school uniform of blazers, shirt and short skirt. In between the shirt and blazers was her signature hoodie that covered her hair apart from the constant head warmer.
'Turq…it's just five and you are already dressed!' Doctor Ralph Shadow sid, spreading his arms for Turq to run into.
After the hug, she looked at him, smiling.
'I can't wait to be there! I can't believe I'm finally going to an actual school after being home schooled for long…' she said excitedly. 'Thank you for letting this happen!' she said and hugged him again.
Then, he took her and sat her on his lap. He looked at her for a while, studying her cheerful face.
'Your mother is going to be really proud of you…' he said.
'I have a mother?' Turq asked. 'I thought you said not everyone does?'
'Yes…yes…yes!' Dr Ralph corrected, shocked that he spoke about her mother aloud. 'No, you don't…buh you have a whole me!' he yelled, tickling her and watching her wriggle and chuckle.
She looked at Dr Ralph, her father. For her, no one was as lucky as she was. He was the most loving, caring, friendly and everything good person on earth. He was more than enough for her.
Dr Ralph studied the girl before him, his daughter. There was a lot he could not tell her about herself. Somehow, he was sure she'd figure it out someday. But for the mainwhile, he was happy that everything was good. She was the perfect daughter anyone would long for. More than a daughter, she was a companion he could tell many things to. He told her a lot about work, stress, relationships and all. Though she did not always have advice to give, it was a relief to tell her things. He wanted her to homeschool forever but since she wanted to break free and feel like others, he allowed her. He also felt it was right. She had to enter the actual world. He was scared of many things especially as he's not always have her around but he believed she would be fine. His Shadow Turquoise was going to be fine.
'Don't let anyone make you feel less. You are the very best, okay?' he advised and Turq nodded.
Dr Ralph moved away in his joggers and sweatshirts to go and have his bath and prepare to take her to school, then go to work.
He was thirty years old but still single. So established was he that he owned a hospital. The hospital, Health Republic® had branches in all the continents. At the age of twenty two, he was done with all the necessary training he had to take to become a consultant. He was a star, very popular and resourceful.
'Make sure you take coffee and toast!' he yelled from his room. 'Don't be so excited' he added.
'Okay dad' she yelled back, dragging to the coffee maker.
After eating, she made some for her dad and waited for him on the couch, practicing her introduction. Dr Ralph chuckled to himself, seeing her enthusiasm. He was sure she would do very well as she was smart. Jude, her home teacher who was a professor, had attested to her smartness.
By the time Dr Ralph was done, it was already seven. Turq had carried his coat and bag to the car. She dropped the coat and bag at the back and they moved together to the school in the Range Rover, one of the moderate cars in Dr Ralph's fleet.
As they drove, Turq stuck her head outside, looking at the passing houses and buildings. No one could tell the level of her excitement.
After some minutes, Dr Ralph parked his vehicle and Turq saw the long awaited name, 'Fidel highschool'. She turned and looked at Dr Ralph with her cute green eyes. She was almost in tears.
'Hey, don't…'
'Dad, you're the best…thank you' she said and hugged him.
He shut his eyes and smiled. Then, he raised his hand to stroke her hair but he dropped his hand after remembering.
'I believe in you baby…go make me proud as usual' he said. 'And don't forget the codes…your hair…'
'I won't open it or let anyone do that' she cut in.
Again, he smiled. How she had taken a very good space in his heart was incomprehendable. They did their signature long hand shake, shaking hands, doing the cross sign, rotating their hands about their head thrice and then blowing kisses.
'That's my queen!' he exclaimed, pecking her forehead.
They smiled at each other before she jumped down and walked towards the gate. Before she entered, they waved again. He was meant to come with her on her first day but as a public figure, he knew coming around could cause chaos so he just exchanged calls with the principal and the vice principal academics, Miss Seline, a colleague.
As soon as Turq was out of sight, he turned on music and zoomed off.
Pleased Turq stood in front of the biggest building in the school, fascinated by everything. It was not just the building. It was the environment, the students, the joy around and happiness within. She was finally in school, an actual school. She'd meet with peers and make physical friends. Not pen pals, not her father's colleagues, not online friends.
'Hello!' a brown skinned averagely heightened and sized young lady said cheerfully. 'You should be shadow Turquoise, daughter of Dr Ralph Shadow'
Turq nodded, though confused because many people apart from his colleagues did not know her as his daughter. It was one of their codes.
'Good morning ma'am…' she dragged enthusiastically, holding on to her authentic black backpack with the large gold 'Louis Vuitton' Logo. 'Are you his colleague, friend or something…?'
'Of course Ralph did not tell you about me…' she joked.
It was weird hearing his name without the usual title. Turq assumed she was definitely a colleague. While the young lady laughed, Turq studied her beauty. She looked like those perfect actresses. The Los Angeles bound ones.
'I am Seline Walker, your father's seatmate' she said. 'He told me a lot about you… for the record, I'm the vice principal of academics but forget the title, I've known Ralph forever. Was his seat mate from kindergarten to college…'
'Are you serious…!' Turq exclaimed, shocked. 'He told me he was always topping the class …' Turq paused and drew closer. '...was he?' she whispered.
Seline laughed. Turq joined her. For the moment, Seline forgot she was vice principal academics. Turq's facial expression and tone was even funnier than her words. Ralph was not wrong when he told her Turq was a darling.
'Of course…he was…' she said and then drew closer like Turq did. 'But I dusted him in English during senior year' she said and then laughed.
'I'm not surprised Seline…he barely knows English…' Turq scoffed.
Again, they burst into another round of laughter.
'... yesterday he was asking me if 'intelligent' had a past tense…'
Seline tried composing herself but the girl beside her was laughing wildly as if she owned the school compound.
'Okay…enough' Seline tried to say in the midst of laughter. 'Probably, he was trying to teach you that intelligence never becomes a past tense. I mean…trying to tell you intelligence remains forever…' she suggested.
'Don't defend him…' Turq sang, using her index finger to cover her ears.
While she did that, Seline just smiled.
Turq was used to being with older people. Having fun with them was her lifestyle. She barely had to add titles to many names because they were her friends.
After the moment, they walked together. They started talking about academics. Seline was pleased to hear that Turq's teacher was a professor. As they got to Turq's class, Seline smiled and looked at Turq.
'I'm always here for you…okay?' she said with an assuring smile.
Turq nodded and waved. Then, she got into the class. She saw cliques of three, four and five. No one was alone so she was barely noticed. To get their attention, she made sure her high black Gucci® Loafers made some noise. Successful, everyone paused and looked at her.
'Ops!' Turq exclaimed. 'I didn't mean to scatter the party…' she said, breaking the pin drop silence. 'Besides, I'm Shadow Turquoise, a new classmate'