ONE OUT OF FIVE

Joyce surprised to welcome friends and family Mr. Mike and Mrs. Lauryn Desmond had flown into Stanford City with ten other people in Mr Mike's private jet a day before their precious only child and daughter, Joyce, was to graduate from college. Mr. Mike, being a very occupied business person, had suspended all engagements that could affect his attendance at his only daughter's graduation just to surprise her. Months, weeks, and days until her graduation, whenever Joyce spoke with her parents on the phone about the people she was expecting to grace her graduation, the response wasn't always suitable for her. “Mum, who are the people coming with you and dad for my convocation?” "You know your dad's tight schedule, he can't make it. I will be the one to grace the occasion." “Only you Mum?” “I expect you to understand how things are, Joyce”. “What about Uncle Tom, Aunty Laura, Clara, won't they come too?” “I can understand that grandma's health is not good for travel, but I can't place others”. Joyce expressed her grief “You know they will also have personal engagements, and it will not be nice if we insist they cancel their plans for you”, Mrs Lauryn responded. “So, is it not worth it to cancel engagements for me, mum?” “I didn't say that, daughter!” “Don't quote me out of context. You are a master at making someone feel to have hurt you badly.” “Your dad has spoken with Uncle Tom and Aunty Laura to grace the occasion together with me, but their response is between two opinions. I guess they have other engagements.” Joyce was so sad to hear what her mum was telling her. “I will have to call them myself to hear from them”. “Do you think myself and your dad didn't care?” “I told you that your dad had called them” “You need to learn to respect the decisions of others. That is what makes a human.” “Learn to understand that you cannot always have your way in life” Prior to that, Joyce's expectations were so high about the people that would fly in from Pretoria to attend her convocation. But it was clear that her parents were about to crumble her plans. Joyce with a shattered countenance, the cloud of her eye balls has been triggered, loaded with precious waters. “Honestly, mum, I can't believe dad, Uncle Tom, and Aunty Laura would not come for my graduation” “It is very disappointing.” “You will have to take heart, Joyce. Such is life!” Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Desmond had arranged a very big surprise for Joyce, and they did not want her to have a clue about their plan. They had arranged with every precious person they knew that valued their daughter, and that their daughter would love to see at her convocation, including Uncle Tom and Aunty Laura. They had told them that they would be joining them onboard to surprise their daughter at her convocation in the US. The plan was to go in Mr Desmond's private jet. “So, mum, I shouldn't speak with anyone to come with you, right?” Joyce's sad countenance could be felt in her voice on the phone by her mum. While her mum could feel her disappointment, she couldn't let the cat out of the bag. Joyce Mum had never related with her in such a manner since she was born. She has always enjoyed their pampering. She never knew that her parents had planned to take her by surprise. They had booked a befitting hotel apartment close to the university for themselves and ten other family and friends who were going with them before leaving Pretoria. Their vehicular movement all through their stay in the city also had been perfected, and they were more than ready to surprise their only daughter. The plan communicated with Joyce was that Mrs. Lauryn would arrive at the airport at 8 a.m. a day before her graduation ceremony. So, Joyce was at the airport on Tuesday, which was a day before her graduation, hoping to receive her mother, Mrs. Lauryn. While sitting on the international arrival lot at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Joyce was conversing within herself. “Could it be true that only Mum will be coming over?” “So, dad cannot plan to cancel his engagements for me?” “Well, I know my dad would have done that if he could.” “This obviously would have been beyond him" “I can't wait to receive my mum anyway” “Half bread is better than none” According to what Joyce was told, Mrs Lauryn's arrival time was 10 a.m, but she was there an hour before to beat the time as she couldn't wait to receive her mother. Unknown to her, it was the itinerary of her dad's private jet that was communicated with her. Finally, the surprise is here! The wait is over! Her father's jet arrived at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) with ten other family and friends, at 9:55 a.m. Joyce was at the international arrival terminal keenly waiting to receive her mother, but surprisingly, she got more than what she bargained for at the scene. The surprise was arranged because they knew Joyce would be longing to receive her mother, Mrs Lauryn, who she had thought would be the only one coming. So, it was the unexpected people that were asked to walk in front. “What!” Joyce screamed at the top of her voice. “This is unbelievable.” “Someone should wake me from my sleep.” The first two people she saw were her dear Uncle Tom and Aunty Laura. It turned out to be a very emotional moment for Joyce as she exclaimed in excitement with tears rolling down her cheeks. She was sobbing uncontrollably while hugging and thanking her parents for making her so happy. “I can't believe you all could hide this from me.” Uncle Tom, while giving a hug to his precious niece, said “I love you Joyce”, “Mum told me you and Aunty Laura were between two opinions about your coming.” “I told her that I wanted to speak with you, but she scolded me on the phone” "I was surprised that you didn't bother to check on me for about 2 weeks. Definitely you were aware of the plan with mum and dad." Everyone was smiling while Joyce expressed herself. “It was all planned baby”, Aunty Laura responded to her. “My baby is now a graduate.” “Yes, yes Aunty Laura” “My small baby girl is now a big baby girl” “Lol. Aunty Laura, I am now a big woman” Joyce embraced everyone that came with her parents and thanked them for coming. Clara was also onboard as a surprise to Joyce. Her parents took her along because of the bond she and their daughter shared, even though Clara is a domestic staff member of the Desmonds but she was not treated as such. “Mum….dad, thank you for coming with Clara” “Congratulations Joyce” Clara congratulated Joyce smiling “I came with your favorites.” “Wahoo I trust you Clara” “I can't wait to have them.” While in the vehicle they had hired to take them to the hotel, Joyce said to her dad, "Dad, you're a clown, I would not have believed that you could connive with mum to do this." “I thought you were too busy for such a game.” Her father, smiling, said, "You know you are so precious to us, that was why we thought to surprise you.” “I know dad. I was always surprised at your response and that of Mum each time I asked about the people coming" "I was beginning to have a second thought about your love and care for me since I knew you as my parents." "Thank God it was a game." "I love you so much dad” “I love you more sweetie.” Joyce turned to her mother. "Did dad tell you about this?" Mrs Lauryn responded laughing really loud. "I am the masterminder!" Joyce paused for about three seconds in awe, hugged her mother closely, and said, "I can't love you less mum." Joyce did not stay in her hostel again as she moved her luggage to her parents' hotel apartment, so she could enjoy the family reunion that she had missed.