Adanna's First Love(An African girls perspective on Teenage crush)

Adanna was only thirteen when she fell in love for the first time. she thought about him as soon as she woke up and her last thoughts before she falls asleep were of him. Adanna was the second child and first girl in a family of five. she had an elder brother and a younger sister. Her father was a journalist that travelled a lot and was barely at home. Their mum taught in a government owned primary school near their residence. she was almost like a single parent as their father was rarely around. Her mother took her role of parenting very seriously and was quite strict with all her children. she was loving but very firm with them and she had her husband's full support. The object of this Adanna's all consuming affection was Chike, a seventeen year old boy , she met in church about two months earlier. It was ridiculous because she didn't know anything else about Chike. He seemed Kind, noble and very handsome. He was also quiet and reserved. He also always stayed by himself . Chike was tall, handsome and had an athletic body. Adanna herself was pretty, tall and had great legs. They were a perfect match in Adanna's opinion. The only problem was that she was not allowed to date yet. infact if her mum even knew she was thinking of dating a boy at thirteen, she would ground her until she turned twenty. Adanna smiled as she thought of her mum's reaction. Her mum had taught herself and her siblings, her elder brother Chukwukaelo and her younger Sister, Nkechi, s*x Education when they were 9, 7 and 5 years respectively. She had encouraged the three of them to talk to her about such things and had explained that certain parts of their bodies including their mouths, were private and people , even if they were relatives were not allowed to touch or fondle or kiss such parts. Her mum had warned Nkechi and herself especially to beware of sitting on boys or men's laps or being squash hugged for too long. Their mum had retaught the lesson when Kaelo became 11, and Ada and Nkechi turned Nine and Seven respectively. Mrs Okolo had always ended the lessons by telling her daughters , "concentrate on your books, work hard at your studies and excel in your choice of career, and when the right time comes, you would marry equally hard working men and both of you will give me great grandkids . For Kaelo, she said " Bobo, work hard at your studies and do us all proud and you will find a wonderful girl to marry and I shall have a third daughter. All these, didn't stop Adanna from thinking of Chike all the time. "If only life were that simple",Ada mused. She wished she could have a whole day to discuss with Chike. Just the two of them, alone in the garden or the School football field when all the students had gone home. she would hold his hands, smile into his face and perhaps even kiss him like she had seen so many actresses do on television with the objects of their affection. she smiled happily at the thoughts and closed her eyes to better savour the moment. she even puckered her lips and dreamily whispered " Oh Chike my love" She was rudely startled out of her daydreams when Nkechi her younger sister spoke. "Adanna, mum is calling you". Nkechi had a twinkle in her eyes but Adanna gave no thought to that. She had already turned to go answer her mum when Nkechi's voice stopped her in her tracks. " Who is Chike? " Adanna turned slowly to face her and asked "who" "I heard you murmur Chike just now when I came in " replied Nkechi. "Oh, I was rehearsing a play" In a way it wasn't a lie, Mrs Orji her literature teacher had told them that the school would stage a play later in the session. She had told them that any student who was interested could audition for a role. Even though, the play (an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet) was not yet ready, Adanna felt that it was not really a lie that she had just told. After all, there would eventually be a school play, Mrs Orji had assured her class of that.