"Stephie, wake up,we need to pray"my mom said shaking and tapping me to wake up. I groaned and walked out drowsily rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
       My mom is a lecturer and my dad a the general manager of a publishing company. They are very devoted Christians. They are elders at our church. They are less busy unlike my best friend Nadine's parents. Nadine's mom is a very busy business woman and her dad is constructor and a hotel manager.        
   My big sister Elsie was a law student at a university in the States. I love her so much but she seems to be so into this morning devotion stuff. Nadine is the one I'm trying to understand now. I can't get the reason why she'll leave her house to ours in the name of morning devotion.

   I love her so much but the only problem I  have with her is that she is too religious. She's not like other friends that will go out to night clubs with you.

     I dropped myself in my seat beside Nadine. She was engrossed in the Bible. I rolled my eyes dropped my bag beside my seat.
"Hey," she greeted smiling.
"Hey" I replied not bothering to return her smile.
She turned to face me with a confused face.
"what's up with the long face?" she asked.
"Nothing. I'm just tired." I mumbled.
Who won't be tired after waking up before five just to pray?
"Tired. Seriously?"she smirked. "anyways, I was just reading from Psal-"
"Look Nad,  I'm seriously tired. Please you could save that for another day. "I said and walked out. I wished she won't come after me. But I know Nadine too well.  There she comes a worried and surprised look on her face.

"What was that?"she asked sitting beside me on the bench.
"What? "I sighed.
"You just walked out on me "she accused.
"I said I was tired." I complained. "Buh you should have heard me out "she said. I wish she would just back off. I have a serious thinking to do.
"Nadine, but I just said I was tired" I practically shouted.
"Well then. I'm sorry for disturbing you. "she said and turned to leave.
I am ready to have another fight with her so I grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Hey Nad, not so soon. I'm sorry"
I said and she turned trying to hide a smile.
"well, will you tell me how many acres of land you tilled to make you so tired?" she teased and we laughed.
   
Something was bugging me and I  wasn't going to tell Nadine now.
Maybe I could tell Elsie. I knocked on her door and waited for her to usher me in. I wasn't used to entering her room without knocking.
"Who is it? I'm coming!" she called and came to open the door with a huge grin on her face.
"You're unbelievable. You should have just walked in. "she smiled ushering me in her neat beautiful girly room.

  I sat beside her in her huge comfy bed.
"Els, I'm here to ask you something "I said.
"You know I'm always there for you. What's up?" she asked. Of course she's always there for me but won't she back off this time around?
"I need you to promise you'll help me first" I said.
"Spill. I'm sure I will help if I can" she said obviously not ready to promise anything.
"Well, I need you to sweet talk mom and dad for me" I said with hope she'd 'oh that's no problem'.
But I'm not such a lucky girl.
"Why? What do you want to do?"she asked putting her phone away so she could concentrate on me.
"Um....there's this party my class organized since first year. But I'm not able to go. I really want to go this time. It's the last and I don't want to miss all the fun." I said.
"What kind of party?" she asked. Well I'm not going to give up soon. I know there are oceans of questions for me. Elsie will never do anything for you without investigating and knowing the pros and cons of what you want to do. Sometimes I use to wonder if she went to law school just for me.

     "Talent show, pool party, birthday party and that's if someone is celebrating their birthday." I answered and she sighed. Uh oh,  is she fed up already?
"Why do you want to go to that party?"she asked.
"Duh, to have fun" Why else do we go for parties?
"Well yeah. Which of the school authorities is the brain behind this? I mean do any of your teachers know about it?" she asked.
 
   Well, I was quiet. That's the reason why the party is a crime. My instincts were worrying me about it.
"None of our teachers is aware." "but our course rep is" I added quickly.
"Steph, your course rep is still one of you. And seriously, she's not an authority of the whole school, just your class."
"What time does this party starts and ends?"she asked again.
"seven pm to da....till you're tired." I'm never saying dawn. That alone will make her refuse to help.
"Does Nadine know 'bout it?" she asked again. I'm really getting pissed off. Why is she asking questions when we both know she'll be of no help?
   
         Nadine.

She's my only problem now. They will definitely permit me to go if Nadine's going to be there. But she's an annoying creature. Even if her parents approve of it, she's never going to go. She will rather burry her stupid head in a Bible or a text book.
"I didn't tell her about it?" I sighed.
"Stephie, I'm really sorry, I can't do this. I mean I always help you but this is beyond me. Your conscience is worrying you but you still want to act against it. It's a sin. You know it and I know too,that this will not end prettily."she said sadly. That's it! I knew it. I was very angry with her. She'd asked me all the questions in the world as if she would be of help.

   "Won't there be graduation party for you guys?"she asked again. Why is she still asking questions? She should just leave me alone. I nodded and sighed.
      "Have finished having all the fun in this house?" she asked.
"Els, since when did learning started being fun. All the fun in this house is 'learn,  pray, read the Bible, and sleep' is that fun?" I asked as she smiled.
"You have a point there. But have you ever considered the ways to have fun in the house? Feel free, read the Bible and pray, study with Nadine, play a video game or take a walk with Nadine or me, you can even take a nap, make use of your headset if you need music, watch movies on your laptop, Netflix_"
"Easier said than done."I sneered and left her room.