Chapter 32 UNSPOKEN TRUTH
Godiva’s POV
I wasn’t moved by the cheers because I heard their whispers. I knew those cheers were aimed at mocking us. I was even more pissed when I saw Dina smiling. I didn’t know if she was actually just dense or she simply didn’t care at all.
An Afro-pop song suddenly began playing loudly from the speakers. That was a sound we had danced to since we were children. We had mastered the steps, but I didn’t know how to even begin in front of a hostile audience.
Dina and I continued staring at each other, waiting for who would go first. I noticed people already laughing, and their laughter got me even more pissed.
I moved closer to Dina and whispered, “Don’t give them an opportunity to look down on us, we got this.”
Stepping back and getting myself ready, we asked them to restart the song. Yet again, the hall went loud with hypocritical cheers.
The second the music started playing, we began dancing with so much energy. I could see the hall light up with smiles and sincere cheers as a few stood up to join us and others stood up to clap. The cheers increased when we started a famous Nigerian “leg work.”
For minutes after the music died down, the cheers and claps continued even louder. It was hard to get the hall to be quiet.
Walking back to our seats, I could feel the energy in the hall. “Again!” a voice shouted from the audience. “Another dance!” the voice echoed, followed by a scream.
Dina and I held tight onto each other’s hands after we sat. It was unbelievable what had just happened. We both wondered how it was possible that we danced before our schoolmates.
I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to get back home to tell Mama all about the trip. I knew Mama wouldn’t believe it if we told her we danced before our schoolmates.
The awards presentation started almost immediately after our dance performance. The award for the 3rd place in the arts competition we had back in school was presented to Hillard, a 12th grader.
His art was named “Kuvaka.” He painted an image of a goddess being defeated in what seemed like a battle. He explained it was a goddess in an African country who perverted justice and was destroyed like the Egyptians in the Bible.
His artwork was incredible. I felt a little sense of jealousy and motivation seeing him collect the award. “I’m definitely getting this award next time,” I whispered in Dina’s ear.
Dina burst out laughing, causing all attention to turn our way.
“Divvvvv, Divvv!” Dina’s voice filled the air as she jumped to her feet, making me startled.
“What is wrong with you, bro?” I asked, very pissed.
“Lookkkk!” she exclaimed, pointing toward the stage.
“What!” I exclaimed, also jumping to my feet. My artwork was lifted high in the air by the staff as the second place.
I didn’t know how to react, whether to run to the stage or wait for them to announce my name. I stood still, smiling as I clasped my hands.
“And the first runner up is Godiva Scott,” the staff announced on the microphone. How Dina and I ran toward the stage remains a mystery.
Dina collected the award even before I did. Everybody in the hall burst out laughing at our dramatic approach.
I was handed the microphone to talk about my art. I got so emotional and began tearing up on stage. I tried collecting myself before finally explaining my art.
“This artwork is titled ‘A Mother’s Reconciliation.’ It was an encounter I had growing up as a child with my Mama. After she rebuked me that day, I threatened to leave home. I felt she didn’t love me and only poured out her frustration on me.”
“It didn’t last ten minutes when she came looking for me with a present. I wasn’t carried away by the present, I still felt angry at her. She said to me in a still voice, ‘A mother’s love is shown through her ability to rebuke her child with one hand and embrace the child with the other hand.’ That lesson stuck to my mind since I was a child,” I said in between tears.
The audience became very emotional. I could see a few girls tearing up and the majority of them screaming, “Awwwwwwn.”
Walking back to my seat with my award in my hands, I noticed Jerald smile at me, a kind of smile that showed someone was proud of you.
I had barely sat down when the staff announced, “And in first position for this year’s art competition at Town Shanghai, the winner, Young Jerald.”
I didn’t know when I sprang back to my feet and began cheering loudly and clapping. I only kept quiet when the whole hall stared at me. It was only then I realized I was the only person on my feet and screaming. Even Jerald wasn’t on his feet yet.
I was already feeling very embarrassed. I continued clapping and sat down. I bent my head immediately I sat down. I could see people nodding from left to right at me.
I noticed Jerald’s indifference as he walked up to the stage to get his award. Immediately he was handed his award and his painting was still held high, he turned to leave, still looking indifferent.
“Wait up, you haven’t told us the meaning of this beautiful art,” our staff spoke up when he turned to leave.
“I didn’t do the art to get an award, I just needed to express myself,” he said indifferently and attempted to leave again.
“Well, now that you’ve gotten the award, can you enlighten us about this beautiful piece?” our staff persisted, handing him the mic.
“Well, since I have no option, this art is titled ‘Yin-Yang,’” he said. “As you can… as you… you can see…” he stammered, leading the hall to a pin-drop silence. Everybody was anxious to know the meaning of his art, including me.
He ignored the whole crowd and turned to look at me. All the crowd followed his gaze, and I temporarily became the object of conversation.
After a minute of silence, he said, “Thank you,” and walked out of the hall through the side exit.
I felt disoriented the second Jerald stepped out. I felt my heart hurting. Maybe it was because I felt he had a traumatizing event that he hadn’t been able to heal from.
I sat staring blankly at the stage as the hall fell into chaos. I sprang up from my seat and headed for the door, ignoring Dina’s call.
Outside, I began looking around the hall for Jerald in a very confused manner. I suddenly sighted his white sweater at a distance in the dark pathway.
“Jerald!” I called as I ran toward him. “Jerald, Jerald!” I continued calling as he ignored me and kept walking without looking back.