Chapter 33 |The one with the Diary (and a FABULOUS give-away)

 The inception of every story starts at that precise moment in our lives when we desire that we be heard. That the story we wish to share be heard by a million others. Sometimes our reasons are selfish. We desire fame, recognition and the fortune that can be amassed thereof. Sometimes we simply wish to share our experiences. We desire nothing more than to touch the lives of others, to enhance their experiences by means of ours and to share the journey we’ve faced.

From a young age I kept a journal. Back then I didn't understand the significance behind this. I simply took it as a means of collecting my thoughts so that one day I could read back to the story that was to become ‘my life.’

I had no idea what ‘life’ had in store for me neither did I understand what all of this meant. I reminisced empty lined pages with a bunch of childish garbage.

Dear Diary.

‘I think I’m in love. I’m not sure what that even means. Every time I see him I like him more.'

I was 10. I had no idea what ‘love’ meant. The boy in question simply took it as a crush. Back then, I thought it was something more meaningful, a couple of years later I realized different. There was no holding hands, sneaking around sort of thing going on, but still, I thought it important enough to diarize.

When my dad found my diary one day, I was gutted. Besides being disappointed with me he also found it hard to trust me. I don’t understand how anybody can take a 10 year old seriously but Papa wasn’t the type to take anything lightly. This was the first of many ‘straws.’ I was barely 10, what did I know?

I shred that diary into a million pieces, even burnt a couple of pages for safety measures, after which, I promised myself, no more.

And I stuck to that promise.

For four years, I didn’t detail a single aspect of my life. It was as if I had no evidence of my existence for that duration. Then, for my 14^th birthday, Miya gave me a Diary. It was actually a notebook, a lily smothered in lilac marked the cover page and I thought it a nudge, to recapture my experiences in a way only words can enable me to express.

What you are about to read henceforth are actual extracts from this diary. Proceed with caution.

AUTHORS NOTE: In order to add an exciting element to Dodging Dad, we’re giving away prizes. To enter you need to subscribe to our blog via email and follow us on twitter. Get family (your great-great grandmother can subscribe from her Qabr, I think) and friends (this is an opportune moment to test those ‘benefits’) to subscribe and follow us, in order to up your chances. Every subscriber or follower (not stalker) that mentions YOUR name (yes, the one your Mama gave you) provides you with an additional entry. The person who garners us the most followers or subscribers (or even both, we’re not really fussy) wins. It’s as simple and easy as that. We’re not even joking.

1st Prize: Aura by Swarovski perfume (Full size)

2nd Prize: A Swarovski studded lip gloss tub and a Swarovski make-up bag.

Disclaimer: The Dad Dodger will not be held responsible for the awesomeness of the prize. Yeah, we’re cool like that.