The Rise of the Sun

By Maryann Duru

Riele Tomike Oladele; a Nigerian-Canadian teenager who resides in Ontario, Canada. She lives an average life of the regular triangle; family, school and friends, but as a senior in high school, she has no clues and no plans whatsoever, as to what the future holds. She feels pressured to figure out her life before the end of the school year, when she stumbles on an opportunity. Will she accept the opportunity without experience? Or reject it for fear of the future?
This is a book about family, friendship, adventure, culture, opportunities, self discovery and purpose, spiced up with a lot of drama to keep you on the edge of your seats.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maryann Duru
• Release date: Oct 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005781149

Maryann Duru

Maryann Duru is a young, intriguing and prolific writer from Nigeria. She began writing at the age of 19, during her free time as an undergraduate in the university. She writes books that encourage and inspire both the young and old, books spiced up with a lot of drama, culture, comedy and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seats. She is a multi-talented and multi-dimensional lady, a lover of nature, who loves to express herself and her thoughts in many forms, especially through her books.

Book preview

THE RISE OF THE SUN

Just do it!

By Maryann Duru

Copyright 2020 Maryann Duru

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed reading this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

The events written in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to any person, institution or events is merely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Riele was sitting in front of her closet, thinking of the perfect dress to wear to school the following day. Her room looked more structured than an average teenager’s room, made up of few sculptures and artistic paintings, all hung on a plain white wall. The closet was in an ugly state, clothes were littered on the floor and her bed was completely covered with different clothes. Riele looked like she just woke up and her hair looked like that of a hedgehog.

Riele’s mother, Nancy walked in with a shopping bag, she looked around the room with a confused expression and asked,

Oh my! Did a racoon visit your closet? Why do you look homeless?

Mum! You are back. I’m so confused, I don’t know what to wear to school tomorrow Riele replied, ignoring Nancy’s questions.

Nancy said You didn’t answer my questions, but anyway, I got you something. I stopped by the mall to get you this blue dress, since you will be resuming tomorrow.

Nancy handed the bag over to Riele. As soon as Riele opened it, she smiled sheepishly and hugged Nancy.

Thank you mummy, you are the best mum ever. She said.

You’re welcome, Nancy replied Now go freshen up, arrange that closet of yours and come help me prepare dinner.

Riele smiled as she watched her mother leave her room.

Riele Tomike Oladele; a 17-year-old Nigerian, who resides in Ontario, Canada. She is dark, skinny and tall. She is in her senior year in high school; an ambivert who loves to draw, paint and dance. Riele is from a family of four, an average Yoruba family, trying to stay true and authentic to their culture, while living in the diaspora. Her parents are Jackson Oladele and Nancy Oladele, two business moguls working at different reputable firms, ranking at different respectable and influential positions in their offices. Her baby sister, Cydni Tolani Oladele, a playful and frolicsome 4-year-old. She is a courageous little girl who can be very sweet, and very sarcastic as well.

Nancy and Riele prepared dinner and when it was served, they called Jackson and Cydni to the table. Potato chips and tomato egg sauce was served along sides with fried chicken. Cutleries clicked as they all ate, fully concentrated on their plates and Cydni asked,

Mummy, can I have some more chips please?

Yes baby Nancy replied and used a fork to put more chips into Cydni’s plate.

Riele, how do you feel about being in your last year in high school? Jackson asked.

It’s kind of nerve wrecking daddy, Riele replied. I’m excited to see some of my friends but I’m nervous because I’m going to be writing my final exams soon.

Hmm, you have to start preparing for your finals, so you can get scholarships into college, He said, By the way, have you made up your mind on the university to attend?

Not yet. She replied, looking at her mother.

Nancy smiled, Sweet heart, give her some more time.

Jackson looked intently at Riele and focused on his meal.

Chapter 2

It was 6:15am the following day, Riele finally woke up as the alarm clock rang for the third time. She sat up on her bed, checked the time on her phone and rushed to the bathroom almost immediately to have her bath. She got out of the bathroom, packed her bag and prepared for school. Riele was fully dressed in her blue gown, she wore a sandal and combed her hair out in form of an afro, she grabbed her bag pack and rushed downstairs for breakfast. Getting there, she saw Cydni and Nancy having breakfast on the dining table, she greeted them and Nancy exclaimed,

Wow! This gown really looks good on you, I’m glad I bought it.

Thanks mum, Riele replied with a smile on her face, she checked her phone and exclaimed, Oh my! I have to go catch the school bus. I can’t afford to be late on my first day. She said as she grabbed her lunch pack and ran towards the front door.

But you haven’t had breakfast. Nancy said.

Riele ran to the front door and opened it, Don’t worry about me mum, I’ll be fine. Thanks for my lunch, I love you. She said, smiled at them and closed the door.

Green Ville Highschool

Riele walked down the hallway, towards her locker, opened the locker, kept her lunch bag and a few books, and headed to class. Riele was sitting on the third seat at the extreme left of the class when Riele’s best friend, Jeiel, walked up to her excitedly. Jeiel Yetunde; a dark-skinned Yoruba girl from Nigeria. She is a dramatic extrovert, a plump average heighted melanin queen, who loves to brag about her exotic culture and is always proud of her skin color.

Hey bestie! Jeiel called out.

Jeiel! Riele exclaimed and hugged her I’m so happy to see you, it’s been like forever. She added gesturing with her hands.

Yeah, me too! Jeiel replied I’ve missed you so much, you’ve lost some pounds. She added with a slight frown on her face.

I tried to be vegan for a while and after two months, your girl couldn’t take it anymore. Riele said.

Jeiel laughed aloud, You tried to be vegan? Unbelievable. She asked.

What do you mean? Riele asked.

Riele, you are a Nigerian, how did you think you were going to cope, when your mum can’t cook a meal without an animal in it. Jeiel said.

My parents didn’t really complain. Riele said, The only thing my mum said was ‘nigba ti o ba pada si awon iye-ara re, iwo yoo darapo mo wa. Vegan ni carnivore kor’. (means: when you return to your senses, you will join us.)

Jeiel smiled, That is what an average Nigerian mother would say. She said.

They talked for a while until Damian, a plump Canadian with freckles on his face, one of Riele’s classmates, walked up to them.

Hey ladies! What’s up? He asked.

Damian! I’m surprised to see you here. Jeiel said.

Why are you surprised? He asked.

I heard you moved, so I assumed you’ll change your school, Jeiel said.

Riele looked at Jeiel, He only moved few blocks away from his previous house Jeiel. Riele said.

Oh! I didn’t know that, Jeiel said.

Damian, how was your break? Did you travel to the Caribbean with your parents? Riele asked.

No, I didn’t, He replied. I spent the entire summer with my cousins in Vancouver. Did you guys notice the extra seat at the back? He asked.

Yes, I heard we have a new classmate coming on transfer from Leicester. Jeiel replied.

Damian looked around, Let me go grab a seat, see you guys later. He said.

As soon as Damian left for his seat, the mathematics teacher walked in and everyone took their seats. The class ended after two hours of straight mathematics and the Literature teacher walked in some moments later. Classes ended, Riele bided her friends, goodbye, got on the school bus and headed home.

~~~

Riele was on her reading table, trying to get her assignment done. She checked the time on her phone, realized it was time for dinner and no one was back home. She dropped her pen, closed her laptop and rushed downstairs to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

It was almost 7pm and Riele was half way done cooking. The doorbell rang and she went to get the door. As she opened the door, Cydni jumped on her.

Hey Cyd! Did you have a fun day at school?

Yeah, Cydni replied, I drew a cat and an elephant today. She added with a grin.

Oh! That’s good, Riele said as she played with Cydni’s cheeks. Riele looked at her mother as she walked into the house with exhaustion written all over her. Welcome mum. She said.

Hi baby. I can perceive fish, are you preparing dinner?