One thing about Elite Light Gate Secondary School was that they were very strict about discipline.
Not just in class… even in the dining hall.
There was a cutlery rule.
Every student was expected to have their own spoon, fork, and knife, and we were to use them properly. They said it was to teach us good manners and etiquette.
To most students, it wasn't a big problem.
But to me…
It was.
I was playful and careless. I didn't pay attention to small things like that.
Within a short time, I had already misplaced my cutlery.
I searched my bag.
Nothing.
My locker.
Nothing.
I even checked under my bed, but it was nowhere to be found.
Dining time was close, and I didn't know what to do.
I sat quietly in class, thinking.
Then I looked at Nancy.
Her things, as always, were arranged. Her cutlery was kept properly, neat and complete.
I hesitated.
Then I finally spoke.
"Nancy…"
She looked at me.
"Yes?"
"I… I misplaced my spoon and fork," I said quietly. "Can I use yours?"
She didn't answer immediately.
She just looked at me for a moment.
Then she opened her bag, brought out her spoon and fork, and handed them to me.
"Don't lose it," she said.
"I won't," I replied quickly.
That day, I used her cutlery.
After eating, I returned it to her.
The next day…
It happened again.
I misplaced mine again.
And again, I went to her.
"Nancy… please."
She looked at me, already understanding.
"You lost it again?"
I scratched my head.
"Yes."
She sighed softly, but still gave me hers.
"Last time," she said.
But it wasn't the last time.
It became something that kept happening.
I would misplace mine…
And I would go back to her.
And somehow, she would still give me.
The strange thing was…
She didn't give it to anyone else.
Only me.
Sometimes she would warn me.
"Light, you have misplaced my things before."
And I would just say,
"Sorry 😔."
But she would still give me.
I didn't think much about it then.
To me, it just felt normal.
But looking back…
That was how it started.
In my small, careless life in JSS1…
Nancy became someone I kept depending on.
She was steady.
I was not.
And somehow, she stayed.