My Life: My Story: A Series Of Mysteries, Discoveries And Adventures Essay

Just like any other child in the village, I grew up with great element of enthusiasm and optimism to face the future. After school I spent most of time in the playground with other kids because I was the only kid in my family and could not play some childish games with my parents: I needed that child filled environment with the noise and all sorts of games. I was brought up by my two parents who I knew from childhood as daddy and mummy. They were too compassionate and caring and they provided me with every material and non-material item that a child would receive from their parents. During my elementary school days my dad could drop me to school in the morning and pick me in the evening on his way from work. He was really fond of me. I was not poor in class and my teachers were also fond of me due to my consistent impressive performance. As I grew up, I had the extraordinary ability of speed and accuracy in doing things. My grade six tutor who was the patron to the scouts association should have discovered my ability and talent before asking me to join the scout’s movement. Initially I was hesitant to join the movement but I eventually developed some interest that saw me rise up to the position of a unit warden in three months. Our unit was supposed to undergo intensive training in life skills, safety and first aid. I developed a keen interest in life skills especially rescue missions. My mentor and tutor grew fond of me due to the enthusiasm I displayed in the scouting movement.
At the age of fourteen, during one cold weekend afternoon in the winter, I decided to spend some time in my bedroom for a nap. My parents were relaxing in the boardroom which was next to my bedroom: they were talking in low tones. My resilience in the bedroom took me long time without sleep. Being a curious boy, I developed a deep interest in what my parents were discussing so I left my bed and took a position close to the door with my left ear against the keyhole. I could hear and tell that they were discussing an issue about somebody. At some point I could hear mummy saying, “He is of age and we need to change his surname before it gets late.””He also needs to be bought a house in the city” I also heard my father saying, “We should also disclose this issue to him and get his suggestions on the same” They were just giving ideas to each other but none of them was responding to the others concern. At some point, disagreement crept in and mummy raised her voice,”No..No!! That will never come to happen with him. He will hate us forever.” At this point I was bound to the door like part of it to grasp any single word that could shed a silver light about what their topic was. My curiosity was however in the verge of hitting a dead end because the more I tried to figure out the subject of the debate, the more I got confused. At another point mum said,”I think even before we disclose it to him, we should seek some advice from our legal advisors and also the source.” I should be the topic of discussion here, I thought for the first time. But I did not link any prevailing situation to the issue being discussed by my parents. What would have been the reason to change my surname, and what was it that would cause me to hate my beloved parents forever? I could not generate any single answer to my questions at that moment but it fuelled my curiosity to resolve the mystery. No sooner than later my father closed the discussion by saying, “we shall know how to go about it” as he walked out to the courtyard. Mum also walked in to the kitchen and I was left in blues. My character and determination could not allow me to sit back without an answer to the questions. I knew I was set in for a mission to unveil the unknown. I walked out of my room and sat in the deserted boardroom alone. I thought to engage my parents on the same issue for clarification but I was hesitant: I chose to dig it out on my own.
During the summer holiday, my tutor organized a Six day scouts’ trip to Iraq and proposed that I should accompany the rest of the team. I was very anxious to see the Iraqi environment as well as enjoy the travelling. I would lead my squad of twenty six members while on tour and would take the command as well. My parents were also happy about the idea and agreed to pay for the trip. On the sunny morning of the 2nd day of August 2012, I bid farewell to my parents and set forth to the airport where I could meet my fellow mates for the trip. The flight was enjoyable and we were all filled with anxiety and curiosity to see the strange land of Iraq which we were used to watch in the CNN news. Our first destination could be Baghdad before proceeding to Kirkuk as well as Amarah and any other region we could identify with our tour guides. The flight was too long that I fell asleep in the middle of the journey and was only woken up to alight upon arrival in Baghdad. I was amused by the new environment with beautiful buildings, a lot of Islamic attire and a lively business environment.
This was a period when the Iraqi capital city was a serial victim of violence and barbaric attacks from the Al Qaeda affiliated group, The Islamic State of Iraq. Our tour guide took us through a brief orientation with key emphasis on the insecurity that had befallen the country and urged us to stay vigilant at all times and remain in the preferred secure areas. The Iraqi environment was too unbearable for my tender age: the air was frequently filled with smoke from rioting people who could set fire on buildings, gunshots were not strange in the region as well as blasts. I grew nervous but I had reached a point of no return: I was in Iraq far from home and my scout teachings had taught me how to survive even in the worst environment. We spent a considerable length of time taking photographs of the city as well as the violence stricken areas with my team mates. On the third day we were set fir Kirkuk where we were supposed to collect data for a scouts documentary about Iraq. That night came to be the most devastating experience in my life and the loss of interest in the entire trip. The twenty six scouts and our tutor hired a guest house for the night and we all retired to our beds as usual after the day’s activities. In the middle of the night, I woke up due to choking by smoke. Little did I know that our residence was all on fire? It was a bandit attack. I immediately slipped out of my blankets, picked my bag and immediately fumbled to the exit without panicking according to the emergency evacuation rules in the event of a fire breakout. The smoke inside the house could not allow even the slightest vision. At the fire assembly point, one of us was missing after a roll call. He should be caught up in the fire, I thought immediately. We tried to fight the fire with the assistance of the people around but it was all in vain. My mind was really tossing on the fate of one of us who was missing, my best friend, Peter. The roof of the building had started caving in due to the raging flames but the interior was filled with smoke. I made a decision to rescue my friend: it was a die or live mission to get in to the inferno. I did not consult anyone as I knew they would oppose my idea and opt to lose one of us rather than both of us. Without any protective garment I dashed into the smoke covered entrance. Those who were left out must have been amused by my move. I was hardly three steps in to the building when I stepped on a body: it must be peter. I pulled the body out although my clothes were now ablaze. He was unconscious and had sustained several burns all over his body. Upon arrival outside the building, I was in pain due to the burns and smoke had irritated my respiratory system. I must have collapsed because I only woke up to find myself on a bed at home. I did not see or hear anything for the remaining part of the trip. My tutor told me I was hospitalized for seven days and flown back home, but he was happy that I saved my friend who spent a month in hospital.
During my “sick days” at home I started thinking about the former argument between mum and dad. They one day attended a conference in New York and left me all alone in the house. My curiosity forced me to walk into their bedroom without any specific intention. I found myself going through a document file which was in the room’s custody. I could see some child adoption documents in the file which contained several signatures and a photo of a boy child attached to the same. A keen look at the documents led to the discovery of my name on the face of each document. The photo was also my image. It directly hit me that I had been an adopted child and the people I was living with were not my biological parents. I was confused for once, questions filled my mind: Who are my real parents, should I continue staying here, should I ask them about the facts or what should I do? I finally resolved to confirm it with my “dad” that evening. He was honest to me and confirmed that he had adopted me and that he loved me so much. To date, even-though I find enough comfort from mummy and daddy, I still live in the dark side about knowing my real parents.