Fatimah's Apartment - Night
The living room was transformed into a cozy sleepover paradise. Blankets and pillows covered the floor. Snacks were scattered across the coffee table. A movie was playing on the TV, but no one was really watching.
Alice was bouncing on the couch. "Okay, okay, okay! I have new rule! Whoever wakes up first tomorrow has to make breakfast for EVERYONE!"
Chima raised an eyebrow. "That's the dumbest rule I've ever heard."
"It's not dumb! It's motivational! It'll make us all wake up early!"
Fatimah shook her head. "Alice, we're all going to sleep in. That's the point of a sleepover."
"Then we'll all sleep in together! And then we'll all be hungry together!"
"That doesn't make sense."
"IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!"
Naila was already half-asleep on the floor. "I'm not waking up first. I'm never waking up first."
Wony was doing her nighttime skincare routine. "I always wake up early. It's elegant."
"Then you'll make breakfast!"
"I don't want to cook."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklT3xQSK2W
Alice grinned. "This is going to be great!"
***
Fatimah's Apartment - Late Night
The movie ended. The snacks were demolished. Everyone was settling into their sleeping spots.
Chima was sprawled on the floor. "I'm never going to sleep. I'm too comfortable."
"That doesn't make sense," Fatimah said.
"IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!"
Wony was already in her sleeping bag, perfectly arranged. "Goodnight, everyone. May your dreams be elegant."
Naila was already asleep. She was snoring softly.
Alice was still wide awake. "I'M NOT TIRED! I COULD STAY UP FOR HOURS!"
"Alice, go to sleep," Fatimah said tiredly.
"BUT I'M NOT..."
She yawned.
"tired..."
Another yawn.
"...Okay, maybe a little tired."
She collapsed onto her pillow.
Within minutes, everyone was asleep.
***
Fatimah's Apartment - 11:00 AM
The sun was high in the sky. Birds were chirping. The world was awake.
But inside Fatimah's apartment, it was still dark. The curtains were drawn. The only sound was the gentle rhythm of five people sleeping.
Chima was snoring loudly. Alice was drooling on her pillow. Wony was somehow still in her elegant sleeping position. Naila hadn't moved all night.
And Fatimah was peacefully asleep in her bed.
No one had woken up.
11:30 AM. Still sleeping.
12:00 PM. Still sleeping.
12:30 PM. Still sleeping.
1:00 PM. Still sleeping.
***
Fatimah's Apartment - 1:15 PM
The front door opened.
Fatimah's mother walked in, carrying a bag of groceries. She was a warm and kind woman, but she had zero tolerance for laziness.
She looked at the living room. Her eyes widened.
Five bodies were scattered across the floor. They were all completely unconscious.
Fatimah's mother put down her groceries. "Fatimah? Are you—"
She stopped. She saw the sleeping figures.
She walked closer. She saw Chima drooling. Alice snoring. Wony looking peaceful. Naila curled up like a cat.
And Fatimah, sound asleep in her room.
Fatimah's mother shook her head. "These kids..."
She walked to the kitchen. She filled a large bucket with water.
She came back to the living room.
"Get up!" she shouted. "GET UP!"
But no one moved.
Fatimah's mother took a deep breath.
And threw the water.
SPLAAAAASH!82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW61oOMlai
Everyone shot up at once.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMACMnYIJq
Fatimah's mother stood in the middle of the room, hands on her hips. "It's already 1:00 PM! Are you still sleeping?!"
Fatimah stumbled out of her room, soaked. "Mother?! What are you—"
"You're still asleep at 1 PM?!"
"We had a sleepover!"
"Sleepover until 1 pm?!"
Alice was sputtering. "We were going to wake up! We had a plan!"
"What plan?!"
"Whoever wakes up first makes breakfast!"
Fatimah's mother stared at her. "And all of you slept until one in the afternoon?"
"...Yes?"
Fatimah's mother laughed. A loud, booming laugh.
"These kids! It's crazy! You're all lazy!"
Chima was trying to wring out her shirt. "We were tired!"
"Tired?! Slept until noon and still tired?!"
Naila was still half-asleep, even with water dripping from her hair. "I'm always tired..."
Fatimah's mother shook her head. "Wake up and shower now!"
"But mother—"
"NOW!"
***
Fatimah's Apartment - Afternoon
They were all showered and changed. Fatimah's mother had made them a huge lunch: rice, vegetables, fried chicken, and soup.
Alice was eating enthusiastically. "Your mom is the best cook!"
Fatimah sighed. "She's also the scariest person I know."
"She's not scary," Wony said. "She's just... assertive."
"She threw water on us!"
"We deserved it," Chima admitted.
Fatimah glared at her. "You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I'm on the side of truth. And the truth is, we were being lazy."
Naila nodded, still eating slowly. "She was right. We slept too long."
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ALL ARE TAKING HER SIDE!"
Fatimah's mother walked in. "Fatimah. Are these your friends?"
"Yes, mom."
"Good. They’re all polite. Except for you. My laziest child."
"LAZIEST?!"
"Yeah. You slept until 1 o'clock. That's lazy."
The others laughed.
Fatimah was mortified. "MOM!"
***
Fatimah's mother was leaving. She hugged each of the girls.
"You are all beautiful. But don't be lazy, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am!" they all said in unison.
She looked at Alice. "You're the loudest one."
Alice grinned. "I know!"
"But I like your energy."
"Thank you!"
She looked at Naila. "You are the one who likes sleeping the most."
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Naila nodded. "I know."
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"Don't sleep too long. You'll miss out on life."
"I'll try."
She looked at Chima. "You're fierce, aren't you?"
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Chima blinked. "I... I guess?"
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"Being fierce is good. But don't be too fierce."
"I'll... try to be less fierce?"
"Nice."82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXZlnMV3fW
She looked at Wony. "You're so graceful."
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Wony smiled. "Thank you, Mom."
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"But if you're always graceful, it'll get tiring."
Wony paused. "That's... actually true."
Fatimah's mother laughed. "Alright. I'm leaving now. Don't forget to take care of Fatimah."
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"We will!"
***
Fatimah's Apartment - Evening
The girls were sitting together.
"I can't believe your mom threw water on us," Alice said.
Fatimah sighed. "She's done it before. When I was a teenager."
"THAT'S TRAUMATIZING!"
"It builds character."
Chima shook her head. "I've never been more scared in my life."
"You've been shot," Fatimah pointed out.
"That was less scary."
Everyone stared at her.
"What?! Your mom is TERRIFYING!"
Naila nodded. "She's nice, though."
"Nice AND terrifying. The perfect combination."
Wony was doing her nightly skincare. "I think she was right, though. We should wake up earlier."
"YOU SAID YOU OFTEN WAKE UP EARLY!"
"I do! But I got caught up in the sleepover spirit!"
Alice grinned. "The 'sleepover spirit' means staying up late and waking up late. That's the whole point!"
"Then why did we get water thrown on us?"
"Because Fatimah's mom has a healthy dose of reality!"
Fatimah groaned. "I'm never having another sleepover."
"LIES! We're having one next week!"
"ALICE!"
"YES!"
The group fell into laughter.82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw36almIgjy
and then Add to home screen.