Felicity

By Afiniki Akanet

Felicity follows the lives of three young women in England, who have different aspirations for their careers and family life, exploring their backgrounds, friendships, successes, disappointments, romantic relationships and interests. Find out how their choices and friendships see these very different young women through some trying times. Inspirational poems are included from various talented poets.This is an interesting and heart-warming story about situations many can relate to.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Afiniki Akanet
• Release date: Jan 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780957324756

Afiniki Akanet

Dr Afiniki Akanet is a General Practitioner (GP/family doctor) with a special interest in mental health. She lives in England with her husband and two children. She enjoys encouraging people to make the most of their opportunities and live happy fruitful lives. Afiniki can be contacted for speaking engagements and guest blogger roles by email via her website - Afiniki.co.uk

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FELICITY

by

Afiniki Akanet

Ebook Published by AGE

Copyright © 2017 by Afiniki Akanet

All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Dedication

Other Books by Dr Afiniki Akanet

CHAPTER 1

The last thing Kate wanted to do today was to sit in class, especially if the lesson was going to be boring. The weekend with her family had been really busy and she desperately wanted to finish her university applications soon so that she could have time to show them to her teachers for advice. Kate hated to leave things too close to the deadline. Her parents were always so busy and seemed to trust her more than she trusted herself. Somehow, they always believed that she would do the right thing and did not check up on her as much as her friends’ parents checked on them. At times, Kate thought it was a good thing, because she was already quite self motivated and worked hard for her achievements. It was just during periods like this when Kate felt overwhelmed by everything she had to do that she wished her parents would treat her more like a child and find out how she was getting on. Things had gotten so busy for her lately with exam revision and applications, among other things, that she had to drop some of the things she enjoyed, like football. The one thing she could never give up though was her poetry, which she had enjoyed from childhood. Kate found poems very inspirational and relaxing. She had written a few in the past, but these days she enjoyed reading old poems.

‘Hey, Priya’ Kate said, as she walked into the classroom. The girls had recently resumed after the summer break. They got good results from the first year of college and were preparing for their A level exams. Priya was usually early because her father always dropped her off at college on his way to work. She hardly ever got stressed and Kate sometimes thought Priya was the most pampered daughter on earth!

‘Hi Kate, you look tired. What’s up?’

‘I’m okay really - just feeling like there’s so much to do and so little time. I didn’t get much done at the weekend, so I’ll have to try and use my lunch break today.’

‘That’s unlike you to let things pile up. What happened at the weekend, Hun?’ Priya was always so caring.

‘We had my uncle and his family visiting from London and I had to help with most of the cooking because my sister couldn’t come home from uni this weekend.’ At eighteen, one year older than her classmates, Kate could not wait to leave home for university. Her parents were both doctors and did not have much time for leisure. Kate was grateful to have her friends for company.

‘Poor you! Did you make any Nigerian food? I love that jollof rice you make. Oh - there’s Lisa!’ Priya waved so that Lisa could see her through the window, even though she knew Lisa was coming to the classroom anyway.

They had been in form 13B for the first year of college and were very pleased to have been able to move together to form 14B for the final year. Priya had already sent off her university application because the deadline for medical schools was earlier than most. She applied to four medical schools around England and applied to Coventry University for a Medical and Pharmacological Sciences degree in case she did not get accepted into medical school. Priya was quite easy going. She wanted just two things in life - a good job and a family of her own. She always talked of her future husband and children like they were sitting next door, even though she did not even have a boyfriend at the moment!

‘Hi girls’ Lisa looked glamorous as usual with all her make-up. She was a beautiful blonde girl with brown eyes and long hair.

‘Wow, that’s a nice top. Have you been shopping again?’ Priya asked, smiling.

‘I bet she has!’ Kate said, bringing out her books ready for class to start. ‘You look gorgeous, Lisa. Is Chris in college today?’ Kate continued, with a wink. They knew how much Lisa liked to look good for her boyfriend, Chris, who was in the next form.

‘He is, but you know me – always looking good! I actually got this top last month, but never wore it. I’m glad you think it’s nice.’ Lisa saw the teacher walk in, so she lowered her voice, ‘Is this a double lesson?’

‘Yes’ her friends replied, just as the lesson began.

Follow Your Dream - by Amanda Bradley

Follow your dream.

Take one step at a time and don't settle for less,

Just continue to climb.

Follow your dream.

If you stumble, don't stop and lose sight of your goal

Press to the top.

For only on top can we see the whole view,

Can we see what we've done and what we can do;

Can we then have the vision to seek something new,

Press on.

Follow your dream.

Kate managed to finish the last bit of her university applications at lunch time as planned, but she hated not being able to hang out with the girls. Priya’s father owned a restaurant, called Felicity, near the college. The girls always went there in their free time to relax, eat and talk because their houses were too far and Felicity was only ten minutes walk from college. Most of the other students went to cheap restaurants for lunch and some just ate in the college common room. The girls were glad to have a nice place they could go to and relax when they had long breaks in the day between lessons. They also got treated like royalty at Felicity. One of the waiters always seemed to give them special attention when they were there. He was very dark skinned and seemed to be only a few years older than they. He was never there in the day time, but they saw him working on most evenings and weekends.

Lisa met up with her boyfriend, Chris after school while Kate and Priya went home. Lisa liked to stay out as late as she could so that she would not have to see her mother much. As the only child of her mother, Lisa knew she was loved, but sometimes could not stand her mother’s doting. ‘I’m seventeen, for goodness sake,’ she told her friends, ‘but my mum thinks I have nothing else to do but to sit by her side and answer her questions!’. Lisa’s father left her mother when she was eight years old. She did not really understand the circumstances around the divorce, but somehow she blamed her mother for it and was determined to have true love in her own life. Chris was also seventeen years old and had been going out with Lisa for a year now. It was common knowledge at the college that they were sweethearts. They had become so close but Lisa always made sure she spent time with her girlfriends in the daytime because she knew she could see Chris in the evenings. They would sometimes go to his house or hang around in the local park if it was not too cold. They did not really care where they were as long as they were together. Chris lived with his single mother, who Lisa thought was the best mother alive, because she bought Chris whatever he wanted. Chris and Lisa planned to get married one day and live in Hollywood!

‘It’s nine o’clock darling, and you have college tomorrow, where have you been?’ Lisa’s mother asked when she got home.

‘Out, Mum! I really don’t wanna fight tonight.’ Lisa snapped at her mother, as she walked towards her bedroom.

‘Can you just text and let me know where you are if you will be out this late. You know I worry about you. I called Chris’s mum around seven and she said you were not there….’ Lisa’s mother realised Lisa had gone to her room and decided to follow her there.

‘Mum, can I have some privacy, please? I am tired and I need to get some sleep!’ Lisa knew she should have called her mum when she missed the bus, but she was not in the mood to apologise. She and Chris went to get the bus just before seven, but met his friend, Josh, on the way. They ended up playing games at Josh’s house when they found out that Josh’s parents were visiting friends that evening.

‘Won’t you eat? I made pasta.’ Lisa’s mother asked her.

‘No, I’m okay, thanks - we had a pizza.’

‘Okay, we’ll talk tomorrow. This really has to stop, I was very worried, you know’ Lisa’s mother said as she turned around to go. ‘Good night, dear’.

CHAPTER 2

Lisa felt bad about her attitude to her mother and apologised the next day. She sometimes envied the relationship Kate and Priya had with their mothers, but she just could not help feeling angry at hers. Lisa wanted to become a nurse. She liked the way her mother talked highly of the nurses she worked with at the care home. She was doing the right A level subjects and was sure she would get a place on the nursing course after being predicted good grades for next year.

‘You won’t believe what we had at Josh’s house last night, girls.’ Lisa said to Kate and Priya when they got to Felicity the next day.

‘Not cigarettes, I hope’ Priya replied. She knew Lisa was playful and would try anything without any thought for consequences. Priya considered herself the group’s ‘doctor’, since she was hoping to become one, but Kate seemed to know more about health matters because of her parents.

‘No, I tried that last year, and hated it! I honestly do not know why people smoke.’ Lisa said, looking disgusted.

‘You didn’t tell us that!’ Kate always thought that Lisa was not as open as she and Priya were. She got up to so much without them and they sometimes worried she might get into trouble one day. ‘I’m relieved to hear you say that you hated it.’

‘I probably forgot. You know Chris is the love of my life and I’m always thinking about him.’ Lisa said, looking dreamily at the ceiling.

‘Honestly, I wonder how you two manage to think clearly and pass your exams.’ Kate laughed.

‘So what did you have?’ Priya asked.

‘Bailey’s Irish cream’ Lisa replied, looking pleased with herself. ‘You know my mum never buys any good alcohol’

‘That’s because she lives with you!’ Kate joked. ‘Just don’t become an alcoholic, my dear. Chris seems to like alcohol a bit too much - you