Narrative essay

Only recently I was looking at an old notebook of mine, reading the English essays I wrote before my English papers. At the end of the notebook I had copied down Creative Writing topics from past papers. As I read the list of topics, I came across one I found increasingly interesting. The topic was: 'Write a story in which loosing a passport OR an identity card plays an important part.' I found it so interesting that I began working on it straightaway. I thoroughly enjoyed myself writing it. It was days after that I had written anything other than my history, geography, and Islamiyat answers!

“Ahem. Your ID card, please,” said the plump, moustached guard at the entrance gate of the university.

“The ID card?” I blurted out. “Uh, yes, I do believe I have it somewhere in my bag” I said, half to myself. Just looking at the grim-faced guard made me nervous.

I unzipped my bulging hand bag which I had purchased only three days ago at the start of the university session. The guard peered at me suspiciously over his steel-rimmed glasses, as I digged through my jam-packed purse, scanning its contents for an ID card that had been issued to me only yesterday.

As I shoved aside my books to have more space to look, my chemistry textbook landed onto the floor. As the guard glared at me furiously, I piled up all my textbooks on the pavement so I could search more easily. I glanced apologetically at him while I rummaged through the items I had in my bag. I fished through hair pins, pieces of jewellery, cookie crumbs, pens, pencils, and God knows what not for an ID card that wasn’t there. I looked up from my bag to see the security guard standing in front of me, tapping his foot impatiently, arms crossed. I glanced back to see a couple of students queued behind me, waiting for me to move so they could pass. A feeling of utter embarrassment flooded me as I moved aside to let them go ahead.

“Uh... It isn’t here...” I mumbled to the guard. “Maybe I forgot it at home...” I said to myself. I dialled my mom’s number. After a couple of bells, my mother picked the phone.

“Hello, mom?” I spoke into the phone.

“Anum? What’s wrong beta, shouldn’t you be in your class by now?” mom replied.

“Mom, I can’t find my ID card ...” I answered. “Could you check if it’s in my cupboard? Maybe I forgot it at home...”

“OK, hold on while I look for it” came the reply.

 A minute went by.

“It’s not there, Anum” My mom finally returned. “How irresponsible of you to lose your ID card at the beginning of the university year” She said as she disconnected the call.

Uh-oh. I said to myself. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was fifteen minutes past eight. My physics class would have begun fifteen minutes ago! I would be late for class-and all because of that stupid ID card.

“Hey, maybe you’ve got it there in the side pocket of your purse” I heard a cheerful voice. I looked up to see the other security guard standing nearby. “You haven’t looked in there, you know.”

“I don’t think it will be there...” I frowned as I unzipped the pocket. As I reached inside it, my hand struck something hard and thin. Something...plastic. I pulled at it and out came...my Identity Card!!!

“You can go in now.” said the fat guard through gritted teeth. The other one grinned at me.

Words of thankfulness failed me as I ran-mad with happiness-towards the science department. Oh, was I glad to get my ID card back!