Follow-up and Chipmunks

I don't suppose that was very wise of me--posting about sketchy security-related events without providing any further news. Allow me to rectify the situation.

I'm fine. Abuja is fine. Everything is secure. In fact, roads were clear and safe by the time I left school yesterday. Nothing to see here; move along. I apologize that I gave any cause for concern.

I went to the movies today. Silverbird is a brand-new complex in the heart of Abuja, and it boasts movie theaters on the top floor, restaurants, shops, even a little bowling alley (which looks more like skee-ball at an arcade, if you ask me). Most of the store spaces are still empty, that's how new it is. Construction is still ongoing; there are cranes in the parking lot, and the access roads are not yet paved. Nigerians are impatient when it comes to these things (and this is the closest thing we have to a mall), so it's been in operation for the past few months.

Anyways, I went to the movies with a Nigerian friend. Said friend fits multiple categories: friend, little sister, neighbor, boss's daughter, 10th grade student, etc. Today, going to the movies, she was my friend. She chose Alvin and the Chipmunks. As a testament to my otherwise finite patience, I went anyways. (The last time I went to a kids' movie was 5 years ago and I was nannying 4 children under the age of 12.) Needless to say, it wasn't what I would have chosen, but that's okay.

So we're 2 of 4 people in the whole theater. Which was cool, until a massive group of youngsters came streaming screaming in. I rolled my eyes and hoped none of them would sit behind me and kick my seat. As they chose seats all around us, I thought I recognized a face or two. Don't be stupid, Maggie, I thought, and don't assume you'll recognize every black kid that lives in Abuja.

Then I realized I did know them. All of them. Even their names. Turns out my entire 6th grade class decided to meet up at the cinema today. And what's more, they all thought it was really cool that Miss Thomas was there, too. Score one for Miss Thomas. Hugs all around.

I wonder how fast this is going to spread through school: that Miss Maggie was at Alvin and the Chipmunks (which is pretty cute for a kids' movie, I guess) or that she was in jeans and a T-shirt, or that she was with a student. I'll tally how many comments I get on Monday and let you know.