“I always wonder why parents are always against the idea of their children going out at night. I mean I like nights it is dark and I think it is very calming. I always ask my parents if I can go out at night and I always get the same answer which is a big fat no.

Mom has noticed something strange the past few weeks, her flowers were being stolen every night, she usually sells flowers for a living and this was affecting her business. So one day I decided to go out at night. Well, secretly cause my parents would have never allowed that. I stole my father’s gate keys. I wore a baggy white tracksuit and I sneaked out of the house.

I walked for over an hour it was so peaceful. On my way I met some guys – I think they were junkies but they ran when they saw me, perhaps because of the outfit I was wearing they thought I was a ghost or something. I even changed my walk I looked like a real ghost. A funny, weird and strange ghost.

I entered the gate very silently and I saw something strange: someone was at the garden, busy stealing my mom’s flowers. I slowly walked towards the garden. I stood still and watched silently. The person was my dad. As soon as he saw me he ran very fast he was so shocked, so was I.

A few weeks later my mom noticed that the flowers had stopped disappearing. She was so happy and praised God for that. I was glad that she was happy but I was disappointed that she will never know who saved her garden. They must never find out that I went out at night.

I wanted to confront my dad every day but I failed. One night we were watching a movie and I decided to come out of the closet. I asked him. My parents both sighed simultaneously. I was confused. They told me that they were waiting for my confession.

Apparently that night my father was standing guard at the garden to see who was stealing my mom’s flowes. He saw that I was not in the house that night. He was frightened by the person he saw at the garden and later saw that it was me. All this time they thought it was me who was stealing the flowers. I told them that I thought it was dad. We all laughed. I apologized for going out at night. That was my first night out.

We were all happy, I learned that it is important to listen to our parents even though their advice are old fashioned and boring but they are always right, always. Confession is important too, honesty is the key to a healthy relationship. If I did not tell the truth my parents would have thought that I am the thief. I am happy about the outcomes of my first night out it taught me a lot. I also hope that your first night out would be like mine. That was my first night out.”