Sweet Sixteen (16) Chapter Two - "THE DRIVE" Comprehensive and Concise Summary

When aliya turned 16, this time her father has send her a special present/gift. The principal brought out a gift box with a pinkish wrap and a bright red ribbon that had a full multi-colored bow on top of it. "Oh my God" Aliya exclaimed as she collected the box. Aliya quickly ran to her hostel as she couldn't wait to see what is inside the box. in the box, was a portable digital camera, a birthday card that said "Happy sweet sixteen" , and a spiral bound document.

Aliya was so happy with the camera as she loved photographs and had always wanted to own a camera. From the Spiral bond document. It is a flashback as contained in the 16-page letter. Aliya is 12 years old and just returned home from the boarding house when she goes on a drive with her father. She had lot of fun and gist with her father.

During the drive, Aliya sees some girls hawking and she envies their freedom. She feels they are free to go around, meet people and have fun but her father cautions her, explaining that things don't always seem like how they look. Though Aliya is born into a comfortable home, she isn't allowed the freedom of going wherever she likes.

This situation explains the irony of life as no one has it all. Though, Aliya is born with a silver spoon, she is not afforded the luxury of going wherever she wants or meet other people randomly. She lives in a high fenced house and also goes to a boarding school.

On the other hand, the girls hawking on the streets may seem free and may be having fun, in Mr. Bello's words 'they would not mind trading places' with Aliya in air-conditioned car. Then, another disparity that exists between rich and poor children is the fact that rich children are naturally expected to do better in life because they have all the comfort in the world.

However, the zeal, willingness, determination and desire to become great which propels some poor children is usually enough to make them eventually great.

During this drive, Mr. Bello seizes the opportunity of the informal atmosphere to give his daughter sex education. A few days earlier, Aliya has seen her menstrual period for the first time and her father think it fit she needs to learn about this important aspect of a woman's life.

He teaches that menstruation is the body's way of telling a girl that she is biological ready to be a mother, which means if she has unprotected sexual intercourse with a guy she could become pregnant.

It is obvious that this is the first time Mr. Bello is having a discussion about sex with his daughter but surprisingly she already knows so much about the subject. This is an indication that in the present age and century we live in, sex is no longer a hidden issue that is only discussed in hush tones, but it is everywhere. Aliya already learns about sex from the TV, friends, magazines, books and movies.

Aliya already has the basic knowledge of what sex is all about so her father gives her guides concerning sex and other things he refers to as fifth, which can corrupt the beautiful room which is her mind.

He advises her not to watch movies scenes that depict sex and also be watchful about the company she keeps.

Sweet Sixteen "A coming of Age Story" by Bolaji Abdullai


[1] When did Aliya seen her first menstrual period?
[2] When did aliya red the book "Sweet 16" ?
[3] When did aliya realised one no longer a child but young adult?
[4] Why is aliya hated been called a child ?
[5] At what age aliya stated wearing bras ?
[6] Aliya mother & father was a ?
[7] Where is aliya when she turns 16 ?
[8] The thing aliya's father worth celebrating is ?
[9] What changed when aliya left home ?
[10] When did aliya turned 12
[11] Her birthday card was handed over to who ?
[12] Who is Akin ?
[13] What day did Aliya turned 16
[14] How many block of rooms is in aliya's hostel ?
[15] How many of them were in each room ?
[16] Who give Aliya a red teddy bear ?
[17] Did aliya return the teddy bear ?
[18] Where did Bobo and his parent relocated to ?
[19] How old is aliya when she received a gift box ?
[20] What did aliya found in the gift box ?