Hey, this is probably a bit of a waste of thread, but I just thought those of you who helped me may like to see the end result. It's not awesome, but I think it could get a merit which I probably otherwise wouldn't have achieved had you guys not have helped me. So thanks heaps!!

Tonight is the night I loathe above all others in the year. The night where I can hide the truth about my family no longer. Tonight, parent teacher night.
Normally, I would have hidden the notice about the event away, but this time I had failed to do so.
I’m not really worried about how badly I failed the last science assessment; more about the effect this dreaded parent teacher meeting will have on my reputation. Mostly, I manage to limit contact my family has with my school friends and their families.

As we walk down the corridors of the school, all I hear is the mooing cows of the pisupo sandwiches I know they’ve brought and the slow tribal beat of their jandals as they collide with the solid wooden floor. I walk behind them, a few metres or so, but there is no doubt that we are of the same kin. My large, grim-faced, stocky father opens the door of the hall for my mother, who sweeps in like an island breeze.

The dull hum of the other parents' quiet conversations is broken by the gentle swish of my mother’s lava lava. The other mothers hasten to avert their gaze, but I feel all eyes on me. I feel my face prickle and burn with the embarrassment of it all.
They are neatly dressed. Fathers with grey suits, straight cut moustaches, black ties and spectacles. Mothers with rouged lips, handbags, leather shoes, fair skin and perfectly curled hair. Both emanate the obvious pride they have for their darlings. They seem willing to be here, but the way my father marches sternly gives a vibe that the only purpose he has here is to get this over with.

My head spins at the sickening clash of colours and hibiscus flowers my mother sports, and the over powering stench of coconut oil pervading my nostrils. Her hair is dark and greying, fly away and piled on the top of her head. She scowls at other normal parents in disapproval, as if they don't belong. But she looks like a parrot amongst a lake of swans.

Just as I’m willing the floorboards to swallow me whole, I notice my friend Yann. Feeling the embarrassment of being in the presence of such a pair, I slip away to have a word with him.
“Hi, “ I say smiling sheepishly.
“Oh, hello.” he replies quietly, pretending not to notice my parents. “My mum had to drag me along tonight.”
“Well at least she doesn’t walk around with a face like a storm cloud and dressed like a Hawaiian theme park.” I mutter.
He looks at me incredulously.
“What are you on about? You’re family are awesome! You always seem to be having these huge gatherings and enjoying yourselves. Mine don’t even talk.”
I can scarcely believe what he’s saying. I glance at my tragically 'unhip' parents pensively…Well, I guess they’re not so bad.
“You reckon?” I say, raising my eyebrows. He smiles and replies,
“Yeah, definitely.”
I try to suppress the feeling of pride rising within me for my parents. Respect for them for the fact that they still embrace our rich cultural heritage, even amongst this conformist bunch. Though quickly I quash these sentiments, muster my sense of cool and I turn to my friend as I say…
”Yeah, whatever Yann.”