ONCE A PAROLL IN CHRISTMAS(Episode 1)

Ugep! Is a remote village in cross river state, once a capital city of NIGERIA in the olden days. In the Eighties, they settle a family of four; two males and two females. Kelvin, the second son, who with happenstance became the last of them, He was the mother’s joy and laughter, one who never ceased to bring happiness, joy and laughter whenever there is uproar in the family.

24th December 1984, at around 8:15pm, they came a call from the living room; Steve! Steve! Actually, Steve was the first male, and the elders of his siblings. Steve was first called followed, by his two younger sisters Sarah and Mimi, and Sarah happened to be the first daughter, followed by Mimi, now you know the family sequence; Steve, Sarah, Mimi and Kelvin, these lovely names were called from the living room, ‘yes dad’ they all answered with their presence in the living room. Father started; Steve! He answered ‘yes dad’ the next word that came out from Mr. Edward their father was ‘have you visited the restroom’ he reply ‘yes dad’ the following conversation continue with the rest of the wards, and they all responded with a ‘yes’. Little did they know their father’s intention of their calling, question and answers that took place that cool calm evening. Although it was their best and happiest Christmas ever, because, they were about to experience what they have never experienced in their lifetime, the celebration of Christmas, but they never knew the catastrophic experience that they will also have, as an accomplish experience behind their beheld happiness.

It’s a new dawn, behold, the long awaiting day of the year has finally arrive, the day most people will show ‘love’ they never had, a day most families will do new things. But for Kelvin, and the Edwards family, it was new and different story line to tell the entire village, it’s a day that cock will be slaughtered, and that sweet aroma will take over the airy atmosphere, truly, the day is here. Mr. Edward called the family once again, but this time, the children never liked the conveyed news from their father, so everyone’s heart was submerge with deep wound of disappointment, although there was hope, but to the children, it was a longest hope of the season, though, the meal was fully made, but no soul was allow to have a test of it, until they all return from church, that was a deserted news conveyed that morning from Edward to his children, and it wasn’t a palatable news for them at all, although, Mrs. Edward was the day’s chef, assisted by her two daughters, but the cooking was rightly supervised by Mr. Edward himself, so that they will not be a miss appropriation of the chicken meat. Disappointment was all over the kid’s faces, most especially Kelvin, whose season dream was to seat that Sunday with his fond friend Ndeh, who usually teased him every Christmas for not eating chicken. Kelvin’s intention was to seat close to Ndeh that Sunday, belched and then blew out the air so Ndeh could perceived the chicken sarcastic odor, but his fantasy dream was shattered. All that ran through the children’s mind was chicken in the house they never tested, and all their focuses was not to do anything else but gaze at the clock in the children’s tent. Huh! Finally the service was over, for sure Kelvin was the first to step out of the church, followed by Mimi then Sarah and Steve later join them, but here comes another fear. The Christmas day fell on Sunday, and the church was over crowded with new and old faces of folks that haven’t being in church for long since the year began, on like other Sundays, and Mrs. Edward usually goes around to greet her friends most especially to make friends with the new people in church, so here is the fear ‘ when will mum finished her usual greetings?’ that was their unison fearful down broken thought, but to their ought most surprise here comes mum walking down before dad, huh! again they all expressed, this is a joyful shock cause mum always keep the family late after church, but today mums outcome was shocking, I guess hunger must have been the brain that enforces mums sudden change of attitude. Now they are disembarking from church, although the distance from their church to the house is just a few miles, but to the children, their usual journey that day was like a thousand miles journey, although their walking formation still remains a 3 by 3 formation Steve, Sarah, Mimi and Kelvin with the parent, but the only difference in the formation was that Steve, Sarah, and Mimi were few meters fairer from Kelvin and their parent.

Finally, they are home, Steve couldn’t wait for the door to be open before pulling off his shirt, Sarah and Mimi’s shoes were already off from their legs. The moment the door was opened, the children went straight to their rooms and out they came, the unusual acceleration display of the kids marvel their parent, truly mum was hungry, so she quickly made her way to the kitchen, within few minutes, the meal was set, lo every soul in the house were in their set place, Steve and Kelvin couldn’t wait any longer to devour the food and their own potion of the chicken. Just after they usual meal prayer, Mr. Edward stood up and step out of their midst, a minute later he was back and no one care to ask nor show any concern of dads immediate action, truly the meal was a life never experienced meal, it was an awesome meal, words can’t explain the satisfying test that they had of the meal, faithfully, the meal worth the days devastating experienced. After the meal Kelvin couldn’t wait to get to Ndeh’s house, on approaching the compound, Ndeh was outside with his brother, sister and with a couple of his relatives, but Kelvin’s focus was not to any of them except for Ndeh who happens to be his main target, he walked up to Ndeh with a broad smiles, Ndeh seeing Kelvin started conceiving his usual thought, that he is here again so that his mum will eventually see and perhaps dish him a plate of their fried rich and chicken, but little did he know that Kelvin’s presence was for an entirely different purpose, before they met, Kelvin has injected enough air into his belle through his mouth, which will help him to have a heavy belched, successfully his plan worked, the moment they were close Kelvin belched the heaviest belched of his live so much that Ndehs baby cousin who was being held by Ndehs big brother begins to cry, but to Kelvin it was a success story. Evening has come, the most happiest evening for the Edwards family, but Kelvin hasn’t return home yet, hmmm, mom just started thinking because soon the dinner will be ready and she won’t risk the chance of seeing Kelvin being scolded by the father, not on this memorable day in their lifetime so she called forth Steve who was playing card with a couple of friends outside. Steve heard mom calling, and answered with immediately action, ‘here I am mom’ she ask ‘where is your brother’ then he answered ‘he stepped out’ mom ask again to where, but now, the answer became a presumptuous one ‘I think he should be in Ndehs house’ the mom ask again ‘are you sure’ Steve responded ‘sure mom, there is no other place he could possibly be outside Ndehs place’ he added. So the mom instructed Steve to go bring him back home, ‘ok mom’ Steve replied and left. As he stepped out of the front door with his face on the rear, here comes Kelvin with a bright countenance, so Steve return back to his friends.

Dinner is set because night has fully enveloped, so they sat to eat the same Christmas meal. After their wonderful dinner, they all disembark to their different sleeping positions, believe me if I tell you that, that night was an exuberant night for the Edward’s household. What does the morning hold in store?

Watch out for episode 2.

Pictures from pixabay.com