THE JOURNEY TO THE VILLAGE

CHAPTER NINE

On Sunday morning 27th of December at about 5:30am, my grandmother walked round the whole room waking everybody up to prepare for church. I woke with exciting feeling and vibe, I didn't understand why I was feeling that way maybe because I am always happy.

'please everybody should wake up' grandma said

' we have to go to church' she announced

In less than an hour everybody was ready to go to church, beautifully dressed, my siblings and I wore the Christmas clothes Dad bought for us. Uncle Chiboy suggested we should take pictures together since we are all complete who knows when next we all will come together like this

'Please do' Aunty Linda supported

We all posed for picture with Grandma at the center, surrounded by the grandchildren and then her children as uncle Chiboy took the picture. To partake in the picture he had to take selfies with us. Dorathy , Chioma and I took selfies together with Dorathy's smartphone.

'Let's start going' Uncle Sammy said

'We will be late for 8:00am mass'

We stepped out ,locked the gate , we entered our respective cars and drove off. In 20 to 30 minutes we arrived at St. John Catholic Church , this was the church my mom and her siblings attended when they were Young with their parents, although it has being renovated into a beautiful edifice. We entered the church when mass was about to start. The sermon preached by the reverend father really touched the congregation' lives and melted their hearts judging from the offerings people were giving as the Reverend father preached, after the sermon , offering was taken as the choir sang, support was made for the less privileged, Mass for the Eucharist was observed ,people who have been confirmed went to receive the holy Communion, Grandma, Uncle Sammy,his wife( whom I haven't really talked about), Dorathy and Chioma partook in it, being Catholics and have been confirmed. After the communion service, announcement was made by the church catechist , after that we all stood up for the closing prayer as the service was brought to an end, the choir filled the air with Christmas songs. Grandma as usual went to greet people she knows occasionally introducing her children and grandchildren to people who haven't met us yet. My mom and her siblings weren't left out ,as they met, exchanged pleasantries and contacts with their childhood friends calling us their children to come and greet their friends. Dorathy, Chioma ,Jane and I went round the church compound taking pictures, after taking the pictures we went back to where our family was. They were still talking to people, grandma and my uncles as the sons of the family had to attend a church meeting so we all waited for them. My mom and her sisters were busy talking to their friends while all my cousins and I sat at one side gisting. I was called by aunt Modesta to go and buy satchet water and snacks outside

'I will be back' I shouted to my cousins.

As I was returning

'Jennifer!' someone shouted but I didn't turn

'Jennifer!' I heard again yet I didn't turn

'It can't be me nobody knows me here' I thought within myself

'Jennifer Nwaeze!!'this time around I turned immediately