Jane packed as much luggage as she would be needing throughout her stay in the village. Her mum had told her they wouldn't be coming back any soon. Jane was 18, a tall girl with blue eyes. She was told she inherited it from her great grandmother while some believe her late great grandmother reincarnated into her. People assumed her constant longing to visit the village during holidays was a sign of her great grandmother in her. Bisi, her mother never cared what people said about the blue eyes which had made her daughter an exception, she knew how long she had waited before she conceived her.
"Mum, I would like to stay in grandma's house when we get to the village"
"No, We would stay together in the house your dad built, there are too many people staying with grandma already". Her mum replied. She was afraid Jane wouldn't want to return after the holiday. Jane's obsession for their hometown also troubled her and she wasn't ready to allow Jane to live in the village while she stayed in the city.
She frowned upon her mum's response. She was fond of her grandma and she believed the Christmas festival would be more fun with her grandma.
Jane was happy to visit her village during the festive period again. She couldn't wait to eat those native meals and visit the local stream to swim with her peer group. That was one of the reasons why she loved to visit the village, the freedom to go swimming with friends. The journey lasted about 9 hours from Gurara( the city) to Lahunta the village. They arrived all exhausted from the journey.
"Please get some rest" The grandma said as she welcomed them.
Jane hugged her faintly.
"I want to stay with you" Jane said, hoping her grandma would talk her mum into accepting it.
"I will get some rest now".
Some of the villagers came to welcome them the next morning, happy to have seen them come to the village for the festival . Jane went to join her friends on the field. It was the 23rd day in December, every house was busy frying meat and making local drinks from millet, there was always enough to eat on that day. Bisi and Jane helped grandma to harvest her farm yields, so there was enough for them to eat.
Christmas came with a display of traditional dance. Bisi's husband considers the dancing to be the fun- filled part in spending the holiday in the village. They had a good time dancing and laughing all through Christmas day. Soon, it was 3rd of January of the following year, Jane was sad. She didn't feel like traveling back to the cities. She reluctantly packed her clothes in the boxes
"Your school has resumed. It's necessary that you study for a brighter future" her mum said as she cuddled her.
"Again next year we shall travel to the village for another festival".
Grandma waves them goodbye as they set to leave. She enjoyed their few days' visit and she wished they would stay longer.
