Click to read PART ONE if you missed it.
Grandma got to the crowd and checked through but Ella wasn't there. She became troubled, she kept asking passersby if they saw a white girl but no one could give a clue of the direction she went.
She paused for a moment and started talking to herself, how do I tell the world that my granddaughter who can for holiday is missing? Should I call her father? No that's not a smart move, he will be scared and might not forgive me.
Ella's mother will be mad at him for sending her daughter to Nigeria, I am finished! Everyone in the town will think I am a witch, God please help me find Ella.
Grandma was already shedding tears, she loosen her wrapper to wipe her face. She held her face with the wrapper for a few seconds after cleaning her tears and she felt a hand on her shoulder while her face was buried in the wrapper, she gently removed the wrapper and before she could turn back to see who it was, the person said "grandma".
It was Ella's voice.
Grandma stood up and held her tightly, where have you been? Why did you leave my side? She didn't let her answer a question before asking another.
She picked up her bag and went home, she didn't let go of Ella's hand and you can tell how pissed she was.
The young girl had to fasten her steps so that she can catch up with grandma's speed, she couldn't explain what prompted grandma to behave that way.
They got home and Ella asked grandma what was wrong but she didn't answer instead, she instructed Ella to sit on the couch as she inspect her body from head to toe. Grandma felt relieved afterward and she started a conversation.
Grandma: Where have you been?
Ella: Grandma, I am sorry. I didn't know I will get you worried, I saw the village museum and decided to check.
Grandma: You could have told me, I was scared something bad might have happened to you. Here, is not abroad and you must be careful.
Ella: Don't worry grandma, I can just get the police if I am in trouble.
Grandma: Did you say police?
Grandma burst into laughter as she opened her arms for Ella to embrace her.
The conversation went on for quite some time and Ella finally brought out her camera to show grandma the images she captured.
"Oh, Grandma. I remembered something" Ella jumped out of the couch.
Grandma was wondering what it was because she looked so excited.
"Tell me. What is it, Ella?"
Ella fixed her eye on the camera, she was looking for a particular image.
"Yes, I found it". Ella went to grandma to show her the picture.
"Grandma, I was wondering what your picture was doing on a board that was meant for the winners of the heritage dance competition".
"What's this competition about? You never told me anything about it grandma".
Grandma smiled and said, "it's been a while. There was no camera then to keep memories and you wouldn't have recognized me if the old pictures were put on that board".
"The organizers requested for my pictures recently to attach to the board, dancing was everything for me when I was younger".
"Let's go to the kitchen while I tell you more, we need to cook dinner".
They both went into the kitchen and while grandma was chopping the vegetables, she started her story
"I was one of the best dancers in the country then, the heritage dance happens every year. I won it for 8 years before I stopped participating".
"Why grandma?" Ella interrupted.
She continued, "Winning every year became boring, I decided to be a dance teacher instead of participating."
Before they ate that evening, grandma took Ella to the house basement.
She showed her the trophies, her dance dresses, and many other things.
The shoes got Ella's attention, they were ancient and outdated but still look good. She went to take them and Grandma laughed while Ella was checking it out.
"That was my magic shoe", Grandma said with a big smile as she sank into the chair in the basement.
Ella raised her eyes with surprise and asked. "Is magic real?", I want the shoes if they can make me dance. Please let me have the shoes so I can participate in the heritage dance competition".
Grandma smiled and told Ella, " Yes, those shoes will help you win any competition in the world but you must practice to some extent if you must wear the shoes and you mustn't tell anyone about it. I am too old to teach dances anymore so how do we go about it?."
"The heritage dance competition is no child's play, the best of the best competes there."
Ella moved to grandma's side and begged her to help her prepare for the competition, "Grandma, the heritage dance will happen two weeks before I leave. Participating in it would make the holiday an unforgettable one."
Grandma sighed and they both left the basement to have dinner.
The next morning, grandma took Ella to one of her students who still teach dancers.
Ella was excited, she started her training and it was fun for her from the onset.
Every morning, she would be the first to wake because she didn't want to be late for training and grandma didn't get tired of accompanying her every morning.
Ella met new friends who inspired her, they taught her a lot of things about their culture and people were surprised to see a white girl learning the African dances.
Grandma got her registered for the heritage dance competition but unfortunately for her, Ella's first opponent was the first runner-up for the previous year.
The competition runs a knockout system, the winner in every group will be paired against another winner and it runs like that until there are two left that will compete in the final.
Ella wasn't happy, nothing worked to make her happy until Grandma reminded her of the magic shoes.
It was difficult to convince her that she would defeat the second-best dancers in the country, Ella wasn't too little to predict the outcome of her first dance and even though she believed in Grandma's magic shoes, she wasn't confident about it.
To be continued...