Chapter 1 : The gathering
A beautiful morning, the sun rose as usual up high to light up the faces of the early risers, birds chirping as they flew all the way to their nests. With a good ear, you could easily hear someone's snore to show how peaceful the morning was. Ooh wait, that's me, still in bed like a log of wood. As a bird once said nothing lasts forever.
“ wakey wakey” said my mum accompanied by a bell in her hand as she jingled it not for the pleasure of waking me but to scare the living daylights out of me. Hearing the loud jingle of the bell, i woke up frightened, rolling off from my bed to the floor.
“mum!!” i yelled “you almost gave me an heart attack ”. "that was the plan" my mum said chucklingly "downstairs, your dad wants to see every one of us"
“okay mum". As she closed the door behind her, i decided to rest my head on the pillow for just four to six seconds, then my mum opened the door and jingled the bell once again
“mum!!!" I yelled again. "Downstairs now" my mum demanded
All were seated at the dining room, as I walked my way to go sit with them. Dad as usual, putting on his glasses, as he read today's news report, my kid sis, Megan, not surprised, her fingers and eyes are right glued to that android of hers, and that makes me sick, making that toy feel so germane and there's rolly, the last born, playing dinosaur game, sometimes I wish, it was actual dinosaur, then it would be fun. Finally, there's mum, bringing breakfast to the table for our hungry tummies, the tummy land will forever love you mum.
I coughed so loud to get their attention. All stopped what they were doing and fixed their gaze at me. For some oddly reasons, I'm sure they didn't know I've been in the dining room, staring and observing what they were doing for this long.
“pete my boy, when did you come downstairs?” my dad asked feeling excited same time confused
"Just a, ehm a" I stammered. "“never mind that, children stop what you are doing" turned his face to glare at Megan "Megan theason!, Drop your phone now". Megan not wanting to get grounded, dropped her phone.
“Good! Now, i called this gathering (pauses) hit it love". Mum brought out drumsticks and started beating the dining table like a drum.
" A Christmas holiday at gran's" my dad screamed with excitement. Vainly, his excitement didn't rub off on either Megan or I. “Dad, mum, do you both hate me" Megan said trying to force tears out of her eyes
" Baby, we don't hate you" mum replied.
“then why gran's, she's, no offense, boring". " Hey, that's no way to speak about your granny, my mother" my mum said
“ I'm sorry mum, just wanted this Christmas to feel Christmassy and I'm not seeing that happening at gran's" Megan said
“exactly" i chimed in. " Whose side are you on?" Dad said looking at me. " I'm on the fun side and come on dad, i remember you hating the idea of Christmas at gran's"
"Wait what?" Mum surprisedly asked
" Don't mind what he's saying love, he's confused in the head" placed his hand close to his mouth so mum wouldn't hear anything and looked at me “shut up"
"Look, rolly loves the idea" mum said. Rolly smiling as he looked at us.
“mum, he's five ” Megan said. “ besides, he hasn't seen Gran even when he was born, his eyes were this close". I closed my eyes to imitate how he looked back then. All laughed
"That's not the point, children, my loves, it will be fun, i assure you, i will be there and I will bring my wand( held up the drumsticks in the air) and make it Christmas". After much pleading, Megan eventually gave in.
" Peter?" Mum asked
“well here won't be fun..." I said. “yeah, i heard you and Gina broke up, you could find a new girl at gran's" mum interrupted
“mum really" feeling embarrassed " back to what I'm saying, it won't be fun without my family so fuck it I'm going" i continued
"So it's settled then, granny's here we come" mum said feeling happy. “ wheels up at 11, so all your belongings should be out" dad said
" But first, can we eat, I'm starving " Megan said . “ooh yeah, dig in children" mum said out loud.
