The evening of Christmas.
It was the evening of Christmas. The moon was at its peak, as it came out in a perfect circle. It silver light illuminated the entire village. The old palm tree besides Baba's hut was not left out. One could drop a pin on the floor and still find it.
The entire village was still in its festive mood, as one could still hear Édaró Jimoh's old radio from a distance blasting in various Christmas songs.
The entire village square as well as the street was filled with both the young and the old.
Smokes were still raising from huts and Mama Ebeben's palm wine/pepper soup bar is still filled with boisterous laughter and cheers.
Christmas light can still be seen hung in some shops on the street. The full moon seem to add more light to the festivity.
I hurriedly finished with the dishes mama asked me to do and walked briskly to Baba's hut. I met the other children already seated. I took my sit beside Oreka as Baba began his story.
Baba Ejiro as he was known by all, is one of the oldest man in the village. He was my grandfather. His hut is very close to Mama's hut. Baba as often called by us his grandchildren never misses a moonlight story, most especially when the moon is out in its full glory like now.
This seem to be the favourite part of my childhood.
Today's story was different from the previous ones. It is about a great man who once settled in our land a long time ago.
He began by saying; "Long time ago..."
In between his story, Baba broke into his favourite folklore and we sang excitedly along.
By the time he was done, the little children were already asleep but excitement could be seen plastered on the faces of the children seated around him.
I woke Oreka up, held her by her hands as we made our way to Mama's hut. Baba's story was as usual very interesting with lessons for each one of us.
By now, the noise in the village had reduced, even the dusk are settling in.
I laid on the mat beside Mama's thin bed as I yawned repeatedly. My mind traveled to the story Baba told us today, I broke out into a smile as I my eyelids bow in submission.
This is one Christmas of a kind.
It was the evening of Christmas. The moon was at its peak, as it came out in a perfect circle. It silver light illuminated the entire village. The old palm tree besides Baba's hut was not left out. One could drop a pin on the floor and still find it.
The entire village was still in its festive mood, as one could still hear Édaró Jimoh's old radio from a distance blasting in various Christmas songs.
The entire village square as well as the street was filled with both the young and the old.
Smokes were still raising from huts and Mama Ebeben's palm wine/pepper soup bar is still filled with boisterous laughter and cheers.
Christmas light can still be seen hung in some shops on the street. The full moon seem to add more light to the festivity.
I hurriedly finished with the dishes mama asked me to do and walked briskly to Baba's hut. I met the other children already seated. I took my sit beside Oreka as Baba began his story.
Baba Ejiro as he was known by all, is one of the oldest man in the village. He was my grandfather. His hut is very close to Mama's hut. Baba as often called by us his grandchildren never misses a moonlight story, most especially when the moon is out in its full glory like now.
This seem to be the favourite part of my childhood.
Today's story was different from the previous ones. It is about a great man who once settled in our land a long time ago.
He began by saying; "Long time ago..."
In between his story, Baba broke into his favourite folklore and we sang excitedly along.
By the time he was done, the little children were already asleep but excitement could be seen plastered on the faces of the children seated around him.
I woke Oreka up, held her by her hands as we made our way to Mama's hut. Baba's story was as usual very interesting with lessons for each one of us.
By now, the noise in the village had reduced, even the dusk are settling in.
I laid on the mat beside Mama's thin bed as I yawned repeatedly. My mind traveled to the story Baba told us today, I broke out into a smile as I my eyelids bow in submission.
This is one Christmas of a kind.
