Chapter 1

• CHAPTER ONE
• DAY ONE
• Tring! Tring!! Tring!!! Tring!!! Tring!!!! Tring!!!!
• The fifth time that Alicia phone would ring in the period of an hour, she was actually in the room hearing the phone ringing, but Alicia was not the bit ready to pick up the phone, she does not wanted to pick up the phone in the first place, hence she left her phone on the dining table to be ringing all there.
• The time was during the middle of December, and that means Winter is already here, hence the room was cold, Alicia had a fire burning in the oven, at least that would heat up the room, The room was just the normal bungalow for the middle class citizen, the sitting room doubled as kitchen, and ahead was the dining room, the other side of the room was a bedroom, there is also a bathroom too.
• And that was Alicia house, she was a typical Alaskan girl, but she resides and works in Miami.
• Alicia was a lady in her late twenties, she will be twenty nine this year December, she actually shares her birthday with Christmas day precisely, and her birthday would be in five days to come.
• With her birthday so close, that means Christmas is here and knocking, hence her house was decorated with Christmas tree, Christmas light was hanging on the trees, stars were all hanging on the trees too. There was reindeers, strawberry, and series of bulb light around the Christmas tree.
• Seeing the accessories around the Christmas tree, it shows that the designer devote her time, soul and mind to decorates the tree, just to achieve the best scenario.
• Alicia was dressed up in a white sweater over a blue jeans pants, she also wore a white shoes too, she was coiled up all alone on a her chair, and on the center table were all sort of greetings card, she share her birthday with Christmas Day, hence her friends and collogues at work sent to her many greeting cards, and her best friend Stephanie was the one who decorated her room with the Christmas tree and Light.
• Tring! Tring!! Tring!!! Tring!!!! Tring!!!!
• And once again, the annoying ring came once again. Alicia growled as she stood up on her feet, she walked towards the dining room, and she picked up the call, and she placed the phone to her ears.
• “Really Mom, five times call in just a period of an hour.” Alicia said growling, she even raised five fingers up in the air.
• “Hey Alicia, aren’t you coming home for Christmas?” The voice said from the other end of Alicia phone.
• Alicia expression turned grave that moment, she even held her fist together because she felt so angry right now, she said.
• “Mom.”
• Alicia screamed like someone who just experienced a life threatening situation, just that she really was mad with anger right now.
• “Alicia, please come home, Faith wanted you at home, she had been disturbing me to call you home.” The voice said again calmly, it was if the other end was trying to pet Alicia to calmness.
• “Grandma is in Alaska.” Alicia tone held much sarcasm in it, it was that the piece of news she heard was too sudden and shocking to her.
• “Yes, she came to celebrate Christmas with us, she said she wanted to at least see you once again, before her old bone failed her completely.”
• Alicia was silent for a very long time, if there was someone whom she love so much, it was her grandmother, that was her father mother, even though she was in her nineties, still she always called her little doll, and most holidays, Alicia spent it with her grandmother, hence she had a special bond with her.
• And truly, Faith caught her old age diseases, and she was advice to stay away from Ice, hence Faith was moved away to Africa, she moved in with her relatives, because Faith background was traced back to Nigeria in West Africa.
• Maybe, she was too anxious to see her granddaughter; hence she took the risk, and came to Alaska at this time of the year, the winter time, when Alaska was at its coldest. Alicia knew that, she can’t denied Faith that pleasure of seeing her precious granddaughter before her bones fails her totally.
• “Alright, I will be there.” Alicia finally said coldly, even though she was calm, still her expression shows that she was till angry.
• “Yes.”
• The other side sounded so happy. It continued. “I hope you come with your husband, you know it will gladden Faith so much to see her grandson-in-law.”
• Immediately Alicia end the call, she even power off the phone, and she threw it on the table angrily, she really was displaced right now, in fact tearing all the house down, and destroying all the Christmas decoration that was painstakingly prepared by Stephanie won’t suffice for her anger right now.
• Going to Alaska was another boring holiday ever again; it means another boring talk of getting a husband, and having her own children once again, and it was one of the reasons Alicia vowed never to step on Alaska soil ever again.
• “At this rate, you will die a virgin.”
• “Just get a husband and made I and your father happy for crying out loud.”
• “Alicia, there is love waiting out there for you, you just have to let love found you.”
• “Alicia, you are born on the same day as Christmas day, a day of Love. Then why do you let Love depart from you.”
• Those were her mother words to her last holiday she visited Alaska, that was four years ago, hence the reason she vowed never to step on Alaska soil ever again, hence the reason she hated Christmas, hence the reason she hated her own birthday.
• “Looks like I can’t dodge this year Christmas in Alaska.” Alicia thought.
• She heaved out and she walked back to her seat. Actually Alicia was not the nerdy type of girl, she was a light skin girl, and her long blonde hair, coupled with her blue eyeball caused her to be hot girl which every man wanted to take home to Mama, just that Alexis never revealed how beautiful she was,
• She always hide that blue eyes under her white glasses, she would always rolled her her blonde hair up, and packed them into a bond, moreover she was a waiter, hence she always wore an oversized shirt to work all the time, over a skirt or pant bigger than her body size, she would always wore hat too. Practically, Alicia deliberately hide her beauty and gracefulness, and proudness.
• Hence men see her as the ugly bimbo.
• Alicia knew that she have nowhere to dodge this time around, even though she had her plans for Christmas, she still have to cancelled them, and head straight to Alaska, if not for any other thing, at least for her grandmother.
• **************************
• Night in Miami, but the atmosphere was festive, because every streets was lined with Christmas light and banners, every shops was decorated with series of Christmas flowers, even at the entrance were Christmas trees, with series of decoration around it, there was Garlands, there was Angel, Wreaths, Bells, and the likes like that.
• Peoples all lined the streets too, it was festive season, hence it was an holiday for everybody, and even though it was Winter, and Snow filled the lands and the roads, still Children and Adults line the streets, they Children wore Christmas caps and gloves to keep them warm, they also wore Christmas scarves around their necks, booths for hiking in the snow.
• The Adults were no different from the Children, they were dress in thick coats and caps, most wore Christmas caps on their head and Scarves around their necks.
• Still slow music lighten the atmosphere for everyone, and people were having the fun of their live, hence Children running around holding Christmas light in their hand, well it was no other reason, because it is Christmas season.
• Alicia sat down in one of the cafes, just like everybody, she was dress in a white red fur, underneath the red thick fur, she wore a turtle neck green sweater, she also wore a blue jeans, and a hiking both, she also wore a red beret over her long blonde hair. She held a cup of hot coffee in her hand, and she was staring the festive streets and atmosphere.
• For a minute, Alicia seems to enjoy this year Christmas, because she felt so happy this time, every time Christmas was near, she always hide in her comfy room all alone, not bothering herself to celebrate, not go out to celebrate with friends.
• But this year Christmas seems to be different, because here she was outside in the streets, enjoying the festive atmospheres, she was even sited here been happy to see another Christmas. Alicia was a believer, hence she believe that something comes along with this year Christmas for her.
• “Okay, here you are, I bought you a new coffee.” A cheerful voice sounded to Alicia hearing.
• Alicia snapped out of her thought, she looked at her news seatmate, and she smiled, it was Stephanie, she like Alicia was dressed up in a winter cloth, she placed a cup opposite Alicia, she also held a cup in her hands too.
• ‘Wait, am I seeing things, or is your lip forming an O shape that looks like a smile?” Stephanie said sarcastically.
• Alicia looked around for a few seconds first.
• “Do I really look happy this time around?”
• “Oh! Don’t ask me that bestie, you are npot happy alone, you are glowing too.”
• Alicia stands up immediately, she even turned around few times, before she sat down back, she sip her coffee once again.
• “Is Christmas this always fun?” She asked
• “Alicia, Christmas is more than fun, it is the last festive season of the year, and it is also the beginning of the another Season, it is the season we know about God’s love to the world, the Season which His manifestation of love was revealed to the World”
• Stephanie said all together in a joyful tone, even her arms are spread in the air to expressed how concerned she was about passing her message to Alicia.
• Alicia scoffed seeing how desperate Stephanie was just to pass her message down to her, she finally squeezed her face together and said.
• “You don’t look like a preacher to me, moreover what is with Christmas that you are so into it?”
• “I am not into Christmas.”
• Stephanie hand was raised in the air to stops Alicia from talking, she even shakes her forefinger in a threatening manner just to warn Alicia to keep mute.
• Alicia almost burst to laughter, because even though Stephanie seems to warning her to keep mute, she knew that Stephanie does not mean what she was trying to do right now, she knew that Stephanie was just trying to be good friend to her.
• Every year for the past four year, Stephanie had tried all she can just to change Alicia perceptive about Christmas, Stephanie was there to decorate her house with Christmas decoration, she even go as far length to sent to her many Christmas greetings card, she even sent the Christmas greetings card using different names.
• Yet Alicia does not change her perspective about Christmas, she would not go out with friends, and even if she go out with friends, she was always frowning, hiding or running, she would not go to church, she would not exchange gift, she would not do anything, just stay at home and watch boring DVDs, in fact she practically just ran away from anything that have to do with Christmas.
• “Why do you even hate Christmas?”
• Alicia was taken back by Stephanie question, she had always asked herself that same question every year for the past four years, just that she had no perfect answer for it, and till now, she was confused why she hated Christmas so much
• Alicia laughed, but it was not really laughter like that, it was a self-pity laughter, it was the laughter who sees herself as joke, she voiced out.
• “To be honest Stephanie, I have no honest answer as to why I hate Christmas, I just don’t like the day.”
• Alicia said all together first, and then she stopped and she sand down on her seat in sorrow, she even squeezed her face together to reveal that she was sad and confused about a lot of things.
• She continued. “It was as if I was missing something so crucial on that day, and to be honest till today, I still can’t identify that thing that I lost.”
• Stephanie stood up from her seat, she sat down beside Alicia, her hand was around Alicia neck, she does not know why, but for a minute, she felt that Alicia was suffering inside alone, just that she herself does not know what she needed. And it is so frustrating to be founded sick, yet the cause of sickness was unknown.
• “I am sorry Alicia, but I believe you will find what you lost in due time.” Stephanie said looking so very concerned about Alicia case.
• Alicia looks at Stephanie in the eyes, she was grateful to have someone like Stephanie as her friend, because Stephanie was more than a friend to her, she was like a relative to her.
• ‘Now you are at least out from your hole, it is a good start.”
• Alicia frowned in confusion, she asked Stephanie. ‘What does that mean?”
• “I and some friends and family are throwing a party tomorrow night, I am inviting you to grace the party, there would be lot of fun to catch, there would hot guys and beautiful ladies like I am there too.”
• Stephanie eyes lighten up as she describes the party, it was as if the Party would be one in a century, she even began to twirl her hairs and her eyeball in the most seductive manner. But then she suddenly became serious, and she focused her attention on Alicia.
• ‘And maybe, you can found one hot dude there, who would sweep you off your feet, and maybe you would found the lost piece of your life.”
• “Stephanie, you are a bitch.” Alicia said while laughing hysterically.
• “Are you coming?”
• Alicia shakes her head. “I am sorry Stephanie, I can’t be there.”
• To say the fact, Alicia would really love to be at the party, at least if not for every other things, she wanted to be there, at least for Stephanie, or for that hot dude that she did not know, or for the fun, or for the fact that she felt something different this year Christmas.
• But then Alicia knew that she had to be in Alaska tomorrow, she had to travel back home, back to the place she had vow never to step her feet one again, she practically was not comfortable with it, because something keeps telling her that, this journey back home would bring a change in her, good or bad, she just was not sure of what it is yet.
• Stephanie frown to show displeasure. “You are not bailing out on me once again. You are not crawling back into your rat hole once again.”
• Alicia shakes her head again. “No, but I am going to Alaska tomorrow.”
• Stephanie was shock at first, but her memory process what she heard from Alicia, her eyes lighten up immediately.
• “Wait! What? Wait! You are going to Alaska.”
• Alicia nods her head, while sipping her coffee down.
• “What changes?”
• Alicia scoffed before replying Stephanie. “I have no idea, but I just found myself agreeing to visit Alaska for Christmas.”
• Stephanie jumps up with much delight. “That was just great news. Now I do believe that this year Christmas is gonna bring a great change to you.”
• “I do believe that too.” Alicia said indifferently.
• Stephanie stands up abruptly, she picked up her purse and she said. “Okay, lets go get you Christmas present then, but first we are going to a concert.”
• Alicia could only resign to her fate, she knew that Stephanie was the crazy type, when it comes to shopping, and now that she was ready to celebrate Christmas, Stephanie would make sure, she never forget about it, she believe that Stephanie would do everything she can, just to ensure that she always celebrate Christmas happily just like everyone else out there.
• ***************************
• Alicia finds herself been drag to a seat by Stephanie, she have no option than complies with Stephanie, to Stephanie, this is a one in a million chance, she was so happy that Alicia finally decides to crawl out of her hole, and she was out to celebrates Christmas,
• Hence she would do all she can just to ensure that Alicia never crawls back, she would makes her experience the fun that associates with Christmas, such that she will always have a reason not to celebrates Christmas.
• To Alicia, this was a torture, she was ready for any gathering tonight, she only wants to have a drinks, go back home, and prepare for her tomorrow boring journey.
• But she knew Stephanie very well, she will be offended if she refuses to do her bidding.
• Hence she has no option than sits down and watch what was on the stages.
• Silent Night,
• Holy Night,
• All is calm, and all is bright,
• Round you virgin Mother and Child,
• Holy infant so tender and mild,
• Sleep in Heavenly peeeeeace,
• Sleeep in Heavenly Peace.
• The Instrumentalist get to work, the Saxophone, trumpet, thimble are blowing, the Guitar, Violin, Accordion also are playing at the right tune and tempo too,
• Silent Night,
• Holy Night,
• “It is Christmas Carol Concert.”
• Stephanie joyful voice sounds beside Alicia.
• Alicia looks back at Stephanie, she force out a smile, and she turns around to look at the stage.
• On the stage the Children singing the Christmas song does not stop.
• Shepard’s quake the sight,
• Glories stream from Heaven above,
• Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
• Christ the Savior is born,
• Christ the Savior is born.
• Alicia was taken by the songs tempo, the slowness and the harmonious tune use by the Children, hence she focus on the children and the scene.
• The Children are dressed in a choir robe, and most of them wore a red cap on their head, the rest wore Santa stockings, and behind the children was a Santa Claus.
• Behind the children was a banner, and on it was the word MERRY CHRISTMAS written boldly and clear for everyone to see, the words was written with a Golden and Yellow color, and part of it was shining.
• That is not all, even though it was a hall, still the stage was made to be in the snow, that even snow was falling behind the children, and the two trees that stand in the snow was covered in snow completely.
• Stephanie notice Alicia focus all the time.
• Silent Night, Holy Night,
• “Are you enjoying the show?” She asks
• Alicia does not wants to miss any off the lyrics, hence she nods her head only, she also turns to Stephanie once again, and she force out a smile.
• “It is to my taste.”
• Son of God, love’s pure light.
• Radiant beams from thy holy face,
• “Christmas has always been the best Season in the year.”
• That was Stephanie speaking to Alicia
• “I agree to that too.”
• With dawn of the redeeming Grace,
• Jesus Lord at thy birth,
• Jesus Lord at thy birth.
• Soon the singing ends, and the crowd all stands up and claps their hands for the children who just perform a very fantastic songs,
• Even Alicia who was never moved by things like, but seeing the kids been so harmonious, she was mesmerize by the show, and she stands up to clap with the rest of the adult.
• “Merry Christmas Alicia” Stephanie said happily while clapping her hands together.
• Alicia was full of joy, she was so happy to be here, she was clapping her hands together for the fantastic display from the kids.
• “Merry Christmas Stephanie”
• “And now to the last show of the night, lets party tonight.”
• The announcer announces.
• The next seconds, another band replaces the kids, and there was change of beat, it is a rock and bass session.
• The people all go crazy, they stand up and began to dance to the Christmas songs from the band, the drums was playing, and the singer with a Guitar around his neck, was singing to rhymes with the music.
• But Alicia was already dissatisfied, she frowns and stands up immediately, she was okay with the first shoe, but her disdain for Christmas remains, hence she walks out of the hall. Stephanie runs after her.
• “Ain’t you happy with the show?”
• “Stephanie, I have a long boring journey tomorrow, I have to catch a sleep first.”
• Stephanie nods her head, she was not satisfies with Alicia reply, but she respect Alicia decision, hence she agree with her.
• “Alright then, let’s go for shopping.”
• Alicia has no option, she knows that, she is stuck with Stephanie for tonight, she nods her head.
• “Alright, let’s go for Christmas shopping.”