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Chapter 2

  • CHAPTER TWO
  • DAY TWO
  • Alicia sits on the stand with the rest of the Passenger who wanted to catch the plane to Alaska from Miami Airport, she had already cleared her passport just about five minute ago, hence she was sited awaiting the time to board the aircraft, and she can begin her eight hours boring journey to Alaska.
  • Well last night had been great and fun filled for Alicia, at least for the first time, she felt that she had missed a lot not celebrating Christmas every years, Stephanie practically was buying everything for her, down to common stars and bells used for decorating Christmas trees at home.
  • And under must persuasion from Stephanie, she had brought gift for her family back at homes, she bought a thick sweater for her grandmother, she also bought a long skirt for her too, and then she also bought a thick towel to wrap around her body to keep her just warm.
  • Even though she did dislike her mother a bit, still she bought for her a gift, and finally she bought for herself a green wrap dress, she also bought a pair red strappy heels, just in case she met that hot dude in Alaska. Well Alicia never intended to buy anything for herself; in fact she only wanted to go home, just because her grandmother was in Alaska.
  • But Stephanie was the crazy type, she was also a believer, hence she had told Alicia to be prepared for the outing; that have not even come around.
  • “You, God’s way are different, you never know if you will met the right guy in Alaska, and it would be too late to rush to dos shopping for a cloth.”
  • Those were Stephanie words yesterday.
  • Alicia had no option than just listened to her friend, even Stephanie was there with her last night to park her bags for the journey to Alaska, she even see her off to the Airport. Thus if even she wanted to put down the outing dress and shoes, there was no way she can do that, because Stephanie was there to watch every of her movement like a watch dog.
  • Alicia looks around the Airport once again; she can see families having conversation with one another.
  • She can see Children been happy with their mother’s or father’s or even both parent.
  • Husband and Wives cuddling into one another were also on seat awaiting the Aircraft departure.
  • And that was not all. She can see a lot of Christmas decoration around the Airport, the walkway was lined up with Christmas trees, fruits like Strawberries, Apples, oranges hanged around the Christmas trees, even the entrance to was lined up with Christmas flowers.
  • The Security, Flight Attendant, and every other Personnel, had a Christmas cap drape on their heads.
  • “What was so great about Christmas? I really wish I can be this happy every Christmas.” Alicia thought to herself
  • Amidst her thought, the loudspeaker announced the departure of the flight to Alaska.
  • “And there goes my days.” Alicia said silently.
  • Alicia and the rest of the passengers going towards Alaska all stood up, they draw their bags behind themselves, and they waltz towards the Aircraft conveying them to Alaska.
  • Before Alicia knew it, she was in the Aeroplane, she was stuffing her bag in the overhead, and suddenly the sweetest voice ever rang into her hearing.
  • “Hi hello, I am going to be your seat mate; I would love to place my bag in the overhead locker.”
  • Alicia turned around, and she was stricken to see the most handsome face ever in her entire life, the man talking to him should be in his early thirties, but his hairy face was enough to sweep off any lay out there off her feet.
  • He was dress up in a formal way, he also wore an overall jacket over the formal dressing, he also wore a black pant too over a pair of brown shoes. But his shape, his height, and his handsome tanned face, put together are what were in Alicia mind at the first glance.
  • “The Flight is about to set off, may I place my things over there please?”
  • The Handsome stranger repeated himself, and he pointed over to the overhead locker.
  • But Alicia does not even hear him speaking; she was just drawn to his handsome face.
  • He snapped his finger, and that surely got Alicia attention truly.
  • “You are saying something to me?”
  • “I was telling you that, the flight will take off in about a minute or two; hence may I place my things over there?”
  • He repeated himself in a refined tone, just as gentlemen does, he even pointed back at the overhead locker.
  • Alicia found that she was making a fool of herself, quickly she nods her head vigorously.
  • “Yes, go ahead please.”
  • Immediately Alicia sits down and she covers her face with her two hands, she was a bit disappointed that she was making fool of herself in front of a stranger.
  • The stranger was busy arranging his bags into the small space left behind by Alicia in the overhead locker. But Alicia was not herself any longer, the feeling in her heart seems to be foreign to her, and she had never felt this drawn to any man ever in her life.
  • And as far as she can remember, she had seen a lot of men, at least, she worked as a Waiter in Miami, hence men patronize her every day, but this was the first time, she was seeing someone as handsome to even make her heart fluster this much.
  • She was never a fans of romance, neither had she experience what it means to have a boyfriends, her highest relationship was friends, and that she shared with Stephanie, hence she was confused about what she was feeling right now.
  • Meanwhile her handsome seatmate had no idea about was going on in her mind, he was only concern about putting his bag in check, and then he sits down comfortably, he brings out a journal to read.
  • Soon the flight was ready to take off, the pilot announce the takeoff on the radio. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to take off, and it is advised you fasten your seatbelt”
  • Everybody in the Aeroplane fastens their seatbelt, but Alicia was so into herself, that she had no idea that such announcement was made.
  • Quickly he taps her in the shoulder. “Did you hear the announcement or not?”
  • Alicia snap back to reality, and it was then she notice that everyone had fasten their seat belt, quickly she fasten her own seatbelt, and then the plane was on the runway, and some minutes later, the bird was in the air flying towards Alaska.
  • “Hi” he started the conversation with Alicia.
  • Alicia heart began to race, but she did try to compose herself, she replied him.
  • “Hey”
  • “I am Stephen.” He said and he stretch his hand out for an handshake,
  • “I am Alicia” She replied, and she also takes the handshake too.
  • Alicia felt the soft palm of Stephen on hers, and it was so soft that Alicia would want the handshakes to remain like that till eternity, but it was just a wish, because Stephen would not want that, moreover she was a dignified lady, hence she had to make herself still refined and ladylike. Hence Alicia broke the handshakes.
  • “Alaska.”
  • Alicia nods her head. “Yes, born, raised and bread in Alaska, I left about four years ago.”
  • “I am also from Alaska too, but I lived my whole life in New York City, I only come home every Christmas to celebrate with families and friends.” Stephen said all together.
  • Alicia frowned to hear that, someone would travelled many miles of distance just to celebrate with his family, the same season she loathed so much was the same season that another would fly a long distance to celebrate.
  • “Don’t you love Christmas?”
  • Stephen actually sees Alicia frowning when he finished speaking his words, but he was an observer, hence he was sure that she was displeased on a reason, but he was sure it was not because she was traveling, nor was it because of him, but it was because of something he said.
  • He was a Psychologist, hence he knew that people around the globe loathed some season in the year, and while everyone was out celebrating, these sets of people would only coiled themselves in their rooms, not celebrating the season with everyone else. Stephen concluded that Alicia might one of those people, hence Christmas should be the season she loathed so much.
  • Alicia on her own was stunned that she could be this transparent like this to a stranger, she even wondered, if she had made her hatred about Christmas so obvious that everyone around her could read her very clear.
  • “I am sorry to pry, but I am a Psychologist, so reading people was my way of earning livelihood.”
  • He said his words with a joking expression, even Alicia laugh to his joke.
  • “So why do you hate Christmas?” he finally asked after he stops laughing.
  • “I have no idea about it?”
  • “Christmas date back to the Roman Empire, and at it birth, it was first called Feast if Nativity, before it changed names, and it was called Christmas.” Stephen said, he even closed his journal to focus with talking to Alicia.
  • “I am not a fan of history during High school and College; I study Business Management in college.” Alicia said while she frown her face together.
  • “Then do you want to know?” He asked.
  • Alicia nods her head. At least she would love to keep the conversation going, and she does not mind, if the conversation was about the topic she loathed so much.
  • “Different people had their various believe about Christmas though.” Stephen began with his hands spread in the air, he continued.
  • “The Christian believe it was the season to proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ, a time to celebrate and rejoice that Christ was given to the people as a lamb for sacrifice of atonement for sins.”
  • Alicia frowns again. “Hew, that was a bit gross.”
  • Stephen also frowns too. “Don’t you go to church? This is everyday preaching from every Pastor, Christ came to the world to save us from death, he died to so we can live. And Christmas was the time set down to celebrate His Birth, though the season was not his birthday though.”
  • Alicia shakes her head, she was a believer, but she never attended church programmes, she always had a way of debunking it every time, she was called to church by her parent. Even Stephanie had tried bringing her to church, but she would always refuse to be there.
  • But Alicia won’t just admit like that, she was not interested in Church, rather she was interested in Stephen, she said.
  • “So Christmas is all about Christian’s right?”
  • Stephen shakes his head vigorously first, he said. “No.”
  • “Then tell me more about it.” Alicia said with her arms spread in the air.
  • Stephen scratches his head first and foremost, he continued.
  • “Well, Christmas didn’t just begin like that; it was born out of many festivals carried out by different tribes in the world.”
  • Alicia became so focused, she even rest her chin on her palm, and her elbow was rest on the seat armrest, her blue eyes focused totally on Stephen, more like a lover been lost in lover eyes.
  • Stephen continues too.
  • “In the early European, the festival was known as Winter Solstice, the moment when worst shorter sunlight of Winter was behind them, and they were now able to welcome the longer days and extended sunlight, and that time to them, the tread between the dead and living was thin, hence they use that same day to celebrate their dead.”
  • “The Norse tribe of Scandinavia also celebrated Yule, they did this festival all from December 21th and till January, this festival was to welcome the Sun. During the festival Father and Son bring log of wood home, and they would always set fire on the wood, there they celebrated and feast until the log burn out, this usually take at least twelve days, and sometimes more. There believe was that, every sparks from the fire, represented a calf or pigs, that would be born the coming year.”
  • “The Germans also have their believe too about Christmas.”
  • Alicia was so focused right now, and even some people who were closed to Alicia and Stephen seats were also listening to mysterious history of Christmas, and how Christmas was born
  • “So what the Germans believe about Christmas?”
  • That was Alicia asking.
  • “Well, they did worship the pagan god named Oden, he was a terrifying god, hence the Germans were so terrified of him, and hence people stay inside when they celebrated his festival.”
  • To say Alicia was not stunned about the vast knowledge that Stephen possessed was an understatement.
  • In fact she was in so much awe about his knowledge, at least he said he was a psychologist, hence she wondered how he got the time to gathered knowledge he possessed around; in fact he was like a walking encyclopedia. She really wish she was the one who knew about all the things she knew
  • Well as much as she appreciated him, she was not satisfied yet, what begat Christmas precisely?
  • “Then how was Christmas born then out of all the worship of these pagan gods?” Alicia asked looking still not satisfied.
  • Stephen scratches his moustache and beard, he coughed out and he continued.
  • ‘Well it begins with Rome. They are the world conqueror at once upon a time, and just like every other tribes, they do have their own festivals celebrated during winter.”
  • Alicia frowned, when she realized the paradox in Stephen words, she said.
  • “You are saying the festival is not just one.”
  • “Yes, it is actually two festivals.” Stephen said and nods his head.
  • “The first is the Saturnalia, a festival to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture, which began about a week before winter, and it lasted a month, even during the festival, slaves were giving temporary freedom, and were treated as equal.”
  • “The second festival was known as Juvenalia, that was a feast to honor the children, and during that time, Mithra the gods of unquenchable sun was worship, it was believed that Mithra was an infant gods born from rock on the same day as December 25th, and that day was considered the most sacred day of the year.”
  • Stephen finally finish, and she look at Alicia in the eyes, and she see that she really was attentive to the story of Christmas came to existence, even Stephen was stunned at how devoted she was to learning, this was the first time he sees someone so devoted to hearing his boring story about Christmas.
  • It was at that moment that he sees that, Alicia was the most beautiful girl that he had ever came across, she was young, wild and innocent, her blue eyes coupled with her round shape face, coupled with her long blonde hair makes her to more beautiful, she was an unpolished gold, though shinning, but it was not that visible, only the expert would know that it was gold.
  • Hence that was the same conclusion he had about Alicia, only the expert can see how beautiful she was, because that beauty was hidden under an unforeseen situation.
  • “So is that all?” Alicia asked after been silent for sometimes.
  • “No. Amidst all of the pagan worship, Pope Julius I decided to adopt December 25th as the day to celebrate Jesus Christ birth, it is an effort just to adopt and absorb the pagan Saturnalia festival.”
  • Alicia was stunned. “That was such a nice move, a great thinking.”
  • “Exactly yes. Because by holding Christmas on the same season as Winter Solstice, the church leader believed that the festival would be embraced by the citizen, and it work as intended, because soon people began to embrace Christianity, and forsake their pagan gods, and by the end of the Middle Age, pagan gods had been replaced with Christianity.”
  • “And as more people continue to accept Christianity, Christmas is also adopted too. It was called Feast of Nativity, before the name changed to Christmas. The Egypt were the first to adopt the festival, that was in the year 432, and then it spread over to England by the end of Sixth century.”
  • Stephen finally stops and he heaved out loudly.
  • Alicia had been silent and observant all the while, at least that was one of her quality; she was an astute learner; who listens attentively while in class, so she can grasp the content of what the teacher was teaching her.
  • “So practically, Christmas season was just a time to attend church, exchange gifts, share meals with families and friends.”
  • Stephen nods his head vigorously. “Yes exactly, as year’s rolls by, we have the addition of decorating Christmas tree, and waiting for Santa.”
  • Alicia nods her head vigorously, she felt so satisfied knowing so much about Christmas, how the day was born, and what actually lead to it.
  • For that moment, she felt that her birthday was not just a fluke; it was not just a common day. And such a day should be a day she must celebrated with so much interest in it, because it is a day born out of legends.
  • There in the Aeroplane, Alicia made up her mind.
  • “I will make a change after this year Christmas, I am going to celebrate my birthday with much interest from now henceforth…………”
  • Stephen expression turns to confusion, because he noticed that Alicia was talking to herself, but he noticed the look on her, it was a look that carries determination to accomplish a feat or a task ahead, he became curious about what Alicia was thinking.
  • “So are you saying something to me?”
  • Alicia shakes her head vigorously. “No. but I realize a lot of things that I have missed, and I am making my resolution about doing it, starting with my birthday.”
  • Stephen nods his head first, but then his eyes opens wide, because he realize something so very crucial, his hand hangs in the air as he said.
  • “You were born on Christmas day?”
  • “Yes” Alicia replied while nodding her head and smiling at the same time.
  • “Wow. That was such a lucky thing for you, because Alaska has a lot of scenario and place to celebrate.”
  • “Well, you don’t realize what you have been missing until your eyes were open to it by people far experience than you do.”
  • “Then you can enjoy your stay at Alaska, it is going to be a lot of fun for you.”
  • Alicia nods her head again, she continued to smile.
  • “I believe so too, this year Christmas is gonna be my best Christmas.”