Chapter 3

“Fasten your seatbelt please, because we will be landing at Ancourage International Airport in about five minute now, I do hope you have all enjoyed your flight. And I am wishing you a happy stay, and Merry Christmas.”
Alicia was sleeping all the time, immediately the conversation with Stephen about Christmas came to an end, the duo talks about work, and some other relevant things.
But because Alicia does not have a good sleep, because she was a little bit worried about going to Alaska all night, hence she doze off , and Stephen continues with his reading, she wakes up when she felt someone waking her up from her slumber, and as expected, it was Stephen, been the gentle man he always was.
“The Aeroplane is landing in five minute.”
“Oh! Thank a bunch for waking me up.”
Alicia replies while she was doing her seat belt, but then she looks sideways in regret, because she knew, she will be parting from Stephen very soon. But when she did look sideways at Stephen direction, she notice him also staring at her, at the same time, he is smiling at her too.
Alicia was lost in the smile, because it is a smile that could light a barn, she was drawn into his manly eyes, that which is manly yet gentle as well.
But Alicia manage to recall herself back, she knew she can’t make herself too obvious for Stephen, or else she would be seen as a cheap whore, and she does not wants to have a bad rating in Stephen books.
“I guess this is it then.” Stephen begins.
Alicia nods her head; she understands what Stephen was saying, because the same thought was running in her own mind too
“Yes, once the plane landed, we can both forget about one another.”
“That shouldn’t be so you know that right.”
“Yes, it shouldn’t”
“I do come to Miami at some times in the year, maybe we can hang out if I ever came around.”
“Guess, there is still a chance for use to meet in the future then.”
“Then let’s exchange contact then, I would love to go on a date with you.”
Alicia heart begins to race all the sudden, she had never go on a date, because she had never had a boyfriend, but here she was, sited with the most handsome man she ever met, together in a Aeroplane, and he was inviting her to a date, which she was dying inside to ask him to take her too.
She least it expects it to come so easy like that, in fact she never dreamt about it, but the happy reality was here staring at her in the eyes.
Alicia lose her mind totally, she forgets herself and she wants to stands on her feet, either run away from the scene, because she felt her cheeks turning red all the sudden, but that was a mistake from her side, because the same time, the Aeroplane landed, and she finds herself falling into Stephen hands.
“Are you okay?”
Alicia nods her head, but she was so ashamed of herself, and she wants to find a hole and hide there forever.
“You have to be careful with your thoughts; you are in an Aeroplane for crying out loud.”
Stephen sits her down back on her sits, he also help her to fasten her seat belt again. He was gentle as he corrects her and he also help her do her thing, because Alicia had becomes too dumb to even do anything, she felt clumsy, after she had lost herself to nervousness around Stephen.
Few minutes later, Alicia and Stephen are on the walkway, but Alicia was still shy, she had not been herself still, even after few minutes after her faux pas around Stephen, she only hides her red face, because she felt so ashamed still, even Stephen was the one helping to draw her bags after himself, he also had his own bag in a backpack, and he place in on his shoulder.
Just like every other Airport, Ancourage International Airport also celebrate Christmas too, the Airport entrance and walkways were well decorated with Christmas trees, lights and flowers, there were Babies, Deer, Stars, Doves, Fruits and the like all hang around the Airport.
The duo was out of the airport, and they stood on the road waiting transport back home.
“Are you going to take a cab?”
But he got no reply from Alicia, causing him to be worried; hence he touches her shoulder in a gentle way.
“Are you okay?”
Alicia becomes too sensitive immediately, she replies.
“I am very much okay.” She replies just like someone in a hurry.
“Alright, are you going in a taxi, because my folks are here to pick me up?” Stephen said, as he points ahead to a white Hilux bus ahead.
Alicia also looks at the other side, and she sees the Hilux bus park, and someone was waving towards Stephen from the bus. She nods her head and she said.
“I am waiting for my Mom; she will be around very soon.”
“Well, here is your bags, and be careful next time, it is not advisable to stand up when an Aeroplane is about to make a landing.”
Immediately Stephen finishes his words, he did hand over Alicia bag to her, he turns around and he walks away towards his family
Alicia watch his walks say further away from him, she wants to say more to him, but the scene she created back in the Aeroplane still lingers in her mind, hence she was so shy to even calls him back.
“I really wish I had not created such scene.”
“Hey Alicia, welcome to Alaska.”
Alicia knew who the speaker was; it was her mother, whom she did not wish to talk to right now.
The forty nine years old woman also approach her, she was dress in a blue sweater, which she wore over a multicolor T shirt, she also wore a blue jeans too, and a brown hiking booths. But then all the sudden, she stops on her track, when she notices Alicia blushing face.
“Are you hurt? Is the cold too much for you to withstand.”
“Mom, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Alicia said with an undefined expression on her face, but then she toss her bag in the truck, she enters the passenger seat, Alicia mother also stop worrying, she enters the truck, and she drives away.
*************************
Alicia sits beside her mother in her truck, but her mind was not in the car, she keep thinking about Stephen, she had manage to recover from the awkward moment back in the Aeroplane, but it is becoming too difficult for her to forgets his handsome face and smile.
She even begins to smiles at herself, she really was in a world of fantasy, where she was married to Stephen, and she bore his children.
Lola was talking to Alicia, but she was not even replying, she touch Alicia in the shoulder.
‘Alicia, are you okay?”
Alicia snaps out of her fantasy, she frowns at her mother question.
“Mom, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Lola expression changes to that of a concern parent.
“You know I am your mother, and you can talk to me.”
“You lose that right when you let me go four years ago.”
“Alicia, I never let you, you left on you own; I only respect your wish for a breath of space.”
“Maybe if you had let me be and stop disturbing me to get married and have children.”
Alicia said loudly and aggressively. But Lola was calm, she focused on the road, at least, it is Christmas season, hence she was not ready to get into accident together with her daughter.
“Alicia, I had you when I was nineteen years old, your father was barely twenty five when he got me pregnant.”
Alicia is silent, she wants to talk back at her mother, but the mention of her father pour a cold water in her heart, because her father was dead, that was about fifteen years ago, and his death affects her so much, and that practically broke the bond of family between her and her mother.
“Maybe you should have died instead of Dad.” Alicia said coldly
“Sometimes I wish so Honey.”
Alicia was stunned at how her mother could just accept to die just like that.
“Mom, how come you don’t even refute what I said to you?” Alicia asks in a surprised tone.
Lola expression still remains caring and concern just like mother does.
“Maybe, when you have your own daughters too, you will understand better.”
Alicia heaves out, she knows her mother will not stops talking about her marriage and having a child, but she knew that she was overboard wishing her mother death.
“I am sorry Mom, but I don’t really mean what I said.
“You don’t have to apologized honey; I know how much you miss your Dad. And to tell you the truth, I also miss him too.”
Lola suddenly burst to tears; she stops the car and parks it safely by the road side.
“He is always there, he always knew what to do at the right time, He is just the perfect Man, the perfect husband; he is the perfect Dad, he is just perfect in everything. I mean without him is a torture that I have been bearing since his death.”
Alicia was stunned to see that even her mother was also devastated by her father death, she always sees her mother as the nonchalant one, she thought maybe she does not even loves her husband, at some points, she thought maybe her mother was the one responsible for her father death.
But never does she think that, her mother just put up a brave expression all the time, she as well was hurting on the inside.
Alicia watches as her mother was shedding tears, like a baby, she was no different from a teenager who experiences heartbreak for the first time.
“Mom, it is enough, stop crying please.”
“I am sorry Alicia, I know I have not been there for you, it is just that, your father death hit me so hard, that I don’t know whom to put all my frustration on, you are just a victim of it.”
“Mom, let’s get out of here first, we can discuss this at home.”
Lola nods her head, she wipes her tears, and then she smiles happily.
“I am glad you decide to return home honey.”
Lola starts the car and she drives away. It is impossible to see Lola right now and have a thought that she was the same woman crying bitterly just about a second ago.
Even Alicia was stunned at how quick her mother expression could change so easily like that, there Alicia acknowledge her mother mental power, her power absorb shock so quickly is what marvel Alicia about her mother.
But that is not her problem right now, she knows that her mother was also affected by her father death; hence she understands now why her mother wants her married all the while.
And for a minutes, she also feel that she have to satisfy her mother desire, she felt that she must really get married and gives her mother a grandchild.
But the problem is that, she was a virgin up till now, she does not even have a boyfriend, she had no man friend, she even have no friend save for Stephanie, and it is impossible to copulate with her.
That moment, a handsome face appears in her mind once again, it was the face she have long to be with past half an ago, the face of a man that really sweep her off her feet.
If maybe, he can take her down the aisle, and she can have a child with him, she will be the happiest woman on earth; even she will be so much satisfied person on the world.
But Alicia knew that it is impossible, she was just living a fantasy world here, and it is a fantasy because it can never be possible in life.
“Mom, where are we going to? That is not the way home.”
Alicia said, even in her thoughtful thought, she still focus on the road, hence she sees her mother turning towards the east instead of west.
Lola smiles first, she said. “Even after Four years, you still remember the way home.”
“And do I have to remind you that, I was born and raised in Ancourage.”
Alicia said with an undefined expression, her tone right now was also a bit aggressive.
“Yes, I agree to that.” Lola replies while nodding her head, the same time she is smiling mischievously.
“And that have not answered my question.”
Lola shakes her mouth in mockery. “And what was your question honey?”
“Mom, this is not the way home.” Alicia said again in a more aggressive tone, she points forward.
“Oh! I am sorry honey, I actually was at work when you called, hence I had to come and pick you up, so when my shift ended, we will go home.”
“Mom, I am not going on any outing with you, I came for the holiday because of grandmother.”
Alicia said all together, but then she stops talking all the sudden, her hand folds together around her chest.
“And by the way, where is Grandma?”
“Or did you bring me to Alaska by lying to me?”
Lola smiles mischievously again. “What do you think hon?”
Alicia squeeze her face together first, but then she screams out loudly.
“Mom, isn’t that childish?”
“Calm down Alicia, Faith is at home, she is okay and can takes care of herself, she only wants to see you, and nothing else.”
Lola said all together with a serious expression.
Alicia rubs her fore head in anxiousness, she really was beginning to detest her mother pranks at times, but she can do nothing about, that is one of her mother identity, and there is nothing she can do to change that.
“You really suck at times Mom.”
Lola only laughs heartily, she said nothing to her daughter again, she continued to drives safely along the road.
Alicia herself also smiles too; at least there is something she finds so amusing about her mother.
By the time, Lola parks the car, it was already evening, darkness had covers the land, but the Christmas atmosphere does not make the place look to be night.
Lola parks the car in the garage of a decoration store, Alicia alights from the truck, and she follows her mother into the store.
It is a store for selling Christmas items, from Santa’s accessories, to Kids Toys, to Christmas tree, to Christmas light, to Ornaments. The store is the ideal place to shop for Christmas presents.
Lola led Alicia to a cafe opposite the store, she lead Alicia to a seat, then Lola head back to work. Alicia also seats down, and she is served a cup of coffee, she drinks the coffee slowly, and she is scanning the area for what might interest her.
And ahead was a group of chorister singing to the amusement of people who was in the restaurant. Alicia smiles because she knew the song by heart, in fact she remember who taught her the song, it was none than her father, and even though it is been over fifteen years ago, still she remembers the track by heart
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
A partridge in a Pear Tree.
Alicia then sings along with the chorister.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two Turtle Dove,
And a Partridge in a Pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Dove,
And a Partridge in a pear tree.
“Fancy seeing you here”
Alicia was stunned to hear that voice amidst all the yelling and cheers from the crowd in the restaurant.
But she shakes her head in disapproval, she knew that it was her mind playing pranks on her once again, she even said to herself silent.
“That is impossible; Stephen is miles away from here, how can he be talking to me.”
But she did turns around to be sure, and she is stunned at what she sees, there in live and blood is Stephen smiling back at her, he had changes from his formal dressing, he now wore a white polo shirt over a blue jeans trouser.
And it was then that Alicia really sees that Stephen was actually more desirable to the eyes than she thought, he was not handsome alone, he was also hot and loving too, his packs and abs were visible from underneath the polo shirt.
“What are you doing here?” Alicia asks first, still looking so surprise.
Stephen approaches Alicia as the song from the background continues.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French Hens………
“This restaurant was my family business, and my uncle runs it for the family, I came here just to say hi, never knew I will run to you.”
Stephen replies as he sits down opposite Alicia.
But Alicia was lost in the world beyond, seeing Stephen once again, and couple with the song from the choir.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
Five Golden rings,
Stephen touches her hair, and he did help place the loose hair strand back behind her ear.
“Are you from Ancourage?”
Alicia nods her head first, she manage to snap out when Stephen touches her hair seconds ago.
“I am from Ancourage too; I guess we will see one another more often then.”
Alicia nods her head in agreement with him, she knew this is her lucky day, I mean she always dream of a hot guy everyday of her life, and in a day, she met the most handsome and hottest guys twice.
“So what do you think of the song sag by the chorister on stage?”
Alicia shakes her mouth first and she drinks her coffee.
“Not band, at least they did sing well.”
She focus back on the stage as the song is not over yet.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true Love sent to me,
Six Geese a laying,
Five Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens
Two turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Stephen did nod his head; he as well focused on the stage too.
“The Song has its own history too, it was not just sung like that.”
Alicia frowns. “Really”
Stephen does not look at her in the eyes, but he nods his head. “Yes, it was not just sung like that, moreover, each gift has a meaning to it.”
After he finished talking, he finally turns around, and he looks at her in the eyes, his vision caught her blue eyeball.
“Then can you oblige me then?”
Stephen was now drawn to Alicia blue eyeball, and for a minute, he thought he is seeing a fairy, and he was in love with her.
The feelings began when he met her back in the Aeroplane, since then his heart actually go out with her, and that is why he tries to win her by showing his vast knowledge about Christmas.
His thought was simple back then, when he boasts of his knowledge, maybe he will scored a mark in her book. Now here he was again, sitting opposite her, and staring at those blue eyeball once again, staring at the smooth round and innocent face, he was just mesmerize the more about her,
And he has another opportunity to score more mark again.
Stephen coughs first, and then he begins. Meanwhile the song continues.
On the Seventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me,
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
“It is title Twelve days of Christmas, and it first appeared in a children book called Mirth With but Mischief, that was in the year 1780, and as the year roll by, many changes were made to the lyrics, but the present lyrics we all know today was from an English composer, he is named Fredric Austin, that was year 1909.”
Stephen said all together, his attention is on Alicia all the time.
Alicia still in mesmerized by Stephen vast knowledge, she only listen as Stephen explains the deep meaning behind the song.
“Oh! That was it.” Alicia looks back at the stage.
Two Turtles Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
“So what are the meanings behind the songs, and what about the gifts too?”
Alicia asks while she turns around back at Stephen.
“The twelve days in the songs is the same as twelve days, which begins on Christmas day, that is December 25th and ended January 5th, the next day which is January 6th begins the Epiphany season.”
“What about the gifts?”
“Well. A Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus Christ, Two Dove is the Old and New Testament in the Bible, Three French Hen means Faith, Hope and Charity, Four Calling Birds is the Four Gospel of the Bible (that is the first four book in New Testament), Five Golden Rings is the Five book of Law (that is the first five book of the Old Testament), Six Geese a Laying is the six days of creation, Seven Swam a Swimming is the seven gift of the Holy Spirit, Eight Maids a Milking is the eight Beatitudes, Nine Ladies dancing is the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Ten Lords a leaping is the Ten Commandment, Eleven Pipers pippin is the eleven faithful Apostle, Twelve Drummer drumming is the Twelve points doctrine in the Apostle Creed.”
Alicia only nods her head at interval, even her mouth is wide open all the time, she wonders something so confusing to her, how did Stephen knew so much?
Stephen smiles after he finished talking, because he could understand what is bothering Alicia mind.
“You want to know how I know so much.”
Alicia nods her head vigorously, because the questions bother her mind.
Stephen spread his arm in the air. “Well, Sunday School is not bad at all.”
Alicia burst to a round of laughter, because she never imagine that she miss a lot not attending church and Sunday school.
“That was superb.”
She said, and she focus back on the stage, the Chorister just stops singing, and the people were clapping and cheering for the good show they seen for free.
“I never thought that, there is much to see than the eye in the song. The Twelve days of Christmas.”
Stephen also laughed too, he said. “Yes that was what we are made to learn in the Church, but the song is a secular song, and the gifts have nothing to do with Christianity, hence many people don’t agree with the fact that it is a base for the Christians to remember the Key Pillars of their Faith.”
Alicia nods her head.
“I might agree with that too.”
“Christmas is a season to rejoice and be happy, just make friends, meets family, make memories of the season, and you are good. And if you like, you can go to church, and worship God, at least he deserve the worship over our life anyway.”
Stephen said casually, he continues. “Christmas just brings families together, so we can share love, share memories, and know where and when to be there for one another.”
Alicia nods her head, she agrees totally with what Stephen said.
But that moment she felt a knot in her heart, because she remember how long she had run from her mother, she have not been there all the while, but her mother is always there for her.
There and then, she made up her mind she would try and change things from now one, her eyes are open and she knows what to do.
Meanwhile another band was on the stage, they were Rapper and Jazz Musicians.
“Merry Christmas folks”
“Merry Christmas.” Everyone in the restaurant all replies.
“Hope you all brings your dancing shoes, because it is Christmas season, it is celebration season, it is happy season, and fun season.”
The people all scream happily. Immediately, the bands begins to play, and immediately both young, adult, old and even children fill the dancing floor, they begin to jubilate in happiness.
Stephen turns to Alicia. “Care to dance with me.”
Alicia would be crazy to rejects the offer, she nods her head in agreement to dance, Stephen takes her hand, and he led her to the dance floor.

A total of 9 chapters

Chapter 3

订单