Christmas Cruise – Episode 2

Christmas Cruise

Chapter 2

“Don’t worry, you are gonna meet a whole lot of your cousins, and other family members, it’s more like a get-together…”
“I have heard that a thousand times mum.. can I just enjoy this ride” I stated, bringing out my phone. Mum smiled

“I just wanna cheer you up, I know that you will miss spending Christmas with your friends, but your cousins won’t make it boring for you, trust me”
“Fine..thanks mum” I manage to let out a smile, but deep down, I was pissed at her. She shouldn’t have organized this sudden trip.

We are currently on our way to the eastern part of the city, which is considered the countryside. Free from a rowdy environment, and full of lovely animals.
We only went with a maid and the driver; they both sat in the front, while I and mum took the passenger seat. You might ask; where is my dad? Well, dad died when I was 8, that was ten years ago. And it was actually on my birthday; that was one of my saddest moments.

The ride wasn’t more that a 5 hour journey; it was already noon when we arrived the town.
“The house is not far from here, we will be there soon, hurry up a bit Marshal” Mum said to the driver
“Come on mum, I have been here before”

“Yes..but that was a very long time, you were too little to remember anything. Things have change now, come on, take a look at the streets, they are so beautiful” mum muttered in glee. I decided not to pay more attention to her. I plugged in my earpiece, scrolling through the numbers of music, until I decided to play one; ‘Last Christmas’ one of my best songs

We got to the house in no time; it is actually a semi-detached house, painted with a golden brown and cream colour. Beautiful flowers could be seen, planted in front of the building, giving it a perfect look. The compound is also clean as little butterflies hover around the garden behind.
I have been here before, but the building wasn’t as beautiful as this, then. I think they carried out a renovation.

“And they are here!!!!” we heard a loud shout from the entrance of the building, as we stepped down from the car. Mum was looking so delighted, she hurried out of the car, running into the arms of a young looking woman, which she will just be few years older than.
Some other children also came out, wearing a wide smile as they welcome us.

“Oh my God, is this Joe..you are so grown” The young woman muttered, coming forward to hug me. I returned the hug with a smile
“Come on boy, don’t you remember you Aunt Cecilia” She muttered as my eyes pulped out. Gosh she looks so different from when I last saw her. Perhaps, because she wasn’t married as at then; now, she is looking more like a woman.

“Oh..sorry ma’am…”
“It’s Aunt” She snapped, and later chuckled
“Aunt…” I muttered, she nodded and hugged me again

“Oh..the little Joe of then, welcome.”
I kept on meeting other aunts and uncles, as we exchange pleasantries. I’m yet to meet any teenager of my age, I mean, are these little children the ones that will keep me company. I thought, looking down at my little cousins, of about five to six years, as they waved at me. Aunt Maggie is not even here.

The maids from the house; joined our maid, to bring in the luggage, while we step in. Mum was engrossing in her talk with Aunt Cecilia, mum’s immediate younger sister.
I left them and walked in, taking a seat on the couch, in the living room, since I don’t know where my room will be. Perhaps, I will just wait for Aunt Cecilia to come in.

The little cousins could be seen peeping at me from behind, as they let out annoying giggles. I scoff, bringing out my phone when I heard one of them called out a name.

“Uncle Jones…welcome…” A little girl of about five years, screams jumping into the spread arms of a young teenage boy of perhaps, my age. He wore a smile on his face, as he picked her off the ground, placing playful kisses on her cheeks. The little girl laughs out

He dropped her, and turned to face me with a smile. He seems to be one of my cousins, I think.

“Hi…. I’m Jones…and you must be Joe..my cousin, come on, let me show you to your room.” He stated, picking up one of my luggage as he led me to the stairs. I followed him behind, as we entered a room which is having about four beds. The room can’t be compared to my spacious room, back in the city, but it’s actually cool. Just that I will be sharing it with some people, that will make me a bit uncomfortable.

He dropped my luggage, and turned to face me.
“Erm.. most of our cousins are out. They went with Grannie Maggie to get some groceries, they will be back soon. You will be sharing this room with me and two others” he smiled
I scoff

“Can’t I just get a personal room?” I asked, he chuckled
“The building is having lots of rooms, yea, but we are more than the numbers of rooms available. More family members are still coming, it’s more like a family get-together, you know. We will get to know each other after a long time, or perhaps, meet the families we know nothing about…”

“Yea..i know about that already…” I snapped, expecting him to be pissed at my attitude, but he kept on smiling.
I ignored him, and tried taking off my clothes, waiting for him to get out, but he didn’t instead he sat down on one of the beds.
“I wanna change” I muttered, at last, since he wasn’t ready to leave

“Yea…so…” He shrugged
“Ain’t you gonna excuse me”
“No….because we are guys, you can change in my presence with no shame, and whereas, we all are gonna be staying in the same room, so are you gonna chase us out whenever you wanna change” he asked, as I scoff

“No”
“Fine…then you can change, I will help you arrange your clothes in the wardrobe” he stated, walking towards the large wardrobe as I let out a soft chuckle.
“Weird guy”
~~~
Night time~~
The whole families were already present, eating and laughing downstairs. I was in my room, staring out of the window.
Just after the gardens, there is a little bungalow, which I believe belongs to a neighbor. The light to the room opposite ours lit up, but I all I could see was a shadow of someone since the drapes are down. I was still engrossed in my view when the door opened. Gosh can’t the person knock, I thought

“You all share the same room” My subconscious replied, as I rolled my eyes
“Hey Joe, everyone is downstairs, and Aunt May wants you to come have dinner” Jones muttered, standing at the door post. He is referring to my mum as Aunt May, well, that’s her name.
“I will be there soon”

“Then I will have to wait for you to be ready” he stated, walking fully into the room
“Must you be my shadow, you don’t have to wait for me” I scoff. He shrugged

“It’s my choice”
“Fine..”

We walked down the stairs to the courtyard where I met everyone. I thought we were supposed to have dinner in the dinning room. And just as if he read my thought, Jones spoke up
“We prefer having dinner outside, watching the fire and the moon, it’s always fun” he smiled out. As we walk towards them

“So Joe decided not to come see granny Maggie right?” I heard Aunt Maggie say. I call her Aunt Maggie because she is my mum’s eldest sister, the first child to be precise, but Jones and some other cousin call her grannie, because she gave birth to their parents.

“Erm…it’s not that Grannie, Joe was actually taking a nap when you arrived from the grocery store; perhaps the long journey made him tired” Jones stated, saving my a$$. Well, that was a lie though; I knew when she arrived with other cousins, but I was too lazy to assist them in off loading what they bought. So I had to stay in door, but Jones didn’t care about my attitude, he stood up for me.

“Oh…sorry about the stressful journey dear, come here..come hug grannie” She smiled, as I hug her with a smile
“You are welcome my big Joe, feel free to meet with your other cousins, now is the right time to know everyone of them. And dearies, this is Joe, and he is my favorite” She smiled as my other cousin gasp
“What about me Grannie” Jones inquires with a fake sad look, the others also pouted

“Come on…you are so stubborn” She snapped at him, as everyone busted into laughter. Jones made a funny face

“What about me Grannie” the little girl who seem to be the youngest among us asked
“Oh…poppy, you are my darling…you know I love you so much” She smiled, giving her a pie, as poppy blush hard, smuggling her tiny self under her armpit. I chuckled
“Such a little cute being” I thought inwardly

“Let’s have something to eat, as I introduce some of our cousins to you” Jones whispered to my ears, as I nodded. I’m beginning to like him
We were served our food, and just like he promised, he introduces every kid in the house to me, their names, parents and characters.

“And that’s poppy..she is the baby of the house..Grannie’s last child’s daughter”

“Oh…” I muttered, stuffing the delicious beef into my mouth. My eyes wandered to where the teenage girls are sitting. I could see them glancing at me, and whispering among themselves. Perhaps they are talking about my handsome look, I smirked. And just as I was about taking my eyes off them, it caught a certain girl with dark brown eyes. She is also my cousin I think, but Jones didn’t introduce her as one.

She did the unexpected by winking at me
“What?” I screamed in my mind
“Hey…Jones” I called out to him
“Hmmm” he replied, trying hard to swallow the chuck of beef in his mouth
“Who is that girl over there..the one with dark brown eyes”

“Oh..that’s Lily…also a cousin, sorry I skipped introducing her earlier. This beef is just too delicious to resist.” He laughed as I chuckled
“Trust me when I say that Lily is crazy, you can’t beat her in any game”
“Game?”
“Yes..like hunting, swimming, skiing and many more..she is the boss here” he whispered, tapping my shoulder. I gently caress my jaw

“Let’s see who the real boss is” I smirked inwardly
~~
After dinner time, we all retired to our various rooms; some staggering due to over feeding, why the others simply walked to theirs.

I entered the room, before anyone else; damn I was feeling really sleepy. I walked to the window to close up the drapes, as my caught the sight of someone standing in front of the window, in the building opposite ours. She seems to be a girl, but I couldn’t see her face well, I swear she will see mine, because the light is on.

I was about taking a step forward to have a better look at the fellow staring at me, but one of my cousins stepped in immediately, banging the door hard, as I lost concentration.
“You can as well, close it gently” I muttered
“Just go to sleep bro” he replied in a tired voice, dozing off. I shook my head, turning back to the window, but she was gone.

“Who is she? I asked no one in particular.

..

To be continued…

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Love y’all 💞

Vickie Dora 🌻