I couldn't believe my ears. My small cousin had just been directed to my house by my older brother so I could bring her along with me to Port Harcourt.
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“Really? You guys just impose someone on me because you have my address?” I grumbled taking another glance at her.
I was barely done murmuring when she said she had gone out to buy gifts for my family. I looked at her warily and proceeded to put a dress on, giggling silently to her yelps of joy.
As we walked together, hand in hand along the street, I allowed the cool evening breeze dance with my hair, tickle my skin a little and whisper into my ears. It was almost like I could hear it say, “It's Christmas baby”.
I took a deep breath in, trying to soak in the beauty of Uyo before finally leaving for Port Harcourt when I heard a song I had sang before.
I stopped for a minute, my small baby toy as I fondly called my baby cousin, stopping with me. It was like a Deja Vu; I could see myself in a red gown singing, a huge smile on my face amidst other beautifully robed ladies and gentlemen.
Without thinking, I grabbed my cousin's hand and as if drawn by a force, pulled her toward the sound of the song.
We soon arrived at a local assembly obviously organizing their carol night. I stood at the door for a while trying to observe but before I knew it, a lady in a white shirt and red skirt with a huge smile on her face, urged us in.
My cousin and I exchanged looks; mine full of excitement and hers, uncertainty. I nudged her and she followed, grabbing my arm as if she was going into the midst of cannibals.
We received a few stares, but the next verse of the song turned everyone's attention back to the petite sized lady in flowing, red gown on the altar. Her voice was simply magnificent!
“Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God…”
Pentatonix - Mary, Did You Know? (Official Video)
Everytime I heard the song, I was drawn into deep reflection. I imagined Mary as a little teenager, without the tiniest understanding of what was going on, suddenly taking in and having a baby tagged ‘The son of God'.
I imagined Mary kiss His face, wash His feet, even spank Him. I cannot describe the feeling, but it made me sit to ponder on the awesomeness of God all over again and the essence of Christmas.
My palms were clasped together, and I was swaying my body from side to side, eyes totally fixed on the young lady who had just finished the song and had returned the microphone to the pastor.
My cousin tugged at my gown, whispering “Aunty Treasure, we need to get going” It was then I remembered what we had stepped out for. I apologized profusely to her, gave a huge smile to the lady at the door and scurried out of the church.
“I'm really sorry babygirl, I just love Mary did you know and Pentatonix as a whole, I can't believe an assembly as small as that could sing it for their carol. That is so, so good.”
My cousin had a small frown on her face as I babbled on about the song and how much it means to me. I almost walked past the junction we had to take a tricycle from.
“You seem pretty excited” she pointed out when we were seated in the tricycle. I bobbed my head up and down without thinking about it twice. “Who's Pentatonix?”
I turned wide eyes and mouth to her.
“Are you kidding me? They're a group of Acapella singers. Men, they are so good. With lyrics and melody. Wait, let me show you my all time favorite Christmas song”.
I pulled my phone out, headed over to Google and typed in “That's Christmas to me”. I plugged my earphones in, handing the other ear to her so she could listen.
“Keep your eyes on the road while you're at it” I told her. This time when I giggled, she giggled along with me. I caught her nodding her head to the rhythm. At some point, she took the earphone out, giving me a wide smile.
“What's the name of this song again?”
I took her android phone, typed it in then clicked download . She forgot my advice to keep her eyes on the road, sat back and closed her eyes.