Chapter Two

It was more than a beauty spot. Ceiling-mounted chandeliers cast a variety of colours of light—blue, yellow, green, purple, red, orange, and so many more—making it difficult to distinguish between various items' exteriors. Beautifully coloured balloons hung on the wall with the inscription 'MERRY CHRISTMAS'. The hallways were designed in an "I" and "T" shape, which had no ending. Different items were housed on shelves to the left of each side, with their names and prices labelled above the shelves. Each shelf had shopping bags next to it, and a cart was placed next to them.

As we moved along column one in area A, we chose various Christmas-appropriate products. I chose some scrumptious treats, such as ice cream, hamburgers, chicken and chips, chocolate candles, and a book (which I read on depressing and dull days). I kept choosing things until I became bored of it, at which point I put the things I had chosen in my shopping bags. I got tired of walking along a straight road that had no ending.

"Dad," I called, tapping him on his wrist gently, "I am done with shopping; let's take a seat."

"You don't like cakes again?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, I forgot, Dad, I love it." I smiled.

My shopping day could never be completed without getting myself a cake.

"Alright then, let's go and take our seat," he said, teasingly.

"No, Dad, I want to eat cake," responded I.

We both looked at one another and then agreed as we strolled down the hallway, searching for cakes. We finally got to where the cakes were displayed, under column 1. The first shelf was empty; we went to the second, which was also empty. This was quite strange in the Dovey Shoprite, which was known for its abundance. We kept on searching until we got to column three. I was passing through hell. My limbs hurt me. I was extremely worn out.

"Brinny, come forward and choose those special cakes of yours," my mum beckoned.

I moved towards the shelves in quest of the most exquisite pastries, but the costs were astronomical given the proportions. Yet my parents still gave me the go-ahead to pick. I became so confused that I started battling with my mind. A conflict struck up within me after seeing the number of cakes with different embellishments. I finally chose a cake. It was coated in red and white.

"Dad, this is it; I have gotten the one that I feel is the best for me," I said.

"Wouldn't you choose another one?"

"Dad, this one is enough."

"Alright, my daughter. Remember you are the only one at home this Christmas; take extra and enjoy yourself."

"No, it is enough," I said. "Let's go and pay for the items."

We went to the cashier to pay for all the items. It was a man who was fair in complexion, muscularly built, and had a streamline nose. He had a rotund face, and his beard was full enough to plait a hair. His facial appearance suggested he was in his mid-twenties. He looked at us with a smile on his face when we approached. There was a computer at his front, and his golden chain watch was on his left wrist.

"Merry Christmas to you," he wished.

"Thanks," we echoed in unison.

"Girl, I love this—your beautiful gown. If it was possible, I would have snapped a picture with you," he said, complimenting my dress.

"I really appreciate it, sir," I said, feeling shy.

"Please, can I have the shopping bags on all hands?" he summoned.

We submitted all the shopping bags on the desk for calculation in terms of money to be paid. He took each item and showed it to a machine. it detected its price. Then he took another item; again and placed it on the machine. The machine brought out its price and summed it up with the previous item. The routine continued that way until he finished emptying the bags.

My dad pulled out his phone from his pocket and transferred the money to the account stipulated for him. The number of people who came to Dovey Shoprite awed me. I quickly pressed the sanitizer on my hand. I tried handing it over to my dad, but he rejected it, and then I gave it to my mum. She collected it and poured the liquid on her hands.

"Mum there are empty chairs at the extreme," I said, pointing to the direction of the empty chairs. She gave the go ahead as we then walked down to get the chairs and table. When we got there, my mum demanded the sanitizer from me. I gave it to her. She brought out a tissue and dropped the liquid of the sanitizer into it, as she began cleaning up the chairs with the table. She paused a little, staring at me, then continued. A thought sprang into my head that she needed more sanitizer; however, that wasn't the case. She pointed in the direction of my pink leather bag. I looked at it and observed a vibration almost immediately. I quickly unzipped my bag and brought the phone—it was Dan (my eldest brother). I was happy to know he was the one.

"Hello, brother Dan," I said, smiling.

"How are you, baby girl? Happy Christmas."

"Same to you," I laughed. "I hope you are enjoying Christmas."

"Yeah," he responded, "are you very sure you are in the Shoprite?"

"As always," she said, "you guessed, right?"

"No," was his response, "but guess what?"

"Playing a wild game with my brain would disturb me mentally."

He chuckled a little on the line, "Wow, alright. I and your other brothers would be coming in the new year."

"Yes," I jumped for joy, "finally you are coming. We are expecting you very soon."

"Alright, greet mama and papa."

I was about to tell him about their presence when I noticed he had hung up the phone.

My mum had been staring at me the whole time during the conversation as if she wanted to take the phone from me and continue the conversation herself. "Who is that?" she inquired.

"It was my brother, Dan," I replied.

She smiled and then took a chair and sat down on it, staring at her phone.

"So, what did he say?" my dad asked me.

I told him everything about the conversation. My mum poured all the items on the table. I smiled. This was the first time I and my dad would sit down again together in a Shoprite in the past three years. I watched his mouth move while munching the hamburger. I felt comfortable and joyful eating with my parents.

When we were done eating. He kicked off a conversation. He told us about the military training exercise he had been going through. He told us the tactics used in encircling enemies very quickly, to their utmost surprise.

"But there are some enemies that already know our tactics, which is the deadliest time. Because we might even kill our fellow colleagues unknowingly," he said.

"How would they know your tactics?" My mum asked curiously.

He smiled and said, "Maybe the secret leaked to them, or maybe there might be a Judas inside of us."

"Hmm, nice dad." I commended, "Dad? Can you tell me one of the tactics?"

"My little daughter, what do you want to use it for?" he smiled.

"We learn every day, Dad." I answered.

"We have a tactic called pincer movement. This is whereby an army assaults an enemy from both flanks of an enemy formation."

"Dad, would they teach all these things to my brothers?"

"Why not."

"At least I and Mum would be safe from danger or threats from anyone."

He laughed.

"Dad, I heard that soldiers' lives are always short."

"If that is what you think, why have I not died after joining the military for 15 good years?"

"Dad, stop using yourself as an example. You make me get scared."

"I am just trying to remove those thoughts from your head."

I smiled mischievously at his words. Then I cross-examined myself to make sure I had not made any blunders with my statement. My mum smiled again, sipping her juice slowly.

One week crept in stealthily and calmly. It was a cold morning, and the atmosphere was covered with fog. No one would have thought that there was a watch-night service held the previous night due to the sudden change in atmosphere. The moist leaves of the plants in the garden prompted so many questions in my mind.

Was it dew? Or did rain fell last night when I was asleep? I pondered.

"Oh," I muttered, dropping the watering can.

I remembered that my brother Dan said he would be coming home today. I ran inside immediately as the thought came through my head. My dad was still sleeping. I went to my bedroom and took out my phone, placed underneath the pillow, then turned on my data connection. I didn't know when I stumbled into the Facebook app. Messages flowed in like a pool of water without direction. It gave me goose bumps just to know how much I was loved on earth. Happiness brushed on my face when reading the messages, wishing me a happy new year.

"Hello Briana," a voice greeted.

I trembled upon hearing the voice, lifting my face to see my dad at the door. I got relieved and went back to a normal state. I picked up the phone that fell on the bed and ran to hug him.

"Happy New Year, Dad." I said, holding onto him tightly.

"Same to you, my daughter," he said, kissing me on the cheeks. "How was your night?"

"Amazing!" I replied.

"Let me tell you something," he said, releasing himself from the embrace.

"What, Dad?" inquired I in anxiety.

"Calm down, Brianna," he said, noticing the anxious state I was in. "I want you to prepare so quick because Brother Dan just called and said he was coming now. I mean, one hour from now, he would get to our place. I hope you are happy."

"Thank God, finally, he is coming!" I jumped. "How long will he stay with us?"

"Only God knows," was his perfect answer as he went through the other door.

I sat down on the bed, thinking about how to welcome a special guest like my brothers, whom I haven't seen for a long while. The presentation, the dressing code, the manner of approach, and how to make them feel at home—I came up with a plan. To me, the plan was very sensible, but they might call it childish behaviour.

After taking my bath, I went to the kitchen, and to my utmost surprise, I saw my mum dishing out the food on each plate.

"Good morning, Mum, Happy New Year," I said, walking towards her.

"Same to you, my daughter," she said, looking at me. "How was your night?"

"Awesome Mum and you?" I asked.

"Also, awesome," she replied, still dishing out the food.

"Mum, where can I assist you?" I questioned, cleaning my wet face with the kitchen towel.

"Nothing," she chuckled. "They would soon be here; go and prepare the cloth you would wear; look for their favourite juice in the fridge."

"No problem, Mum" I replied.

It was 10:30 in the morning. A knock was heard on the gate. I took permission from my dad, who was lolling his body on a chair and watching TV in the sitting room. I ran to the gate; it was brother Dan's face I saw. I opened the gate. Brother Dan, Ivan, and Pylyp entered the house. I quickly embraced my brother, Dan; he carried me up in a single lift.

"Huh?" I fidgeted.

He smiled at my face and dropped me. Then I went to greet Ivan and Pylyp with a warm embrace. Then they walked inside while I trailed them at the back. We got inside, my mum greeted them, and then she flew to each of them and embraced them. Then I ushered them to take their seats in the sitting room. My dad sat down upright and then welcomed them back home.

"Brinny," Dan called out, "we bought some gifts for you. Come and have them."

"Oh, my lovely brothers, thank you." I appreciated her standing up to collect the items kept inside a nylon bag.

They all smiled at me, twisting and turning their faces while inspecting the house.

"This place looks new," Pylyp echoed.

My mum laughed at him.

"Doesn't it look new?" Pylyp inquired of Ivan.

Ivan nodded and smiled.

Dan was my eldest brother, followed by Pylyp and Ivan. The interval between all of us was a maximum of three years, respectively.