Ebube Anochili's blog

  “I am dreaming of a white Christmas.. Just like the ones I used to know…  Where the treetops glisten and children listen.. To hear sleigh bells in the snow…” “Which white Christmas are you dreaming of?” My cousin, Lotachukwu teased me as I sang along to Irving Berlin’s popular song blasting from my phone. It was one of my favorite Christmas songs and it kept me sane as I decorated our grandparents living room with Christmas decorations. “You just want me to talk, Lota,” I answered her, hanging the Christmas lights above the portraits of my grandparents on the wall. “Neche, you just have to answer, because we don’t have white Christmas here in Udi.” Lota put up the other decorations at the other end of the living room. “We have white Christmas na, harmattan. Your skin will be white,” I joked. She burst out laughing, “aunty, biko, that’s not the white Christmas I want. I want snow. Lots of snow and the sleigh bells. With a lot of Christmas cookies and cakes and—” “Snap out of it, Lota.

  Photo from Google: somewhere in the Maldives Tegan: beautiful “I can’t believe you kept this to yourself for three weeks, Tegan Maduka!” Taylor exclaimed, clearly exasperated. They were sitting on Taylor’s bed, in her old room, in the house they had both shared. Some of her things were still in the house. She hadn’t been there since the wedding because she had gone on her honeymoon. “It’s not a big deal. People break up all the time,” Tegan replied nonchalantly. “Well, you’re not people. You’re my twin sister and I feel like I should have been there for you.” “Mrs. Udezue, you were on your honeymoon, remember,” Tegan reminded her, “in the Maldives.” “I was only a phone call or a WhatsApp message away, Tee!” Taylor scolded. “I didn’t want to bother you with my issues.” Tegan justified her actions. Taylor took in a deep breath, before she spoke again. “You’ve always been good at hiding your feelings. And the only reason you did get away with this for so long is because I wasn’t with yo

  Photo: from Google Tegan: she loves deeply .  Taylor’s wedding preparations were underway. They were fun, an experience, but also exhausting. Their parents suggested it would be easier for Taylor and her bridal train to dress up from the family house because of space. Tegan and Taylor thought it was a great idea. They had to move her wedding gown and other stuff to the family house at Ogba during the week. The wedding was at St. Leo's Ikeja, so was the reception.  It was Friday, the day before the wedding. Tegan had taken a leave of absence from work to help her sister. The bridal shower was that night. Whatever they did, they had it be back at their parents house, sober. The bridal shower was at their place. The bridal train was in attendance and Taylor thought to invite a few of her friends not in the train too.  At least all the activities of the week kept Tegan busy. Kept her mind occupied enough to not think of Dozie and his new attitude. He had been avoiding her. She could

  Photo: from Google Tegan: fair lady Tegan admired the scenery of the restaurant as they walked to their table. It had exquisite chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. The tables were also beautified with vases of flowers. She held her rose flower in her right hand while Dozie held her left. He guided them to their table which was at a corner. They could see the beautiful outdoors because the window was beside them. He brought out a chair for her to sit, before he went to the other end of the table to sit too. It was a round table, not to small and not too big.  As soon as they sat, a waiter came to take their order. She was dressed in a white shirt and a black trouser. She even had a bow tie. Tegan thought she looked cute. Tegan dropped her rose and her bag on the table and picked up the menu which was also on the table. She perused it for about a minute before she ordered. “Hmm, I’ll just have your spaghetti and fried chicken. Thank you.” “Spaghetti and fried chicken it is. What abo