My joy knew no bounds when I hopped out of the living room.
I found my father watching the television in the living room. I sat closer to him and placed my head gently on his chest, "daddy, please when are we visiting the village again?" I asked slowly, squeezing in shyness.
"Daniel, you love village o," he teased, inviting a smile that revealed his wide tooth gap that hung helplessly in the middle of his teeth. "We'll be in the village by next week." He said and rolled back his eyes to the television.
"Thank you daddy." The words were out before I knew it.
As I kept grinning and giggling around, I stumbled upon my mother in the dimly lit kitchen, I didn't hesitate to spill the beans.
"Daddy said we're going to the village next week." I announced quickly and exhaled. "It only means one thing mom, I'm going to see grandma again after a very long time." I exulted and clapped in joy.
Mommy smiled broadly, "I know that your joy is not because you're going to the village, but because you'll see grandma again, right?"
Of course mommy was right.
I mean, we seldom visit our village. Mommy and daddy have always been so busy with their occupations and have limited time to spend with me, unlike my granny who will stay all day just to make sure I'm happy.
I missed her so much.
We arrived at the village late in the afternoon, just when grandma was about to leave for the market. She welcomed us warmly then I followed her to the market.
I saw many things in the market for the first time in my life; the women shamelessly advertising their goods, every woman will always call on my grandma to patronize her. I felt a new world in the market, I almost didn't want to go back home.
When we returned, she took me to the river in the evening. I've never seen water as big as that before, so I refused to bathe in the river as other children were happily doing. I watched them in ecstasy.
When I was about to go to bed, after grandma had told some series of stories, she called me and said, "Daniel my son, always remember that I love you so much, okay."
That is it.
It happens once in a blue moon, not visiting my grandma in the village, but feeling loved, free and truly happy.