A bitter sweet holiday

Success in Life is rooted in our preparations meeting opportunities and attained through hard work. The quest for survival and our desire to be successful has made it mandatory for humans to be involved in jobs and activities that can make our dreams happen. God didn't create us to work like a clock, we need a break, a moment to cut off from our daily routine for livelihood.

Holiday enables us to recoup energy and be rejuvenated for greater tasks. It can be short, long, scheduled, or warranted depending on the circumstances.

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Both public and private organizations understand it’s important, thus including it in their organizational operations. Schools, cooperative societies, and entities with lesser status than big organizations also incorporate vacations in their system. Depending on individual plans and purposes, holiday happens in different ways and with diverse experiences. For Joseph Williams, there is an unforgettable holiday experience that wouldn't leave his memory probably in a lifetime.

Joseph was the only child of Mr and Mrs Williams. They lived in a decent neighborhood that matched their status in Lagos. All through his early educational life up to the University level, Joseph was well-loved and catered for by his parents. Joseph was brilliant and loved to sojourn in a bid for discoveries about people, places, and knowledge of life. At age 18 years, Joseph was already a 300-level masscomm student at a Nigerian University.

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Mrs Williams proposed a family vacation that would include their son to her husband just after dinner one evening. “ Oh that idea is great, do you have any plans already? Mr Williams asked his wife. “ Not yet but we can always discuss it later,” said Mrs Williams as they both retired to bed.

Joseph returned from school the next day after the conclusion of the first semester exams. “ Hello Dad, Hello Mum, I'm home!! Joseph announced his arrival upon entering the living room. His mother screamed with great joy having seen him. She quickly reached out to hug him. “What! Just like that, and you're home. No calls, no prior knowledge about your coming back today”, a surprised Dad asked. “I think he's proving to us that he's a big boy now and can handle himself adequately, isn't it Son? a defensive Mum asked Joseph.

It's good that Joseph came back right on time, his parents were about to discuss the vacation plans for the year. “ We would put it on hold for now until you've eaten and rested very well”, said Joseph's Dad. No discussion was held again that day as Joseph slept throughout.

The following morning, immediately after breakfast, Joseph's Mum suggested that they should plan to apply for their annual leave at the same time in their places of work which must fall within the next holiday period of their son Joseph for a chance to visit a place ( full of events) together as a complete family. “ You heard your Mum Son, so when is your next holiday?

Joseph's next holiday would be in four months, September to be precise but the date was yet to be determined. “ I planned to inform both of you that a senior colleague told me in school last Friday that I'm taking a compulsory course in 400 level first semester (photojournalism) which will demand producing a write-up (backed up with pictures that tell a story) about events, places, culture, festivals, etc. I believe this arrangement will provide me with a perfect platform to do mine” Joseph submitted.

Seemed everyone had a reason to key into the holiday plans which made them suggest places they could visit. “We need not look far or think too wide dear, your village celebrates the installed head yearly, so it should be a perfect fit for us. We would stay with with Grandma for a while and I'm sure the old woman would love it”, said Mrs Williams.

The annual celebration of the installed head of Itura village was always a big show. The week-long events were always exciting with so many captivating activities lined up for each day. Cultural dance, wrestling tournaments, football matches, swimming competitions, presentations of gifts by both indigenes and non-indigenes to the village head, and an all-night music carnival were the major highlights of the celebration week. The Williams family would all be involved in their own ways. Dad would visit old friends and places, Mum would be stocked with cooking and taking care of the family alongside other daughters-in-law of the family, and Joseph on his own would be busy with his project.

Mr Williams initially objected to this idea because his wife was hypertensive. Doctors had warned severely not to engage her in any tedious activities that might stress her beyond the limit. Her health wouldn't carry such an amount of work at the village. But after many persuasive promises by the wife to be good, he eventually agreed to it.

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The day of the journey came and they set out early to arrive early at the village. Joseph was already taking pictures on the road before they got to the village and he barely settled down after their arrival before manifesting his ambition. Dressed in an armless jacket, a pair of jean trousers, and a face cap with his camera hung around his neck, Joseph appeared like a pressman invited to cover the celebrations. He moved around the village taking pictures of preparations happening everywhere simultaneously. He noticed that a side of the town was very quiet and completely deserted, all he could hear were sounds of birds and different wild animals from a forest not far from where he was standing.

His desire to take pictures of wild animals drove him into the forest very early morning the next day before any activities could start. The sight of different birds and the movement of monkeys on the tree thrilled him and he was elated moving around in the forest taking many pictures of animals on sight. Unknown to him, he was at the edge of a big ditch covered with leaves and he fell inside hitting his head on a big stone in the process. Joseph became unconscious immediately and lay there almost lifelessly.

Joseph was not found for days even after a thorough search was ordered by the village head. Mrs Williams developed an attack resulting from crying and overthinking. She was rushed to a hospital in the City and was admitted there.

Double trouble for Mr Williams; his missing Son and now an ailing wife. “I objected to the idea of coming to the village but my wife would only tell me that nothing bad would happen to us, look at it now,” a frustrated Mr Williams said.

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Joseph appeared with a lady ( Janet) on the last day of the celebrations who looked to have guided him home. Janet was living in the village next to Itura village. She had gone to fetch firewood from the forest that fateful day when she saw Joseph lying too weak inside the pit. A black Scorpion stung Joseph when Janet was pulling him out, this made her take him straight home to her grandmother for a cure. Janet's timely intervention saved Joseph's life.

Mrs Williams was discharged from the hospital the following day Joseph came back and they all returned to Lagos immediately. Joseph's ambition was unaccomplished as he couldn't make any documentary on the celebrations.

Joseph had given Janet his home address in Lagos while recuperating in her house in the village. This helped her to locate Joseph and gave him a USB device that contained well-labeled pictures from the celebrations. Her brother had taken the pictures and duplicated them for Joseph at Janet's request. Janet did not only save Joseph's Life but she saved him from an impending automatic carryover in 400 level. Indeed, she was God-sent.