Student’s name:

Professor:

Subject:

Date:

Story

Early in the morning as we had breakfast with my family, I thought of what to do during the Christmas period. The weather was not favorable, and I could not imagine spending a whole month walking around the house with heavy clothing and gloves all day long. It was long since we had breakfast together with my father as he was always busy with his career. He works as a contractor in one of the biggest firms in U.S. I wanted to spend the holy month in a different environment. I was looking for a way to approach my father. I was twenty-five at that time, but still feared him. I composed myself and faced him. “Father, I thought that we could spend the holly month in another country. We have never toured other places since we were young.” My mother seconded the motion and even added that she was thinking of the same only that she did not have the courage to say it.

My father is not an easy going person. He could not understand why we had to spend the Christmas holiday in another country while United States is the safest place to be during that period. My mother too loved travelling and adventure, and she accepted my request. We are four in our family, me and my younger sister and my parents. “Where do you want us to spend the holy month?” My father asked me. “I think we should fly to Kenya; it offers the best tourist destination and has a variety of beautiful sceneries,” I answered. “Kenya is too many miles from here, who will cater for all that cost?” I knew my father was very strict with his money though I tried my luck. “But dad, you have more than one million dollars in your account, what do you intend to use all that money for if you cannot take us for a tour in Africa?” My father was very angry that he almost hit me with the TV remote. “This is my money; I worked for it, and I have the right over it! What do you have? Ask your mother to pay for your trip! I am going nowhere!” He banged the living room door and went out furious.

We were all shocked by his reaction. “I must travel to Africa this holy month,” I said to myself. By good luck, I had secured a job in one of the vehicle manufacturing industries in Florida and I had saved enough money to cater for the holiday. I asked my mother was she would mind paying catering for travel expenses as I take care of accommodation, food, and other expenses. To my surprise, she even accepted to cater for all the cost. Suddenly, we heard a knock at the main door. My younger sister went to open. Oh my God! It was my father. We all kept quiet as he went straight and sat on the couch. “I am very sorry my son; I should not have done that. I am going to pay for the trip. We are leaving tomorrow in the evening.” I could not believe it. My father then gave me an envelope. When I opened it, I found four air tickets. Our destination was Kenya. I was very happy that I screamed like a young girl and hugged my father for the first time since I the last ten years. The holy month has done wonders to him.

We started preparing ourselves for the big day. Everyone seemed happy and joyful. I had learned a lot of history about Kenya and its wonderful tourist attraction sites. Additionally, I was eager to see different types of wild animals especially the big five. In the following day, we all set for the journey to Africa. Upon reaching the airport, things changed. The airport management had cancelled all trips to Africa, especially Kenya. I could not believe myself, and I thought I was dreaming. I asked one of the employees in the airport what was happening. “Our government gave travel advisory requiring us not to allow flights to Kenya because of insecurity. All American citizens are currently being evacuated from the country back to America. I am sorry sir.” He replied to me. That was the worst day in my entire life. I had convinced my father, and he accepted to take us for a holiday and it turned out that we would not travel at all.

I looked at my father and saw him smiling. “What is so funny old man? Our flight has been cancelled and you are smiling!” I yelled at him. “Young man, don’t you listen to the news or read newspapers. All flights to Kenya were cancelled yesterday. Did you take a close look at the tickets I gave you? They are not original tickets I made them myself in the cyber café in order to make you happy.” My father said jokingly. It was such an embarrassment that I suddenly left the airport and went to the nearest bar where I drank until the following morning. That was the worst holly month I have ever had in my entire life. However, I forgave my father because the holy teaching requires us to forgive.