It was a jolly holiday time again! Pupils ran all the way home, their school uniform flying after them. They were very happy. No more morning bells; no more teachers’ cane. They were going to spend their jolly holiday.
Sophie ran all the way to her mama’s tailoring shop. Pupils were more than excited going for Christmas holiday, because there would be no report card that would spoil the holiday fun. Where there was no report card, there would be no sign that a pupil had perform below expectation at school.
Her mama had said in July, that if she passed her promotion examination, she would buy her a fowl and a gown for Christmas. And she had passed! Now was the Christmas holiday, she could not wait to eat the fowl’s head.
Christmas was around the corner, it would arrive in two weeks time.
Sophie’s mama was a poor widow. She had no money but she had faith in God. She usually tells her daughter that even though they have no money, they are rich in the Lord. Inside of them, they are very rich.
She knew that she had promised her daughter a fowl head and a gown; she could not because of her poverty and break the little girl’s heart. She could not see herself, therefore shattering her daughter’s hope and expectations. She had to fulfill her promise. She would not bowl to poverty.
‘Mama, Ife said her mama had bought her Christmas dress. So was Kofo!’ Sophie announced brightly to her mama.
She was very excited. Though, she had not seen her own dress, she was sure her mama would buy her a Christmas dress. She knew it would be unlike Easter festival when she had wore her previous year Christmas dress. Afterall, she had passed her promotion examination.
She could not forget that Easter. She had cried and cried when her friends were wearing new cloths in the church. She could not play with them, she had to hide until it was time to leave the church and go home.
That Easter, she learnt that no amount of tears shed; usually give you the thing you are crying for. And she was told that to be happy in life, a person has to be comfortable and satisfied with whatever one has.
Sophie’s mama promised again to make a special dress for her. But as Christmas drew nearer, Sophie’s mama was yet to have money to buy Sophie’s new dress. Everyday, Sophie would sit with her mama in the shop. She would be watching her making other people’s cloth.
What a beautiful dress, mama used to sows, Sophie would admire each dress. But mama was not happy.
Soon, it was 24th of December. It was Christmas Eve! Sophie’s mama had an idea, she called her daughter:
‘Sophie, you must know that I love so much,’ she said. ‘I will sow your cloth today; I will not do any other work today but to sow you a lovely gown. Sophie, you are all that I have!’ she was crying, though she quickly wiped her tears away. Been a widow was not daughter’s fault. She must not suffer on that account.
That morning, with the little amount of money on her, Sophie’ mama went to the market. She bought foodstuffs, soup ingredients and a fowl. The mere sight of the fowl made Sophie felt very happy. A fowl head was as sure as heaven!
‘My daughter,’ Sophie’ mama said to her, ‘I want you to be a Joseph, the dreamer. I’ll call you: “Josephine the dreamer”
Sophie beamed with joy.
‘Joseph in the Bible wore a cloth of many colors. A special clothe made for him by his father. And Joseph did many great things for his people thereafter!”
Sophie listened, “Tell me the Joseph’s story’, she asked.
Her mama gathered all the pieces of cloth that was left of other people’s cloth. She put Sophie on her laps, “let me tell you the story, while I sow your own clothe of many colors.”
Her mama told the story while she was joining the pieces of cloth together. Each piece of cloth was joined together with love flowing out from mama to daughter. Sophie could not sleep that night, she could not wait to wear her clothe to church for everyone to see. She wanted to help her mama, she wanted to be Josephine that mama wanted her to become.
As soon as it was Christmas morning, Sophie woke up, cleaned the whole house and washed the plates. She had her bath. Sophie’s mama was very glad. She killed the fowl to make a delicious Christmas soup. Later the rice was ready.
After Sophie had eaten her Christmas rice and a fowl head, she wore her magic clothe. She was very beautiful in her gown and was happy.
At the Church, all the children gathered to look at Sophie’s dress of different patterns and colors. The children were laughing and making jest of her. Sophie was laughing with them; she knew they did not know what she knew. It was a happy and merry Christmas for her.
She joined the other children to sing Christmas carol. After the carol, Kofo and Ife asked her, ‘Why is it that you’re wearing part of everyone’s cloths?’
Other children had gathered again behind Sophie. She turned around to let them see her dress. ‘My mama made it for me. With every piece she sews, she told me a story of a boy Joseph in the Bible!’ she explained happily.
One of the girls behind Sophie asked her, ‘is that why you are so happy wearing part of everyone’s cloth?’
‘Teacher even said that she has the most sonorous voice!’ another girl said.
‘Yes! This is not just a dress. This dress made me a “Josephine the dreamer!” it is a magic dress like that of Joseph in the Bible: Joseph wore it and saved his family and the world from hunger!’ Sophie answered. ‘Each thread of this cloth was sow with love. It is made just for me.’
The children were unable to utter a word. They were staring amazingly at the magic dress. Sophie was very happy, the Christmas was unlike before. She ran around like never before.
THE END.
Also read The Priest and the Sinner
