1 Galatea
For 30 years, a small family of four has thrived as farmers at the foot of the Hibiscus mountain range.
Galatea, the oldest child of the family is turning eighteen tomorrow. For others, their eighteenth birthday was regarded as a special day but nothing grandiose for Galatea's. She liked it though. She likes things simple as it is.
"Gala! Gala? Could you please fetch some water from the well, dear?" her mother asked from the kitchen.
Galatea dropped the book she was reading and dashed outside to retrieve their old wooden pail. "Aye, Mum," she replied simply.
Gala hummed in the direction of their well, setting the pail beside her before slowly yanking on the rope. She struggled for a few seconds to pick it up when it was already full and emptied it into their massive water storage.
The sweet aroma of tea from their clay pot welcomed her into their kitchen. Her mother was preoccupied with the fire, completely unaware of her presence.
"Is the tea ready Mum?" she suddenly asked her mother.
Her mother let out a small shriek when she realized she wasn't alone. "For heaven's sake, Gala, you surprised me," her mother said, cupping her chest and wiping the sweat from her brow.
Gala only laughed at her mother.
Gala was regarded as an exotic beauty by the townspeople who lived downtown. She had forgotten the times she had to reject her suitors when she was barely twelve years old. Some of the old people even called her a fairy for her ethereal looks.
Gala's long silky platinum hair that fell to her waist, complimenting her fair pale skin that glistened under the rays of light. Her small round face is adorned with her light-blue almond-shaped eyes and her striking naturally red plump lips.
While she inherited the majority of her physical characteristics from her mother, she inherited the majority of her personality traits from her father. Gala was a ray of sunshine for her family; she was always upbeat about everything, and her air of grace and patience earned her the nickname "Gracious Gala" from the townspeople who regards her with so much admiration.
"When will Father and Avin be home?" she inquired of her mother, who was setting the dinner table. Her 16-year-old younger brother Avin joins their father on the farm, while she stays at home and assists their mother with the household chores.
"They'll be here soon; please keep an eye on the tea for me Gala; they need to be warm when they arrive; it'll help soothe their tiredness.", her mother motioned the clay pot that's still hanging at their fireplace.
"Aye, Mum." she gleefully agreed and sat down at the front of their fireplace.
"We're home," her father's baritone voice rang from their small living room. She immediately dashed into the living room and hugged her father, whose clothes were dripping wet with sweat, as was Avin.
"Dinner's ready Father, I'm sure both of you are hungry and tired; let me handle this," she said sweetly to her father and younger sibling before taking the baskets clinging to their backs. She handed her father and Avin the clean and dried clothes that her mother had prepared for them. "Please change into these clothes," Gala asked before returning to her post.
"Can I pour them tea, Mum?" she inquired of her mother, who had just finished setting the table. Her mother nodded in response to her request. She gently drew her father and Avin into the kitchen and pushed them to their seats. She poured the tea into their teacups with an unwavering smile on her face.
"You seem to be in a good mood right now, my dear," her father observed, sipping tea and casting a knowing glance at Asha, their mother.
Gala and Avin were oblivious of the stares their mother and father were giving at them, particularly at Gala.
"I am always in a good mood Father, what do you mean?" Gala quipped before settling into her seat.
Her mother, Asha, nervously looked at Euro, their father who was busy sipping his tea.
"Well, you're in a better mood today; is that fine now?" her father joked, earning him a light laugh from Gala
Avin was just silently sitting beside Gala, munching on his dinner.
Her poor sibling must be starving after a long day at the farm.
Gala decided to take a sip of the soup their mother prepared, she reached out for their day-old bread and tore off a small piece before dipping it in her soup.
They didn't live on too much, Gala grew up having enough for them to pass through the day and Gala was honestly contented with such living.
"I can't wait for tomorrow." Gala suddenly blurted out.
Her mother and father nearly choked on their bread when they heard what Gala said.
Avin looked up to his parents this time.
Their parents cleared their throats at the same time and exchanged worried glances at each other, which Avin noticed but chose not to comment on. He simply assumed it was a natural reaction for parents when their children reached the age of eighteen.
"Ooo-Of course you are!" Her mother attempted an exuberant response but stuttered miserably.
Gala, on the other hand, had not noticed anything unusual about her parents' behavior.
She raised her head to meet her parents' gaze. She smiled broadly, her face lit up with delight. "I can't think of anything suitable right now as my gift for all of you tomorrow; this will undoubtedly give you all the surprise of your lives."
Asha and Euro exchanged nervous smiles, not liking the implication of Gala's statement.
