I rushed to my phone on the table as the ringing persisted. It was one of my siblings.
“Hello, Yaks” I picked the call trying to start a conversation but then the response from the other end came with a tiny voice.
“Uncle Sam” the tiny voice responded, it was one of my little cousins.
“Talent?” I called the name trying to be sure on hearing that voice with my brother's phone means some little visitors have visited the house and it's for the celebration. They have sung the song countless times that they were going to spend the Christmas break at my house in Abuja, so they expect that I will also come back from wherever I am working since I no longer stay in Abuja.
“Yes,” she responded when she heard me call her name.
“I am in Abuja, when are you coming back?” This question created a butterfly fly in my stomach. The joy and excitement of being with them is what I call “A moment of my life” all I do, I do for the family. What's my achievement when there is no time to spend with the family?
Then again my phone buzzed, popping out messages from my office platform.
“Sorry to announce to you that the company will not grant a break for the festivities this year” the message is coming from one of my supervisors.
Immediately I felt my heart ache and my joy disappeared immediately.
With a heavy heart every one my colleagues who also saw the season as a great time to reunite began to respond to the messages I couldn't type as I don't know what to say.
All my thoughts revolve around how I am going to do my work as it has been 2 years now. I met with my family, they all expected me at home. The house is going to be a full house so I need to be there as well.
What should I do? This question kept ringing in my heart as an idea pops up.
I managed to go to work for 3 days before the celebration, while at work I kept complaining of how I am feeling sick and acting it at the same time. A day before Christmas I called my supervisor at work.
“Hello sir, please i won't be able to make it to work today because I have been admitted into a hospital”
“Alright, Sam, I wish you a quick recovery,” he replied. I knew that was it and they will not bother to check up on me no matter the number of days I spend.
So I grabbed that opportunity, picked my bag and then straight to the park, I boarded a bus travelling to my hometown and off I left.
I spent 5 days with my family. It was a nice moment for me because I got to meet all the people I longed to see.
My office management will only calk to ask “ how are you feeling?” and my response will always be “ I am getting better”
On the 6th day I resumed work and never showed anyone that I travelled in the spirit of sickness. I was given an extra day to rest so I can fully recover from what never existed.
It's a moment I wouldn't want to miss so I have to do all that is possible to achieve it.
Please don't judge me by my actions.
Thank you.
