In my hometown, there's this belief that if you leave for the city, you've automatically made it in life. Even if you're just studying outside the village, people think you're rich.
Whenever such a person visits home, a series of people line up to demand for 'bread and drink', as we normally call it.
So, last Christmas, to avoid the 'bread and drink' demands, I planned to visit home late instead of going home before Christmas as it's always been.
Before Christmas, my siblings kept calling, asking when I'd be home. I lied, saying I'd come on Christmas day. But as 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Day approached, my phone buzzed with calls from family members. I ignored most, except for Juliet.
"Hello, baby girl," I greeted.
"Brother, you're not coming again? It's not fai, ooo!" She sounded upset.
"It's not like that; emergency work came and I had to stay to finish up. I promise I will be there first thing tomorrow morning."
"Wasn't that what you said two days ago? Just go; don't bother coming."
"No, I'll be there tomorrow morning, I promise. By the way, who is around?"
"Hmmmm! The house is filled up with many people I don't know, and guess what? All of them have been asking after you, and we are tired of answering questions."
We ended the call, and I went back to my lonely, food-filled life. The next day, everyone called, asking why I didn't show up. I blamed work again, promising to come soon.
When I finally arrived home on December 31st, jubilation erupted. Kids hugged me, nearly lifting me off my feet, chanting "Brother! Brother! Brother!" I had expected this, so I bought two big loaves of bread to share. After the welcome, we took selfies, and I handed one loaf to the eldest child to share with the others.
My siblings took the other loaf and my bags to the room. As I entered, they bombarded me with questions. I gave each of them 200 naira to stop asking, and it worked like a charm.
"What a long journey!" I sighed, removed my clothes, and jumped on my bed. I noticed sand on the bed and complained about the house not being clean. Juliet grabbed a shirt and began dusting the bed.
While waiting for her to finish, there was a knock on the door to my room. It had its own entrance and was not connected to the main building. I put on my Barcelona jersey vest and opened the door.
"Who's there?" I asked.
Four of my dad's friends stood there in their native attire, smiling at my "glittering" skin.
"Ajieh sirs" I greeted them, and one of them said, pointing at my leg that's not covered by the vest I was wearing, "See how you're sparkling; the city has been good to you."
" Hahahaha!" I gave out a fake laugh, knowing the hard work I was doing in the city.
Still standing on the door looking at them to tell me what they came for, one of them cleared his throat and began,
"We've come, bring the bread, we don't want to leave it till tomorrow before people take it all" he wrapped it up extending his hands to get something, but I rather gave him a hand shake.
"Bread? They're eating it; look at them." I pointed to the children outside enjoying the bread I gave them. I laughed and went inside to get them their bread, understanding what they really meant. I handed them 2,000 naira, and they praised me with a lot of accolades, like the type they offer to a generous politician.
Closing the door after they left, I saw my siblings frowning. What I gave my dad's friends was more than theirs.
"You people can't kill me ooo!" I exclaimed, jokingly chasing them out of the room and locking the door.
After they left, I realised I gave my dad's friends too much. "Did they use voodoo on me?" I wondered. From that moment on, I decided to play stingy all through my stay before I got wrecked to the extent of looking for a transport fair when returning to my base after the festive season.
Thanks for reading
