It was the end of the year, and our annual church tradition of exchanging gifts was approaching. The anticipation filled the air as each member prepared to share a piece of their heart with others.
In my room, the thought of choosing the perfect gift lingered. The high prices of items nudged me towards a more reasonable alternative ; a presentable tray received as a wedding souvenir. A friend's revelation that such trays were worth 4,000 naira each boosted my confidence; I was, indeed, offering something valuable.
"I need something worth what I have given. I don't want to get a plastic cup like I did previous year," I confided in my brother.
"I have a suggestion for you, you need to go early and submit early. Luck can shine on you as people with good gifts come earlier," he advised.
"Talking of gifts, wouldn't you be wrapping anything up?"
"I'm ain't ready this year. Once you have given, I have and whatever you get is mine."
His advice to submit early resonated, emphasizing the element of luck in receiving a desirable gift. As we approached the day of the gift exchange, excitement and curiosity filled the church.
With a wrapped gift in hand, I registered it with the catechist, and the pairing process unfolded. The priest's words emphasized the spirit of love and generosity behind the spirit of Christmas. The culmination of wrapped gifts in front of the church hinted at the diverse surprises awaiting their recipients.
The catechist stepped forward and began "so much we have here but let's next year be greater than this. We want a situation where each parishioner would be going home with a gift. Secondly, gifts have been arranged, once you are called, you walk out and pick your package that represents the number given to you when you registered your item."
It was my turn and as my name echoed through the church, I eagerly walked out to claim my gift. A crate of eggs awaited me, but before it was a sealed envelope. The allure of a large basket and an unwrapped crate of eggs drew attention, yet the sealed envelope piqued my curiosity though I wanted to jump it for the basket but that would obviously be me creating a scene. A mission which would end up being impossible.
As I approached the envelope, contemplating its potential contents, the fantasy of a cash gift crossed my mind. With a smile, I picked it up.
Mere looking at it, it was looking like sum of money wrapped in two folds into the envelope and knowing how bad I needed money for some personal needs got me excited. I already thought of things my lucky gift will get me and I couldn't wait to count how much was in the envelope.
The journey home was filled with jubilation, and the unveiling became a neighborhood event, everyone wanted to know what was in the envelope. In a moment of anticipation, I tore open the envelope, only to reveal a neatly ironed white handkerchief.
Disappointment and bitterness swirled within me, realizing the unpredictability of such exchanges. Though we laughed over it, it was a quick one as I realized the value of a gift isn't always determined by its appearance.