IT WAS NOT A GIFT

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It was a very bright day, and everyone was happy, it was Christmas Day and who wouldn’t be happy? We didn’t have many family members around except for a cousin of mine and of course, my immediate family.

As usual, it is a season of love and joy, a season where everyone shares their food and shares gifts. I have always loved this season, not only because of the foods or gifts —haha— I have loved this season because it is always a holiday, a holiday from school to be precise, and of course, it always brings me to the realization that the year is coming to an end and a new year emerges which is always followed by a new year resolution, a new dedication, new goals, and motivation.

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After hissing like a hundred times, I found myself thinking, lost in thought of how I was going to wash all of these dishes, washing the dishes has not always been a problem for me, since, I am the last born of my family, I have naturally collected the title “dishwasher”

“This year’s Christmas didn’t go as I expected it to be” Mary, my sister’s voice brought me back to life.


I normally don’t have a problem with washing dishes, I have been doing it my own life but on occasions like this, dishes are usually very much and the fact that my sister would stand by the kitchen door talking to me without offering an assistant makes me more pissed off, maybe she does offer to help, presumably when I am sick.

“I expected more too,” I replied curtly.

“You know, I thought we would go on a family outing and even share gifts on Boxing Day.” Sister Mary said.

“Well, let us be grateful. Next Christmas will be different.” I said



I finished washing the dishes some minutes after 8 p.m. The rest of the evening was quite fun but not clamoring, we had family time, just vibes, love, and talks. I slept late that night because I spent my time chatting with my friends.

The Next day was Boxing Day, 26 Dec, 2018 to be precise, the fact that I slept late was not an excuse to get up late. I woke up around 7 a.m., we did our devotion and I did my house chores as usual. The day was filled with a lot of good energy, everyone could feel it.

We lived in a close street, where two houses were by the right and two houses were by the right. Each one knows the other and we do share things, we come to each other houses to celebrate and interact, in other words, we lived almost as a family.

Our family didn’t have much in store that day, we didn’t have anything to share or give out but I decided to make some chin-chin ( a Nigerian snack) for anyone who came to visit can eat some or take some portion home.

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The day was fast spent, We received some gifts and food, at least I can remember a few, From The Oluwasenu family, a nice family who really cherishes morals and ethics, we received meat and drink. From the Fashola family, we received nothing, well, we all know them to be the stingy ones — oh, forgive my manners. From the Ajayi family, we received some yams, these are the people in my close, We also received gifts from some other family and friends.

“Let us use the yam to make pounded yam during the new year.” My dad suggested at night while we sat outside to enjoy the cool breeze of the night

We are a family from Ondo state (a state in Nigeria), Both my parents are from Ondo, and our ethnic food is pounded yam and egusi soup, but we don’t usually prepare it here in Lagos state as it deals with a lot of pounding and stress — no one is always willing to pound, but of course, we do make egusi soup very often.

“It is Bro Festus and Bro Victor that would pound it oo.” I quickly announced as my elder brothers gave me a stern look but I ignored them.

“We will all pound.” My mum suggested.



The rest of the days were spent as expected, some resumed work while some didn’t. Everyone went about their activities, I had gone to shop for the few days before the new year to assist my mom because sales are usually plenty during the season.

On 31 of Dec, which is New Year's Eve, we usually crossover to the new year in church. The church activities were fun, everyone was happy to be given the opportunity to see the new year.

“Happy New Year.” Everyone —maybe not everyone, lol— in the church shouted and ran to hug each other.

It was Jan 1 already, after reaching home, my parents took a short sleep, but we, the children spent our time on our phones, celebrating the new year.



By morning, about 9:00 pm when my mom told me to take out the yam from the cabinet, I went to the kitchen and opened the cabinet only to find out that the yam had turned completely black, I screamed and shouted “Jesus”, I hit my back on the gas cooker while moving away from the cabinet, which made my phone to fall, I didn’t bother picking it up as my eyes were fixed on the yam, I was terrified.

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Everyone surged in and asked what happened, I didn’t say anything, other than stare at the cabinet, they all followed my eyes and noticed what had happened, Everyone was shocked. My dad instantly ordered that no one should touch it.

“Bring me my bible,” Dad commanded me.

I don’t know what had happened to me but I instantly started feeling scared, I took some deep breaths and went out of the kitchen to bring the bible, and I brought it to my dad. My dad did some prayers, took out the yams and threw them away.

One thing that was like a mystery is how the yam quickly turned black, If a yam were to spoil, it can never turn black, it can only turn brown or chocolate, more like woody. It is a mystery that I couldn’t unravel but we all came to the conclusion that she had an evil purpose and God has prevented us from it, Ever since then Mrs. Ajayi never gave us any gifts.



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