Detty December

The first sound I heard that morning was the sharp sound of my doorbell, grr grr jolting me off my sleep. I sucked my teeth hard, loud enough that whoever was at the door would hear it.

I was sure it was my landlord. He has been on my neck for his rent which wasn't even due. But because it was Christmas and he was aware of the wave of Detty December enveloping the city, one that has caught me in its wake too. He chose to remind his tenants of his rent earlier.

I cursed silently and wished he would just disappear into thin air only to return after Christmas. But I was no magician nor was Santa going to grant such a wish.

"Zerah, I know say you never Comot Zerah I know you haven't left the house" I heard his voice pierce the peace and quiet of that Christmas eve morning. "Come make I tak to you come let me talk to you".

I groaned and threw my hands and legs around in bed out of anger and frustration. Then. I stood up, threw a cloth over my body and walked to the door.

Opening the door a little, my intentions were clear and subtle not to let him in. "Oga landlord, when my rent is due, you'll get your money, sir,", I said with a voice that showed I was already pissed with his actions. I didn't even care to greet him as courtesy demands.

"No go do Detty December finish you no go fit pay my money by January. Don't go and do Detty December and then be unable to pay my money by January." he replied.

"Have I owed you before?" I asked angrily.

"No" he replied.

That was all I needed him to say as I angrily shut my door and leaned against it without even waiting for him to leave. I knew he was right about the case of reckless spending in December that left many broke by January. It was like a plague spreading fast like a wildfire in the city of Lagos. That year, I had already caught the flu and was prepared to Detty my December without looking back since I had no plans to spend Christmas in the East with my family. My mind was already on my grand December plans—Detty December, the kind that deserved Instagram reels and different WhatsApp statuses. And it was all starting that night.

I had already saved up separately for it. With dreams of how I would be shuttling from one music concert to the other. Everything was planned down to the kart details. It was going to be me having the time of my life.

While I stood there reminiscing about that. I remembered I still had work to go to that morning. I quickly rushed to the bathroom and took my bath, and in a few minutes, I was prepared for work. Although I felt grumpy working on Christmas Eve, which wasn't fine by me. But I was happy it was going to be just a half day at work.

A few minutes later, I was strutting into the office. My brown leather shoes squeaked against the marble floor. I was almost settled for the day when I saw my boss make his way to my table, his eyes fixed on me. I avoided his gaze; his eyes had this thing that made it look like he was staring into your soul or telling your secrets. Then I wondered why he was at work that day.

"It was Christmas Eve. Wasn't he supposed to be at home with his family?" I asked no one but myself.

He got to my table and stopped, "Merry Christmas, Zerah", he said, which I found weird. My boss wasn't someone with formalities; he was too mean to become friendly all of a sudden.
Maybe he has been caught by the Christmas spirit, I thought.

"Merry Christmas, sir", I replied, looking up to him.

"So, I hope you haven't made plans for Detty December because you're going to cancel" he slammed a big file on my table. "That's one of our new clients and you'll be working on this campaign for their new product launch." He said, his face gradually fading off the smile and returning to the serious, no-nonsense face I had always known.

I blinked hard, trying to trick my mind into believing I was dreaming "But sir, this is Christmas Eve"

"Unfortunately, business will go on even on Christmas day" he replied, looking at me. "Do the work, or someone will have to continue from where you stopped", he threatened.

I sat there with almost teary eyes. I knew of the Grinch who stole Christmas, but I never envisaged that I'd come face to face with the nonfictional version of it. He didn't just steal my Christmas at that point, he stole my joy, my plans.

I watched him walk back to his office, pick up his bags and leave. I wanted to scream and yell curses at him but my colleagues all had their eyes on me.

I got up and ran to the restroom. When I was sure I was fully alone, I let the tears fall. I cried for minutes, then I wiped my tears. With so much motivation that it wasn't the end of the world, I walked back to my cubicle with my shoulders raised high.

My night was like a cruel punishment. I began wishing I had taken my leave earlier to travel and be with my family in the east rather than stay back in Lagos to have a great Christmas filled with concerts and fun. But instead, I was stuck in my room with paperwork and sadness.

To worsen it all, my phone buzzed every second with pictures of my friends from the concert. Each message lighting up my phone like a dagger to the chest

“Zerah, where are you?” a voice note screamed. “Ahhh! You’re missing, babe! This is crazy!”

I picked up my phone to tell them of how my Grinch-like boss had crushed my plans for Detty December. But as I opened my mouth all that could come out was whispers laced with silent tears. I threw my phone far away from me and stared at the files before me. The words swimming before my tired eyes. I looked at the clock. It was already 11:47 pm.

I tried focusing again but my mind found it hard to concentrate. I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling fan spinning lazily. Trying to get my mind off everything that was going on.

I tried convincing myself that maybe God was using my boss to stop me from reckless spending that would make me not be able to renew my rent next year. I thought of several reasons, any reason at all just to heal the pain in my heart. And in no time I was drifting off to sleep.

My Detty December was finally spent listening to the silence in my room and the emptiness in my heart.

Glossary
Detty December A December of reckless fun and partying

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