"daddy, come and see the chicken kunle's father bought for christmas" bode shouted elatedly as he ran to his father who crouched on the backrest of an ancient chair.
Mr collins jerked off from his reverie of thoughts as bode tapped him on his shoulder when he refused to answer him with the intensity of his sonorous voice.
"eh! Bode what is it?" he yelled at him agitatedly while the eight year old boy retreated dejectedly as he wore a gloomy face almost in tears.
Mr collins stood up immediately he saw the look on his face and walked up to him. He bent low to his height and embraced him
"i'm sorry for shouting at you son" he said with an apologetic look
carresing his back.
"what were you saying earlier before?" he asked bode who kept on sneezing at intervals and refused to talk.
"c'mon bode, talk to me" he persuaded him cleaning the tears streaming down his face like rain drops.
"kunle's father has bought two big chickens for the christmas but you're yet to buy yours and christmas is tomorrow, aren't you going to buy?" bode said amidst tears.
Mr collins was taken aback by his son request, the smile on his face disappeared and turned into a frown. He opened his mouth to talk but nothing came out as he was confused on what to say.
He became silent and cold, he let go of bode who was bewildered at his demeanor.
Apparently, that was the exact cause of his brooding minutes ago
he had ruminated deeply on how he would get the family food and the widely known christmas chicken but he had no money to buy them, he couldn't even boast of a penny needless to say a naira.
It was even worse in this recession time, all goods carry a ton of double amount and their quality has reduced drastically.
"Daddy! Daddy!" bode shouted at the top of his voice shaking him vigorously. He jolted back to reality obviously drowned in the ocean of thoughts and fantasy. He looked at bode dejectedly and shook his head.
"daddy, what is it?" bode asked his worried father who kept on shaking his head.
"nothing son, i was thinking of the best store to get it" he said and smiled to the relief of bode who grinned at his father showing his missing tooth.
"daddy, buy a bigger one oo!" bode said emphatically.
"sure, i will"
~
Mr collins couldn't sleep at night as he tossed on the iron bed unceasingly, he cogitated on how he would get a chicken but all efforts were futile. The only idea he got was to go steal it in a crowded store but quickly dismissed the thought as he couldn't envisage turning to a petty thief overnight but yet, he had to play his role as a father and make the xmas day a joyous one for the family. He turned his head swiftly at his wife who was sleeping peacefully beside him. He dare not seek her for advice knowing fully well that she would be adamant to his decision. He had to do everything possible to sort it out.
An idea suddenly struck his head and he smiled gleefully.
He immediately got up and got set for action.
He checked the wall clock, it was past twelve, the perfect time to get his plans executed.
He bolted the door and made his way to his friend's house which was few metres away.
The cold air pinched his skin as he walked in the dark.
In no time, he got there and passed through the backyard door which was made of rafia palms.
The house and its environs were silent as though it was a graveyard.
He dosent have to search for where the live chickens are kept since he knew where they could have kept it.
He walked straight to the cage and saw the chickens half asleep.
Luckily for him, the cage wasn't locked.
he knew it wasn't right for him to do so but anyway, he had to do it as it was inevitable.
He stretched forth his hand to catch the black cock but the chicken already saw it coming and it moved backward making the other one scream.
He grabbed the cock aggresively by its neck and ran off with it immediately he heard the creaking sound of a door.
He stopped at the front of his house panting heavily to catch his breath.
He bolted the door immediately, he was in and went to the backyard of his house.
He searched frantically for a rope. fortunately for him, he saw one tiny rope on the floor and used it to tie the stolen chicken.
He went back in with a smile as he had executed his plan successfully.
The next morning which was xmas day, he woke up humming to an imaginary song and went straight to bode's room.
Bode was fully awake and was seated on a mat.
"good moring daddy" Bode greeted his father exuberantly
"bode, i have a surprise for you"
"what is it daddy" bode asked
"remember its a surprise, just follow me"
he said and led the way to the backyard where he tied the chicken.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked back at bode who was confused.
He procceded to the exact spot he tied the chicken, he saw the rope which he used to tie the chicken but there was no chicken. He fumbled around looking for it but alas the chicken was gone.
It was a surprise indeed.
Merry Xmas to you all.
