Home for the holiday; the christmas I never anticipated.

Christmas this year was somehow. My parents had traveled out of town, leaving me in charge of the shop. Since its Christmas I anticipated a quiet day, maybe a few customers stopping by. Alas I was wrong, It was absolute chaos. Customers flooded in from left and right, grabbing this and that, I wasn't expecting any of this, I believe people would have bought there needs in the market and just cook, but maybe due to the economic situation, they had to settle for the local street shops like ours.

The shop was in chaos, I was inside initially, then I started hearing " I want to buy something ",
when I sell and go back in, I will hear another person again, when it was becoming too much, I had to go sit inside the shop, I barely had time to breathe, let alone feel the Christmas cheer.

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The shop was just buzzing with activity. I moved from one customer to the next, answering questions, selling this an that, checking out prices, giving them change, and also trying my best to give them a smile while trying to keep up with the endless stream of people. When things eased up a little towards afternoon, I decided to visit where my mum told me she do get some of her wares, the person sells in wholesales, I visited the place, I thought the person wouldn't open, but she did.

I bought some things and then the idea struck me, why not get maybe three packs of sweet, to appreciate my mums customer and as just a show of love for this Christmas celebration, to just give about two to three pieces to each customer that comes to get anything, I bought it along and did , come look at how everyone was trolling at our shop, some came more than once, it was if ours was the only shop in the street, what a business strategy that was. Children, including elders came to buy one or two, and my show of appreciation using the sweet I bought made it awesome...this Christmas wasn't what I anticipated, my feet ached, with some banging headache, and I longed for a moment of peace.

As the day wore on, I realized I wouldn't have time to do one of my best hobbies, that is cooking, I so much love to cook. It is a tradition I cherished. The thought of eating just anything on Christmas day was disheartening, but then, like a Christmas miracle, my neighbors started arriving. They brought plates overflowing with jollof rice, turkey, and many more.

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At last, I checked the time, it was past nine in the night, I attended to one last customer, breathing in the air of peace. I packed and and locked up the shop. It wasn't the Christmas I had envisioned, but it was one(a Christmas) I would never forget. And for the already waiting to be devoured foods waiting for me, I did my best to make sure justice is served,smiles... Am not the type who eats out or take other peoples food, but their generosity warmed my heart more than any gift could, and I ate with all gladness.

There are various entries organized by @leogrowth.
This post is in collaboration with the @humanitas-en community and an entry to day 25 of #decemberinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you to also check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.

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