The Season That Never Dries

It was a good season this year, despite the hardship that is attached to it. So many people have been struggling to survive and even have limited food to eat, especially this season of Christmas, but then there was a great blessing from above I can't explain.

For some years back, I always had the time of my life just because we celebrated Christmas with my mom. My mom would go to the market to buy meat from the abattoir. She would ask me and my husband what we would love to eat. This is something I could not forget in my life. It has been a nice moment in my life, but this seized me when I lost my mom. I have not traveled home since then except for my husband.

Last year and the previous years, I have been enjoying greatly during the Christmas period, but this time my husband told me, "It would be tough if care is not taken to buy Christmas food." I looked at his words and felt unhappy. I still believe that it would be better before the Christmas period arrives. Not only that, but I still have a great belief, as I knew things would go on to become better. My husband dropped a resignation letter at his place of work when he did not get another one. He has stayed in that job for over 17 years, and the salary is not appreciated. After staying at home for two months, he finally got a job, but then he had to pay for so many things, including my children's new school fees. These are not small amounts to be paid. He tried to, but then it was tough. He repeated to me that “our Christmas will not be as sweet as before." He was saying it upfront, but deep in me, I said to myself, “It will be better than before by the grace of the God I serve.”.

A month later, he paid part of my children's school fees, leaving the remaining part to be paid in the next month. He also bought foodstuffs alongside, although I have been trying my best to provide some part of the food stuffs in the house as I do sell food stuffs. When it was a month to December, he cleared off the school fees, and this alone made me feel happy.

Just because he had tried and he had nothing left in his account, I did not bother asking him about how our Christmas celebration was going to be. We began to endure until it was December period. I tried to bring up the issue of what we are going to buy for our kids. He said I should not worry; it would work out no matter what. His November salary was used to buy some foodstuffs in bulk just to save costs later.

We began to hope that something would be done within the next three weeks before Christmas. The more we hope, the more time approaches. My kids began to disturb me and their dad about their Christmas wear. I was so worried, as it had never been like this before. I tried to ask them to be calm and say that it was going to be better. “Don't worry, your dad will buy you guys your clothes when he comes home on weekends," I said just by faith. I knew it was not going to be possible, but just to put some smiles on my kid's faces, I had to lie. They were excited.

A day to Friday, I called my husband on the phone and said to him, “I would have suggested borrowing, but I don't buy that idea. Whichever way, we are going to manage whatever we have." He only smiled and said it would be fine.

Mikhail Nilov

On Friday, my husband called to say that he was on his way home. I prepared his food before leaving for my shop, just as I had always done. In the late evening, I saw my husband with a handful of bags. I was confused and said nothing. When he entered, he said I should open the bags. I saw my kids' clothes as well as mine. He also gave me money to buy foodstuffs that we were going to use for the Christmas celebration. I was so happy, although, being a woman, I had to ask him where he got the money from. He said the person he was teaching who refused to pay him finally paid him in full and for the three months he was owing. He wanted to surprise me and went to the market himself to buy those items.

This Christmas, to be sincere, was the finest one ever since I have been celebrating Christmas, even though things are expensive in the market. We enjoyed it greatly and even gave it to those around us.