Sorry, the rice just finished.

Warm greetings everyone!

Happy new year to you all!

The week before this was truly exciting and funny. Funny in the sense that I got to witness many tricks used by hosts to divert well wishers who come to pay them a visit. Do I blame them for resorting to such ways? Maybe I should pin the blame on the harsh economy. One of such funny tricks displayed by a neighbour, is what I will be sharing with you all.

Uncle John as we fondly refer to him has been my neighbour for five years and counting. We know him aa one who is so stingy that he hardly pays the bills in the compound where we live.

When it's time to pay any bill in the compound, Uncle John will come up with excuses just to avoid paying. Sometimes he gets his way and other times he gets forced to pay. This is the kind of aradite person he was. I have found myself severally trying to renew his mind but this guy remains adamant.

During festive seasons, he usually escaped festive demands by traveling to his sister's place in Edo state. Unfortunately for him, 2023 brought a sharp curve increase in fuel and transportation prices. This limited his movement greatly and he had to stay in Lagos for the festivities.

I thought his staying meant he would break the status quo and possibly spend some money but how wrong I was. It will be easier for a leopard to change it's spots than for him to change his modus operandi.

He literally refused to cook rice or buy soft drinks. He qas atuck to his ways. I knew better than to lecture him, so we all watched how he would navigate Christmas without any form of merriment.

4 pm, Christmas day, some teenagers came to pay him a visit from his church, as it was rare for him to be around during this period. Sensing that they would ask him for food or drinks. Uncle John played a trick that was so hilarious to watch. He went to the backyard where we dump our refuse and packed some grains of leftover jollof rice that had been dumped there.

He took the rice in through the back door and scattered the grains all around his sitting room and some on his dining table and floors. As he welcomed his guests, he also chipped in that they came late.

image is mine

"Sorry, the rice just finished" he told his visitors. The teenagers had no way of refuting him as they could see jollof rice scattered all over the place. "It's okay sir" they chorused before leaving. That was the trend with Uncle John through out Christmas and boxing day celebration.

I watched the whole scenario unfold and could not help laughing my ass out. Christmas is supposed to be a time of wxtra spending, sharing and giving but this guy had a different definition in his dictionary.

Today is the first day of January 2024, I can't find uncle John at home, maybe he has gone to stay with a friend just to avoid spending some cash. When he returns, I will surely tease him with this mantra

"Sorry, the rice just finished"

Do you know anyone like Uncle John, let's share experiences in the comments section.

Thank you all for reading...shalom