A Nigerian Christmas: Twelve Days Before Christmas (IN WORKS)

°WEDNESDAY°

   Merry Christmas everybody😘

            ~15th December, 2021~
               
                          ~~🎬~~

Yesterday wasn't that productive, the actors had practiced as many lines as they could, acted it and were rejected by the bosses. So today we had to do a better job, that's more reason why I arrived at work as early as I could. And Francis was misbehaving as badly as he could, it wasn't my fault his pitch wasn't picked so he didn't have to make my life hard cause of work I was beginning to regret.

All I wanted to do was begin work and finish as early as possible cause I wasn't interested in sleeping in the office on a Wednesday when I had packing to do and Christmas gift shopping.

The day seemed fine to start even though Francis didn't show his face to direct, control and correct he was in an excuse of an important meeting with bosses who knew he was supposed to be directing the advert. So many times I wished I wasn't put in a situation like this but being in it has taught me in the hardest way two heads are not better than one especially when the other head is not willing to be better.

I want to be done with everything before Friday as I will be heading to Lagos for my Christmas holiday with my family after four years. It was getting real as days passed, I couldn't wait for what Lagos had in store for me. I would not lie I have missed my family so much. We didn't depart on the best note, as I became what people would call the black sheep of the family, hurtful but after the first two years and a quarter after, some reached out and I responded, I found a way to forgive them and myself getting me to feel at peace. It wasn't easy to forget some wounds never heal and I knew that particular wound that made me flee Lagos would soon open up and spoil the whole skin. That is what I want to avoid and I hope to try my possible best to curtail it. To see things from the brighter side.

Francis later showed up after so many trials and errors, he had made a statement after walking in and it made me laugh so many times during the shoot that I was sent out. The next two hours before lunch were spent working harder, reciting lines, acting and cutting and it was better with Francis sitting there directing than anything I could do as he was more experienced. We needed to work as fast as we could, for tomorrow was the preview with the bosses before it premieres on different television channels and radio stations Wanse and Global Bank would send it to.

The acting came out great and not as stiff as it was yesterday and today while the narrator found it completely weird to auto-tune his voice to that of a cartoon. Francis explained but the narrator seemed to be stupid not to understand simple English explanation and it frustrated them as looking for a new narrator between twelve hours added to our already piled up chores. They went on a break instead to cool off before breaking heads.

"I hope he speaks out loud maybe we can get this over and done with."

"You should have checked before adding a cartoon feature to it."

"Mine got picked if you've forgotten."

"Can't forget easily after stealing. I wonder why you weren't called.."

"I didn't steal anything from Rose." If she wanted to impersonate me because I was getting the position we both needed she should be more innovative, the allegation was just irritating. I needed it more than her, she didn't look like she needed the job for a step up in her career but to prove how bossy she was. As that thought came, Amina's words came hunting me. Was I getting myself the promotion because of my sister or did I really want it?

"Yeah right..."

"What do you mean?" I scoff at his irritating behaviour. The beginning of the week has been a toll on me and I have tried not to take my anger on anyone but Francis was pushing me.  "Just because you are not happy about the new development doesn't mean you have to be an asshole to me..." I took a deep breath "I got it because deserved it, I have worked my ass off to be where I am today, You or Rose won't stop me from achieving what I really want."

Then I realized that I was doing it for myself as a push from all the disappointment I had caused my family and I really wanted to matter more. Maybe it was a reason I was so excited to go home for the holidays.

"You might need to appreciate new things around instead of sticking to an old straightforward advertisement that we all grew up watching." I storm out of the room, I didn't want to say more that I would later regret as I was regretting the little I said. I hated getting angry but the sight of Francis at times gets a peaceful soul rise to anger. A bad description of a person's presence but that's what I felt. If he even wanted to judge me, he should have asked if the rumors were true like some sane people did but who am I kidding?

   ~~~~                                         ~~~~

Time passed and we found a new narrator who was willing to be autotuned to cartoon voice. Amina left me dinner before leaving work, the load at our front was a lot and going home early was far-fetched. Francis and I hated ourselves but we had to stay and work together. We did the last acting for the day before work closed for everyone while Francis, some of my colleagues, two of Francis's colleagues, the video editor theme and I stayed behind to finish up before the next day.

Rose stayed behind for reasons I don't care about. I left her and her gossip partner to chitchat in the office to work in a rather quiet environment. I was so lost in my computer typing and checking emails that I forgot to eat. Francis called us to the editor's room, where we all watched the video over and over to see errors and get firsthand feedback before it got to the bosses.

Rose was the first to talk and it took the holy spirit in me not to pounce on her. "It needs more professional work. I wonder who would watch this.. So long and boring." Her friends chuckle.

"Thank you. If you had brought your professionalism to the table instead of gossiping maybe it won't be boring to watch. Ohh it would anyways." Francis shut her up and for the first time since the beginning of the week, I smiled wholeheartedly. If we were friends I would have hugged him.

"Not like yours would ever be."

"Maybe you try working instead of sabotaging. "

Eat that Roseline! I was so happy watching Francis and Rose eat each other but it didn't last for long as Colin interfered. Rose and her gang walk out of the room leaving Colin, Francis, the editor and I. It didn't take a while before Colin and the editor had something to do. Francis and I sat in the room looking everywhere except ourselves.

"It was okay... Fear of not getting views." he stood up and walked out.

Francis appreciated my little work. I was too happy to find a fault in his compliment as I have decided to call it. At least, we agree to some point... I packed my things seeing time had gone. I rush out of the building to see Colin and Francis struggling with their car.

I was just going to leave them fighting with whatever was happening with their car, but the human conscience made me ask.
"Anything wrong?"

"You can obviously see that." came Francis's reply and a nudge from Colin.

"Means you don't need my help... Goodnight."

"Wait Miss Tumini," Colin says pulling Francis to apologize but Francis isn't willing. "Sorry but can you give me a ride to Wuse if it's convenient for you."

"Yeah sure... And you?" We both look at Francis "Where will I be driving you to?"

"Wuse 1." I smile. The beginning of something "We are all heading in the same direction then."