Their Christmas Journey

Max felt like a sore loser. Sore he was sure of, loser definitely not by regular standards, but he was, wasn't he? Otherwise he wouldn't be spending his Christmas Eve in his dimly lit office with a bunch of scattered paperwork as his only companion would he? The shrill tone of his ringing cell phone pierced the silence and he grabbed it off the table, turning it off. He turned the swivel chair to face the window and he felt the bustling streets and sporadically blinking brilliant lights seemingly calling out to him.

~ ~ ~

Ana leaned her head lightly against the window as she absently watched the animated people and rickety buildings go by. Occasionally, there were newer buildings whose businesses had a growing clientele but they were grossly outnumbered. She was at the back seat on a danfo- the local name for the commercial busses in Lagos, and it was just how she liked it. She felt safe in her little corner and added bonus, she only had to be in contact with metal and one other human! Her mind drifted and she wondered what her parents were doing for Christmas. Her mother was probably with her new family, sitting round a Christmas tree and merrily sipping hot cocoa. All was dandy except, she didn't want her.