Donation!(Family meeting)

When morning arrived on the 21st of Christmas,we had already said our morning prayers and went off for morning ablutions. Grandpa was at his usual spot sipping a cup of coffee with his eyes glued to his morning newspaper. Well,it was only grandpa that didn't have to work or participate in morning runs  because he was old.

I never knew that today would be the most embarrassing day of my life as a kid. 

Just wait and see how it happened!

Once we had taken breakfast and wanted to go upstairs to do our things, grandpa stopped us midstairs with a wave of his hands and gestured us all to come back to the living room. Iyvonne,Pete,Josh and I slowly descended the stairs and walked back to the living room with a head full of question marks.

???

Aunt Caroline was already in the living room chatting away on F******k or so I thought. Mom sat on one of the couches and was focused on whatever she was writing on a paper.

“Come on everyone,take a seat.” 

Grandpa said and kept his folded new paper on a little glass table beside him and made a serious face.

We all sat down half-heartedly as we mopped at grandpa, expecting his words.

“I have not spent a few Xmas days with you at all before but God made it possible that I am here today and today we shall begin with the preparation for this Christmas season.” He said and Josh and I cheered in happiness.

That has been all I have been looking forward to,the Christmas house decorations. The Christmas tree, lights,paintings and all. Oh! I can't wait for it to begin.

“Dad, what plan do you have?” Mom questioned.

Grandpa smiled, “This Christmas, everyone is gonna participate. It's not just a father momma thing, it's a family stuff.”

Aunt Caroline looked up sharply,her eyes wide in discontentment as she looked at grandpa.

 “What do you mean by that grandpa?” She asked. Maybe understanding what grandpa said more than us.

Iyvonne and I exchanged glances and turned to look at grandpa with a confused expression. Grandpa smiled and gave us seconds to wallow in confusion before explaining what he meant.

“That is why I called this family meeting even though Nelson isn't here…here's what will happen,we will hold a general contribution to increase our budget for this Christmas and I will fill up whatever is left.” 

That sounded like a bombshell to everyone's ear. 

Contribution!

I was very very alert.

 How is that possible!

All I have left was a few dollars which I had already made a list of what I want to use it for this Christmas season and I am just gonna donate it just like that!

Cold sweat was already gathering momentum on my forehead. I glanced at mom to know what she had to say in all this but she didn't spit a word. All she did was to smile and look down on her paper while we sat there like frozen pizza.

Pete wouldn't have more than twenty dollars in all his life savings because he was a beautiful spender. And Josh,

Huh!

I could really swear that he's more broke than a church rat. Dollars don't spend a night in Josh’s possession as far as the ice cream man still exists in our street. He did risk everything just to sneak out and spend the dollars immediately he received his allowance from Mom.

And Iyvonne,well she was the only one who could have more money in savings because she loves to save up for things,and I heard mom always gave her extra cash because she's a girl so she could buy whatever she wants and avoid the temptation of the university boys. That was all in whispers though, remember I said I heard and it's meant to be a secret because Pete doesn't know about it else there will be a nation wide allowance strike.

And just as I imagined it, Iyvonne busted.

“Grandpa no,I don't have any money left. I only have five dollars which I want to use for thrift later.”

“ I also know that your father and mother can no longer afford to pay for your tuition nor feed you. That's ok if you don't want to donate but… you have to feed with the five dollars throughout this Christmas.” Grandpa said nonchalantly.

Iyvonne threw a pleasing glance at mom but didn't get any response from her. 

“That's ok, it's just for family right, let's do it.” That was Pete.

“Can you stop talking rubbish Pete,I have plans with my money for Christmas.” Iyvonne almost yelled at him but grandpa smiled and pushed down his glasses to peer at the young lady.

“Plans with five dollars..or is it that you have more.” Grandpa said and Iyvonne stuttered for a while before declining.

The truth was that everyone knew that Iyv had more money but didn't want to give it up. She intentionally insisted she had only five dollars so that it would be best for her.

What a  crime-smart girl! 

Well that's a story for another day because even after all the ranting and stuff,we all really donated real cash under grandpa's scrutiny and after that grandpa took us out for shopping. Aunt Caroline wanted to give an excuse to avoid going with us but grandpa wouldn't have it so we all went together in mom's family car.

When we got to the mall, everywhere was sparkling and dashing with Christmas decorations and lights. Iyvonne, Pete and I roamed around the mall taking pictures while mom and aunt Caroline shopped for what we needed. After shopping,we all stood beside the cashier's counter, waiting to go home while chatting away about funny things we did see earlier until the worst happened. Mom and grandpa were in line for payment and crosschecking. There were a lot of people because it was the Christmas season.