Our Last Task of the Year

It was December last year; the harmattan breeze wasn't an easy one for us. Apart from the thin air being dry, the dust it comes with can turn a black hair brown. My heels and lips cracked so badly that Vaseline couldn't help, no matter the quantity applied.
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It was the last week of January, and it had been a tradition instilled in me from childhood, always making sure we crossed into the new year in a clean apartment. On the 31st morning, I woke up with extraordinary energy. "It's New Year cleanup," I told my excited roommate, waking her up, Esther! Esther! I exclaimed. She pretended to sleep like she didn't hear me, and I continued."Roomie, wake up, please.

It's bad for us to cross into the new year with a dirty apartment and dirty dresses," my voice cut through like a sharp knife. She pulled off the blanket with a groaning face. But she knows when I'm serious, and there was obviously no escape route for her.

While I was packing all the piled-up dirty dresses and bedspreads, she stood up and went straight to the kitchen to clean up the kitchen that was looking all messed up with empty cans and remnants from what we prepared the previous day.

Our neighbor was already sweeping the entire compound. Her face radiated joy. We are entering another year in a few hours. My roommate in the kitchen was washing plates with a tight face. "I hate it when I'm woken up from sleep against my own will. Can't we do these chores tomorrow? Must it be today?" She asked angrily.

Outside washing our bedspreads, I responded to her, "There is a huge difference between doing it now and resting once you are done, roomie. Stop being lazy; it doesn't speak nicely of you as a lady."She hissed out so loud from the kitchen. "Did I hear you say lazy? Just because you woke up with so much energy today doesn't make you the hard-working one and me lazy."

Without a word, I continued scrubbing our bedspread with a hard brush in the soapy water. She noticed I wasn't responding, and she muttered some words inwardly, and I was forced to respond to her. "I didn't mean it that way; I'm sorry if I said it in a harsh way.

In a twinkle of an eye, we both will be done with the chores." My roomie is one person that I know for hating house chores. She doesn't finish any chore without a thousand complaints. Even though she knew cleanliness is next to godliness and it's a proper thing to do before stepping into a fresh year, her hatred for chores has blindfolded her.

Our neighbor, who was hearing our conversation, was done with her sweeping and was busy fetching water from the well to fill her empty cans. She paused and intervened, "Wow, you both are doing a nice job.

I think the energy you both are investing in the argument would have been reserved for other chores." She stepped out and gave her the worst stare and dashed into the room. It was an insulting look that left the woman regretting ever involving herself in our conversation.

As I observed what happened, I refused to let her feel bad. I quickly smiled and said, "Cleaning up is always nice before entering a new year. I don't feel alright if I don't do a clean sweep before the new year comes." She smiled back, but I knew her mind was already spoiled.

My roommate's attitude came unexpectedly. She lay on the bed, leaving the chores for me. I wasn't sad; I just have this sense of belief that cleaning the entire house before getting into a new year is cleaning out the negatives that came with the year, making a better year for the one ahead.

After the morning clean-up, I was about to enter the bathroom to shower when my roommate looked up and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know the reason behind my attitude since. I just found out I'm on my flow. I hope you are not mad at me."Mad? Not at all, you just have to apologize to Mummy Steve for that cold attitude." She agreed to do so, and I went straight to shower. As I poured the water on my skin, I battled with the cold harmattan season. Later that evening, she was able to approach our neighbor and apologize.

We cooked dinner together, after which we left to cross over. As we returned from the crossover early, past 3 am, the room was beautifully arranged. "This is nice; the house is looking so kempt. All thanks to you, Mary."I knew our efforts wouldn't be in vain, but I understand the whole reason behind your laziness yesterday. We both talked it over and laughed before crashing on the bed for a quality sleep.

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